Opinions pls - can I get away without blackout blinds until baba moves to own room??

[JamieJay]

Baba due in August, planning on keeping in our room until at least 6 months old. Problem is we have no money to replace the blinds with blackout ones (funny size windows so needs made to measure and curtains don't really work due to odd layout).

DM is making blackout lined curtains for the baba's bedroom but doesn't want to mess around with making blinds.

My thinking is that days will be getting shorter by the time baba is 6/8 weeks old so blackout blinds won't be needed until next spring when they'll be in their own room - am I being overly optimistic??

You'll probably be fine, but if it helps store bought blackout blinds can usually be DIY cut to fit (Ok, I should say that IKEA and Argos ones can definitely be cut, the ones I bought from the catalogue can be, and they all seem to be pretty much the same design)

you'll be fine. we never used blackout curtains for ds1 at all

If you need to blackout (and you may not) get cardboard boxes, cut to fit your windows, and just blu-tack in place at bedtime.

Thanks guys - will remove blackout blinds off my 'things to panic about' list

Habbibu - going to have to try the cardboard approach, just to see what the neighbours (who already think we're mad!) think

Cover it with beeyoitiful wrapping paper. thdey'll think it's the latest thing. The whole street will be doing it.

You don't need blackout blinds ! We live in the town centre and have a lot of street lighting around so our bedroom is quite light. We have a velux window and it has no blind but DD sleeps fine.

I hesitate to say it but I think all this paranoid "blacking out" and having set nap times etc just sets you up for a difficult time if baby has to sleep elsewhere. Rod+own back springs to mind

In general I agree, Fib, but we live in Scotland where it gets light really early in summer - despite getting dd used to sleeping with just light curtains, etc, we still found summer a bugger for early waking until we started using a darker window cover.

Fibilou - I must confess that I do kind of think the same about too much blocking out of light but with no experience to back it up was a little unsure!

My DS was an October baby and initially had no probs with sleeping as it got lighter. About a month and a half ago though, he started waking earlier and earlier no matter what time he was put to bed, so I got one of these and it's brilliant. He's back to his normal wakeup of 8.20

www.amazon.co.uk/Gro-Company-EFA004-Anywhere-Blackout/dp/B002B55BNI

Hi ya, I read an interesting article about babies and blackout blinds that you might find useful.

Congrats by the way!