To expect a blackout blind to actually stop light getting into my DDs bedroom?

[Pavlovthecat]

Is that not what they are for?

After ordering in Jan 08, after much chasing, arguing and more chasing, the guy finally came round to fit said blinds.

And had the cheek to ask for payment. It was paid for at time of ordering .

It is the not the exact length of the window, and comes out a bit. The fixtures are in place correctly but there are gaps at the top, and the sides and it clearly lets the light in.

So, AIBU to expect that these blinds should black out the light?

I am not feeling pleased, but more disappointed with my order.

My children were always okay in the winter but agree with vInTaGeVioLeT about problems in summer. One way round this for my three year old is to put down the blinds in her room before she goes to bed , in the short journey between the bathroom and her room she is convinced that the sun has gone down and it is bedtime. I do not think she is going to be fooled next summer but at the moment it works for us!

My dd's slept anywhere as babies dark or light. They still sleep in now with sunshine streaming into their room. The prob we have had (like others) is getting them to go to sleep in the light evenings. This has actually got worse as dd1 has got older.
Last summer we bluetacked paper on the windows. This year DH decided enough was enough and so we invested in the baa baa blind. The dd's are 5 and nearly 3. I wish we had bought it two years ago.
We had shutters when we lived overseas and they were brilliant for keeping the room dark (and cool).

you could try Magic Blackout - these plastic sheets stick to glass and blackout light.
www.magicblackout.co.uk

Try cassette or cassetted (sp?) blinds on google. Not cheap but they have their own frame with channels down the sides to block 100% of the light - used in darkrooms and on cruiseships. Or cobble them together using plastic u-channels from b&q and some no more nails. The blinds operate as normal but the light is baffled. My wonderful hubby can send you a diagram if you like. Disclaimer: mads1's wonderful hubby is typing.

I ordered some on ebay as our windows are large and the Argos ones wouldnt fit. They do help but by no means is the room completely "black", I could put velcro down the edges of the frame & blind but it wouldnt look very pretty when the blind was open.

If you really need it dark probably the best way to go would be a blind plus curtains with blackout linings, they would need to be on a snug fitting rail rather than a pole though.

Blackout blinds do blackout the light completely as long axs youi buy complete blackout blinds. A lot of suppliers will offer dimout fabrics which as the name suggests will only dimout the light. This does of course pose the problem of the light coming in around the sides of the brackets. I bought some lovely blackout blinds from Order Blinds and then dressed around the window with curtains and do get a complete blackout effect.

The other solution I have seen are the magic blinds that actually stick onto the window via static charge. They look a bit like bin liners though and are more of a temporary fix.

If you used heavy lined curtains you would not need a black out blind, seeing as you had it fitted in 2008 I doubt there is much you can do about it. If you had it fitted in January this year you are far too late to complain now even.

We have the gro anywhere one and it's dreadful.

I use kitchen foil every summer, cut to size and stick to window. Cheap and really really effective. Foil also reflects light so it is cool too! Lucky no neighbours can see that room or I might get some strange questions.

It really does work 100% blackout.

I recommend a thick piece of card, cut to size so it can be wedged into the window recess, painted, covered in handprints, whatever. Completely free!

I did see something recently that you could take on hol with you (or granny's, where curtains are barely more than net... grrrr) but I'm buggered if I can think what/where it was. Will go do some research.

DD has had aluminium foil taped into her window (shiny side out) since day 1! Keeps room cool in summer and she has always been a great sleeper. She can't tell if it's light outside or not so always waits for one of us to go in to wake her up...I had a 10 o'clock lie in a couple of weeks ago!

A tenner? Oh dont say that.

I've got these from IKEA, they're not bad, but obviously some light still gets in round the sides.

We have a gro-anywhere blind.
It was a faff to fit with Velcro and suction thingies, but once it was on, it is pretty good.
We usually open the bottom corner for daylight, as it is a pain to fit again!
If your made to measures don't fit, you are perfectly entitled to have them re-done.
Yanbu.