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#132320 - 04/19/10 12:01 PM How to keep a kid on his sleeping mat?
Claus Offline
member

Registered: 04/19/10
Posts: 56
Loc: Central Iowa
Are there any tips on keeping a 6 year old on the sleeping mat?

We tried our new family tent (the Tarptent Hogback) out in the backyard last night. While it worked great, our 6 year old son moves a lot. He ended up in the morning on the tent floor with his sleeping bag (Eureka Grasshopper) and the mat (Therm-a-Rest Ridge Rest short) was nowhere under him.
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#132393 - 04/20/10 01:12 PM Re: How to keep a kid on his sleeping mat? [Re: Claus]
finallyME Offline
member

Registered: 09/24/07
Posts: 2710
Loc: Utah
I have the same bag for my 7 yr old son and 8 yr old daughter. My kids don't move that much. But you might try velcro.
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#132519 - 04/22/10 04:49 PM Re: How to keep a kid on his sleeping mat? [Re: Claus]
OregonMouse Online   content
member

Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
If he was sleeping soundly and wasn't cold, I wouldn't worry too much! Sometimes I think we fuss too much over our kids! I babysat my grandkids for a week last month; one morning I found my 8-year-old granddaughter sleeping on the bare floor, no covers. She was sleeping just fine--in fact, I had a hard time getting her up for school!
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#134380 - 05/28/10 01:41 PM Re: How to keep a kid on his sleeping mat? [Re: OregonMouse]
kbennett Offline
member

Registered: 10/27/03
Posts: 820
Loc: north carolina
We had the same problem, and to make it more fun we'd often find our daughter halfway out of her bag in the morning. Even on very cold mornings.

I worried about it, then realized that if she were cold or uncomfortable, she'd wake up and let us know. She always looked warm and was sleeping soundly, even on a hard shelter floor on a 25-F morning half out of the bag.

Kids....
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#134400 - 05/29/10 01:19 AM Re: How to keep a kid on his sleeping mat? [Re: kbennett]
phat Offline
Moderator

Registered: 06/24/07
Posts: 4107
Loc: Alberta, Canada
Originally Posted By kbennett

I worried about it, then realized that if she were cold or uncomfortable, she'd wake up and let us know. She always looked warm and was sleeping soundly, even on a hard shelter floor on a 25-F morning half out of the bag.


Just look at them with envy. and enjoy living vicariously through them. There was a time when I could sleep comfortably like that too...
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#134528 - 06/01/10 10:21 PM Re: How to keep a kid on his sleeping mat? [Re: Claus]
Trailrunner Offline
member

Registered: 01/05/02
Posts: 1835
Loc: Los Angeles
I once woke up to find half of my son (mostly legs) outside the tarp!!!! He has slipped under the edge. Didn't affect his sleep at all. I'm lucky it wasn't raining.

Don't confine him. Let nature take its course.
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* May not apply at certain latitudes in Canada and elsewhere.

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#135462 - 06/24/10 03:49 PM Re: How to keep a kid on his sleeping mat? [Re: Claus]
Claus Offline
member

Registered: 04/19/10
Posts: 56
Loc: Central Iowa
I guess you guys are right. We've done plenty of car camping with friends and each kids sleeps in their own tent by themselves. So I never payed to much attention to it then. When sharing a tent it's much more obvious.
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Please feel free to disregard my opinion.
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#135516 - 06/25/10 06:39 PM Re: How to keep a kid on his sleeping mat? [Re: Claus]
TomD Offline
Moderator

Registered: 10/30/03
Posts: 4963
Loc: Marina del Rey,CA
I think someone, might be Big Agne,s makes a bag with a pocket on the bottom that the mat slips into. You could have someone add one to the bag unless you are handy enough to do it yourself.

The alternative is either throw a cargo net over him or just duct tape him to it.
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#138149 - 08/29/10 11:37 PM Re: How to keep a kid on his sleeping mat? [Re: TomD]
Wstrnsky Offline
newbie

Registered: 04/15/10
Posts: 11
Loc: Montana, USA
My Kelty Foraker 15 degree bag has little tabs sewn into the outside in the seam. I bought two little sleeping pad bungies and ran them under the sleeping mat. Then attached them to each side. One just below my shoulders and one about knee high. It seems to work well.

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#138337 - 09/03/10 12:35 PM Re: How to keep a kid on his sleeping mat? [Re: Claus]
ohiohiker Offline
member

Registered: 07/20/07
Posts: 127
Loc: Ohio
I never used a sleeping pad until I was in my 30's, including temps down to 15 F in a 30 F-rated bag (in all of my layers, shivering eek ). Pads are nice. smile

My kids won't stay on their pad either. Straps or bungees actually made things worse because they'd roll, the pad would go to the side, and it would stay there or on top all night due to being held in place. laugh I suspect a bag with a pad pocket like a Big Agnes would have the same result.

If it's below 60 F, they sleep in a fleece jacket, plus a fleece hat if below 50 F. (I do the same with my quilt. ;)) This allows them to stay somewhat warm no matter where they end up.


Edited by ohiohiker (09/03/10 12:35 PM)

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