Anyone use tinfoil to blackout a room?

[MrsMaow]

I’m going to try making the room much darker during the day to try to extend my DD’s naps from the standard 29 minutes 34 seconds, before I invest in something my landlord will approve of like a groblind I thought I’d try foil first to see if it does make a difference.

My questions are to anyone that uses tinfoil or has in the past -

should I put the shinier side of the foil facing the room or facing outside? Does it matter?

Will normal sellotape around the edges do the job?

One or two layers?

TIA

I did it in the past with a really annoying shaped window that was going to be a total fucking pain to get anything black out type to cover (hexagonal window = nice original feature... until you've got to live with the bugger). I honestly can't remember - think I just used blu tack as sellotape didn't stay stuck with condensation (it was an original single glazed window as well - again the cost of replacing it was eye watering). Shiny side out doesn't matter - you're only using it because it's thick, cheap and easily malleable to cover the opening - don't overthink it too much.

Does make your house look like you might be growing cannabis from the outside though!

Yes tinfoil works we used it as a temporary solution in our onsweat bathroom as we have yet to find a blind that fits. Doesn't matter which way round the foil is and yes sellotape if onto UPVC.

Just wet the windows and the tin foil sticks on. That's what I do on holidays when the curtains are useless and I don't want to get up at 4am!

I’ve done this, but only on a very small window. I had the shiny side facing inwards (in case the sun reflecting off it caused a fire??? I’m not sure this is a reasonable worry, i’m not a physicist, but it seemed possible to me...) One layer, attached with masking tape. HTH.

When we were in the same situation we bought a removable curtain pole and put it in the recess. They have a spring at one end and then you cut the pole to fit the recess. Then you can put black out fabric on the pole.

Wonderful, thanks everyone for the quick replies, i’ll be giving it a go tomorrow

I’m fine with the neighbours thinking I’m growing weed, unless they decide to knock on the door to ask if I’m selling and wake the baby up from her potentially longer nap

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aluminium-Extendable-Curtain-Curtains-Diameter/dp/B00FVH0W1E

Well I have successfully made the room almost completely dark and have indeed managed to change the amount of time my baby naps. From 30ish mins to 24ish mins. FFS.

Any tips on if it’s better to let her fall asleep in the dark or wait til she’s asleep to turn the light off? I tried both and had the same result but I want to keep trying for at least a few more days and pick one method to be consistent with.

I have, but it left permanent marks on the glass. We did have it up for a while though.

My two were both awful sleepers. My 6 yr old still doesn't sleep through consistently. Honestly I don't think anything "works". I've read every sleep book/blog/tip out there.

They just sleep when they are ready.

I may be being over cautious but I was going to do this with ds1 but the window looks out into a junction and I read online about reflection blinding drivers if the sun hits it.
So if you do it make sure shiny side is in and check to there is no reflection etc on the out if the sun hits it

Yes and no need for tape, just spray the glass with water. It's genius!

I'd let her fall asleep in the dark. Dark should be a cue for them to go to sleep/stay asleep/put themselves back to sleep. Start working on the dark equals sleep association now.

What happens when she wakes? Do you go to her immediately or leave it five minutes to see if she'll resettle? Can you out her down awake and let her put herself to sleep?

I’ll give it go, consistently getting her to fall asleep in the dark (if she will, sometimes she’ll fall asleep by herself for naps, other times I have to help her. She has a dummy which I don’t want to stop using as it helps with her painful reflux, sometimes it falls out and she’ll drift off anyway, other times I have to put it back in for her a few times.

When I hear that she’s woken up I try not to go in straight away as maybe 4 times ever she had resettled and then slept much longer, I give her 5 minute of fussing/whining but if she starts sounded upset I go in as soon as she does. Sometimes I think I should go in straight away to put her dummy back in before she properly wakes up, I just don’t know what to do for the best and end up doing a mix