I want to sew something to keep the DS from rolling off their camping mat

[jamaisjedors]

Was thinking of getting some ready-beds for the DS for when we are staying with friends and potentially for camping.

I looked at the ones in Decathlon and they look uncomfortable and synthetic.

I now have my eye on some wee Airics for them plus sleeping bag but think they will roll off them in the night.

So last night I had a vague idea that I could sew some kind of straight jacket or make a sleeping bag cover which the sleeping bag and the mat could go in to keep it all together?

Any thoughts on design?

Gon on, help me out here!

Hi,

A friend of mine got her ready bed from toys r us, they have disney ones, thomas, itng etc... and they come with a pump.

The sides pump up to so it forms a cot side affect, and theyre zipped in, she says her DD loves it and theyve taken it everywhere.

HTH x

how old are they?

the 'my first readyebeds' with the sides are good up till abotu 3

or jsut get a normal one and put a cotton sheet liner in it, or even put a normal sleepign bag in it as they're nto really warm enough for camping.

the readybeds can't be rolled out of ime - I have a fantastic "roller" of a ds2 but because the bag and airbed are all attached to each other they tend not to capsize

Thanks everyone.

The DS are 5.5 and 3. (so DS1 will be nearly 6 by the time he gets a lot of use out of the bed this summer iyswim)

From the reviews on Argos it looks like the ready-beds only go up to about age 7.

Am also a bit worried that DS2 might divebomb on to the airbeds and puncture them, which is why I was thinking of self-inflating mats instead of airbeds.

Plus the idea of not having to take a pump (space!) appeals.

there's an adult size, but yes the children's ones fit them til about 7-8yo, ds1 is out of his and he is an averagely sized 9yo.
When we camp we use the self-inflating mats and mummy-style sleeping bags, all vango. The mats are made of fantastic high-density stuff so they are comfortable and as they only stand about an inch off the ground then you don't roll off them as there's nothing to roll off iyswim (Plus the fact that we tend to jam three of them together in the bedroom area!)

Ok - sounds good gigglewitch- I will try them on the mats in sleeping bags and if they roll off I can always sew something then.

I'm thinking of using the mats etc. for sleepovers too.

We have adult sized inflatable airbeds for camping. DCs (4 and 2 when we camped last summer) didn't roll off, I presume as they are the same size as their normal beds and they don't fall out of those iyswim. Plus they pretty much filled the bedroom pod anyway so I suppose there was nowhere for them to fall to.

Unless space is an issue, I don't really see the point of getting child sized beds when adult sized beds don't cost much more and then you can use them forever (and for random house guests etc). [cheapskate emoticon]

IKWYM Fimble about the child-sized beds - which is why I'm reluctant to get ready beds I think.

I am still thinking the wee airics here look good for the DS, they will pack up nice and small(we don't have a big car) and are not specifically designed for children but are not too long to fit in the bedroom for a sleepover etc.

Here's my idea to home make a large 'my first ready bed'.

You'll need you mat and 2 inflatebable swim woggles [[http://www.qualitypooltoys.com/sl9008.html /noodles].

if you can sew could you create/modify a single duvet cover where by it had 2 side channels to take the noddles and then a central area to take the mat.

noodle can be blown up by mouth so o need for a pump.

sorry link again

Wow that's a great idea Katz!

Glad to see you don't think I'm totally nuts!

I was thinking along the lines of a single duvet cover to put the mat and the sleeping bag in.

Your idea for the sides is good.

My boys don't fall out of bed at home, they have been in single beds since 18mths but they seem to fall off narrower single beds (ie camp beds/z-beds).

why thank you! nah only joking i was just enlarging the my first ready bed idea, which my DD2 who is a real wriggler manages to end up out of! We're off camping this summer so may have to have a go myself although she won't get far as we're all sharing a 6 man dome tent.

"Ok - sounds good gigglewitch- I will try them on the mats in sleeping bags and if they roll off I can always sew something then."

• had you thought of sewing the children into the beds? Velcro sleeping bags sound like a good plan

btw I really do sympathise, honestly. I sewed some fantastic creations using towelling, shower curtain and sheeting to make a couple of sleeping bag liners (one to use, one spare) for my unreliable 5yo in case he wee'd in his sleeping bag. So no I don't think you're nuts. Had you thought of putting those long lavender bag thingys (which we can get in bargain shops round here) beside the lo's so they can't roll? Either that or just leave 'em, they learn not to roll off soon enough! [cruel mother emoticon]

TBH I'm not THAT worried about it, especially if we go camping because there won't be room to roll anywhere.

I just remember them sleeping on cushions at other people's houses and ending up on the floor (here most people have wooden or tiled floors).

Will just test run the mats plus sleeping bags - child-size or adult?

Ours tend to roll off their mats (DH made them sleep on our old Karrimats last summer - think he's trying to toughen them up ) but they didn't wake up so I didn't really worry about it! With a sleeping bag you always have something under you.

Have you thought of getting a cheap fleece blanket and sewing it up into a big pocket - so it's a fairly snug fit over the airic? Apparently when DH was a kid his mum made sleeping "pods' out of old army blankets which were really warm even with a cheap sleeping bag inside.

I would get childsized (say 150cm) mummy sleeping bags but adult sized mats.

There you go, more proof that I am not an utter loon

Fleece is great idea, would be an extra layer too.

Any reccs for sleeping bags online ? (will be in the UK in a few weeks and could order)

Years ago at guide camp we had a 'bedrolls' which was sleeping bag with the blanket(s) pinned around it using huge safety pins. You could do that with the camping mat included. Actually similar to blithedance's sewn pockets, but without the sewing.

How old are your DC's and what temperature are you camping in? My 4/5year olds are happy in these, possibly you can get a warmer version. The Outwell ones are meant to be good too and have kid friendly themes.

DS are 3 and 5.5.

We haven't camped yet but would like to this summer, even if it's just in the garden.

When we stayed in a caravan last summer in the UK in July I was cold with just my sleeping bag!

In the summer there are always loads of threads about keeping warm while camping. my tips are: sleep on a proper insulating mat like an airic, not an airbed; a wool blanket makes a good extra layer, spend a few extra pounds on a warm rated sleeping bag not a bargain basement one.

Now is a good time of year to buy say some ski thermals to use as camping pyjamas.

It is quite normal to wake up with a cold nose though!