travel cot small enough for a camper van but big enough to contain an active 10m DS? Or - how best to arrange two small children in a VW van?

[bohemianbint]

Does such a thing exist?

We're about to go away in the camper van for the first time with our two boys (nearly 1 and nearly 3) and we're trying to work out the logistics of it.

We figured that it would make most sense to put the boys up in the pop top (it divides into two small bedrooms, one on either side IYSWIM) so we could sleep at the bottom on the rock and roll bed and not disturb them clambering over them. They're both used to sleeping on their own in the dark so am really apprehensive about this whole thing. DS1 is not so much of a worry as I reckon he'll be alright up there once he gets over the excitement, but the biggest concern is how to make them safe so they don't fall out of the roof.

DS2 is at the cruising stage so he can get about a fair bit. We have a regular travel cot but it's way too big to fit in the pop top, and probably too big to fit in the van full stop. We had a small pop up one but we sold it because DS1 could roll the whole thing over from a really young age.

Anyone got any advice/experience/tips please?

Not permanently, unfortunately - I don't think the roof would shut properly if we did that.

you can get proper guards that go across but not cheap as I'm sure you can imagine

this?

ah yes, have seen others too I'm sure.

or this?

Have seen that, we were considering it but not sure it would be high enough, or if it would fit our roof? Will try to put a pic of the van on my profile so you can see what it's like...

Pies - that sounds like a very promising idea. Will see if I can find them on ebay...

Bohobint - did you have any joy on ebay?

Hello again - we had a look on ebay, and they do look good, but we've gone and ordered an awning.

I think we'll just have to do a trial run, maybe this weekend if the weather perks up, and see how it goes.

We're running out of time though, the Big Chill is only a couple of weeks off now!

I have been searching for a travel cot small enough for our motorhome. fyi mother care lightweight travel cot is only 20cm wide so should be narrow enough to fit, I will keep you updated

Awning probably is your best bet but it would be good to have a solution that involves all of you in as well for quick stopovers etc.

Hammock across the cab? My dad built one for his first camper van conversion. It had two poles for sides and deck hair canvas for the hammock itself. The back of the seat tops acted as a bed guard. Don't know whether this would interfere with your bed though?

Or a picnic hamper?

Depends how much "containing" it really needs to do.

This thread is from July 09 - I'm guessing the OP is sorted. However if you wish to come and help me with my cot dilemma I'd be most grateful!

thanks!

I am bumping this thread as we are going away in July with our 4 yo and 20 month old. We are hiring our camper van, so we can't try and see what fits, and am slightly panicking about how dd2 is going to sleep!

Does anyone have a good solution? Dd2 is a wriggler, and Not To Be Trusted when it comes to falling from a height for example. We are hiring a VW T2 so was planning to put sensible DD1 in the pop top, but what to do with DD2? I have no real concept of how the pop top thing works or how big it is and likelihood of a child plummeting if they so wished. Help please oh wise camping types!