Forum Discussion

longislandcampe's avatar
Mar 13, 2023

Camping With Toddlers

I bought a 26' rear living trailer from my parents a few months ago. While it's a great camper for a couple, it's a bit of a challenge for a family such as mine.

We used it once last summer when our son was 2 and he slept in a pack a play. We now have a baby girl and aren't quite sure how to handle the sleeping arrangements.

Naturally, our girl will be in the pack and play as she'll be about 1 by the time we go again. Our son will be 3 but still too young for the fold out couch or dinette. I was wondering if we should get him a sleeping bag with a possible air mattress underneath or perhaps a cot. He does sleep in a cot at his day care.

We'll probably have to remove the couch and put both kids to sleep where the coach was or remove one of the rear seats and put one kid there and one kid in the middle of the floor. We're open to either scenario.

I even looked at getting rid of the couch and getting one of those modular kid sofa things like this. Kids couch

Any thoughts?
  • Just put him on the couch. I had my boy sleeping in an overhead bunk with a safety net. He still managed to fall out and hit the floor about 6 feet below. He's fine.
  • Thanks guys.

    Our concern with being off the floor is that he’s an active sleeper and is all over his crib during the night. We still haven’t converted his crib to a bed but I guess we’ll have to donor soon anyway.
  • We used the dinette when ours were young and just got a safety rail that slid under the cushions.
  • If he can sleep in a cot without falling off, he can sleep on the dinette or fold out couch.

    Many people put the pack n play on the dinette (in it's bed position). Do that and put your son on the fold out couch.
  • I have seen deals that look like fences, hinged to fold flat to store but when folded out to a L, allowing 1 leg to slide under cushion, make the 4th side of kid cage.
  • A three year old can sleep on a dinette bed. Roll a big blanket up and place it across the open side if it will make you feel better.
  • Live dangerously and let your 3 year old sleep on the couch or dinette bed?
    Seriously, you’re overthinking this or overprotective.

    At least he’s not sleeping with you and your wife at night. That’s just poor parenting.

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