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hogan029 Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2014 Posts: 407
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Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 4:22 pm Post subject: Toddler "gate" |
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Hi all. I am going on a 2 week trip with our 18 month old who loves to climb and get into everything. During the last trip which he was a lot younger, he just slept over the engine with the seat up. I am worried that he will now just climb over and cut into our wine drinking time at night. Has anyone rigged something up to block the top of the rear bench or anything so that he can't climb out?
Thanks all! |
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Terry Kay Banned
Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331
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Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 5:16 pm Post subject: Re: Toddler "gate" |
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Dog / cargo net above the rear seat cushion.
Volvo, BMW, Benz wagon accessories. _________________ T.K. |
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vtmtber Samba Member
Joined: June 22, 2016 Posts: 20 Location: Charlottesville, VA
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Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 7:00 pm Post subject: Re: Toddler "gate" |
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Welcome to parenthood. A toddler's mission in life is to take over adult activities. |
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syncrodoka Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005 Posts: 12005 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 7:07 pm Post subject: Re: Toddler "gate" |
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Walk them, play with them, look at stuff, wear them out and they will sleep. |
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hogan029 Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2014 Posts: 407
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Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 7:32 pm Post subject: Re: Toddler "gate" |
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Cargo net it is. I just want to make sure that he is able to have proper naps. Thanks all. |
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Terry Kay Banned
Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331
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Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 8:13 pm Post subject: Re: Toddler "gate" |
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Here's another thought;
A leather harness screwed to the rear hatch.
I know they are escape proof.
My Mom had one on me, one on my brother so we couldn't disappear when she went shopping.
One went one way , the other went the other.
The harness cured problem disappearing precocious youth instantly.
There's another option for ya. _________________ T.K. |
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IdahoDoug Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010 Posts: 10248 Location: N. Idaho
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Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 10:58 pm Post subject: Re: Toddler "gate" |
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On our boat, where the same uncontrolled toddler challenge could prove fatal, I built a structure we jokingly called "the microwave". The youngest slept and napped in it. It was about 3 feet by two feet by two feet and was a box up against the wall and off the floor with a secure door. We slept in the same spot so we could just sit up and check on them at night, pull them out for nursing, etc. I made a stout fabric mesh opening in the door so they could see and hear us, and I built it over a window that I'd made a cover for. For night time, it was their sleeping spot. For daytime naps and if we wanted to jump overboard and swim, we'd put the young one in it so we wouldn't worry about them while we swam around the boat or such. It had vent holes and turning a nearby fan on it down in the shaded cabin kept them cool.
So, you might consider a simple box structure up and out of the way. Done right, it's their cool skybox but also prevents accidents or the like if you have stuff cooking and you are sitting in a chair under the awning.
I know it sounds disturbingly like a pet carrier, but it worked out beautifully and both kids still have fond memories of napping in there with their stuffed animals. _________________ 1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32591 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2016 1:49 am Post subject: Re: Toddler "gate" |
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Or.......
While parenting IS a lifetime sentence, (speaking as a grandfather of Seven)......
Parenting toddlers is not. Yes, while in the midst of the task it sure SEEMS like a never ending task! But now standing in the future looking back on it, in reality it is only a brief flash of time.
Put aside your "adult" activities for a season or two and focus on being with and entertaining the toddler. Build some cuddling in the camper memories.
Way more enduring than a quiet glass of wine. (Do you REALLY think that a caged toddler will give you quiet?!?!?!? )
But this is only one man's opinion....... The cage, the box and the leash are all viable options I guess ............ Though the leash presents certain strangulation issues.
Dave _________________ Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos
Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473
Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537
Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert
Last edited by djkeev on Sat Jun 25, 2016 4:09 am; edited 1 time in total |
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hogan029 Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2014 Posts: 407
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Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2016 4:08 am Post subject: Re: Toddler "gate" |
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Agreed Dave. It's not so much getting to do adult activities. I just want him to be able to sleep and not have the temptation of crawling everywhere thus keeping him awake. |
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Mulcheese Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2004 Posts: 548 Location: Maple Grove, Mn
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Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2016 4:49 am Post subject: Re: Toddler "gate" |
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hogan029 wrote: |
Agreed Dave. It's not so much getting to do adult activities. I just want him to be able to sleep and not have the temptation of crawling everywhere thus keeping him awake. |
I completely understand. My kids are older now but I was in your shoes once. My daughter, and son, started out in a pack-n-play in the galley, moved to the back like you, and now they are both up tip. At the end of the day after you have played wtih them, payed attention to them amd showed them great things it is time for them to go to sleep and yes you have some important adult down time. We never needed to use this but it would work.
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/guar...aQodVJUFMQ
Buy 2) 1x3's and construct an H shape to wedge between the cabinet and deck. If you are creative you could have it hinge to get the boy out in the morning.
Enjoy your adult time in the van!
Too bad you dont live near I have one you could have. _________________ 82 Westy: Air is cool! |
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Terry Kay Banned
Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331
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Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2016 8:47 am Post subject: Re: Toddler "gate" |
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The station wagon netting requires almost no construction, sets up fast, and no Boo-Boo's for the bambino.
David, the leash had no collar.
You are a madman--
But now that I'm thinking about it, if my Mom had thought about that, she may have used one on my brother & me.
They were brown harnesses.
Like the lederhosen type look with a leash on each.
Just saw a young gal with 3 kids, all on leashes & harnesses in a department store.
Had a good laugh, thinking about this.
If she only knew what I know--
Child contol in the 50's , and probably before. _________________ T.K. |
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bluebus86 Banned
Joined: September 02, 2010 Posts: 11075
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IdahoDoug Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010 Posts: 10248 Location: N. Idaho
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Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2016 10:40 am Post subject: Re: Toddler "gate" |
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For sleep, it was terrific because sometimes they'd point up at it ready to go to sleep. It also allowed US to sleep because we didn't have to worry the little one would wake up and wander out the cabin door in the middle of the night to who knows what fate. I built it with all panels connected by piano hinges, and it was held on by chrome quick releases. So I could disconnect it from the ceiling and wall, then fold the sides in and the door under and tuck it away. Later when the kids were bigger, we used it as a convenient "safe" storage spot for food, radios, firearm and other things you don't want a toddler messing with. So our little ones grew out of it and we put those things INTO it. It had a lock so we could swim off the boat when they were older, knowing while we were in the water they couldn't access knives, matches, bear spray, etc.
I can't tell you how well this worked and provided peace of mind. I'd have done the same thing in the Van if our kids were young when we joined the Vanagon world. I'd have put it up high right behind the driver's seat in our tintop. _________________ 1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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Terry Kay Banned
Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331
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Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2016 10:56 am Post subject: Re: Toddler "gate" |
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Boy,
Plus the spares you should be dragging along, tools, spray water bottles & a water supply, plus, plus, plus, now a piano hinged dog box.
Better consider a Prevost rather than the Vanagon.
You ain't got enough engine or area to haul all this garbage around.
The netting weighs nothing, and can be packed anywhere pretty easy without sacrificing area that there is none of. _________________ T.K. |
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VWinVT Samba Member
Joined: April 21, 2013 Posts: 1541 Location: North East Kingdom
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Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2016 6:42 pm Post subject: Re: Toddler "gate" |
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We used a pack-n-play on the floor for our toddler to,sleep,in...we slept in the bottom bed...worked great! _________________ 1981 Westfalia with a 2001 Cabrio ABA
Small wheel turns by the firing rod,
Big wheel turns by the grace of God.
Every time that wheel turns 'round,
You're bound to cover just a little more ground. |
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DwarfVader Samba Member
Joined: July 28, 2015 Posts: 646 Location: Missoula, MT
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Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 2:00 pm Post subject: Re: Toddler "gate" |
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+
+
=
also, as a bonus, it will keep your children safe from bears. _________________ - oderint dum metuant -
I'll find my van someday, or it will find me. |
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bjrogers86auto Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2009 Posts: 1375 Location: Halifax, N.S.
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 3:57 am Post subject: Re: Toddler "gate" |
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^^^suspension trauma... _________________ 86 Vanagon GL Westfalia 2.1
18 Nissan Frontier Pro 4X
19 Honda Civic Hatchback
A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day. Calvin and Hobbes. |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22641 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 4:07 am Post subject: Re: Toddler "gate" |
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You've got to be careful fabbing gates for toddlers. It is a flash in time in raising kids, indeed. Just launched the last two of six into college
My youngest jumped a stalled driver with the Eurovan this weekend and achieved supreme credibility from her posse. _________________ .ssS! |
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raoul mitgong Samba Member
Joined: July 05, 2009 Posts: 1338 Location: Denver, CO
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 9:03 am Post subject: Re: Toddler "gate" |
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When my boy could just maybe start to get over the rear seat, I put a single shower curtain rod between the window and cabinet about 4-5" above the top of the seat. Low enough that he couldn't get his head stuck in there. It added just enough height to his cage that he couldn't climb over it. I had to put some 3M Safety Walk tape (thick rubber tape) on the window and cabinet to make a bit of a pocket so it wouldn't slide off.
-d _________________ 84 Westy with a 2.1 (Groover)
86 Tintop Syncro (Crow)
86 Tintop Syncro to Westy project (Tom Servo)
91 Westy (Only the top 12 inches of this van (a burn victim)) |
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