Teardropping with an infant?

[Kharn]

It's a good thing I planned our tear with provisions for a bunk over our knees because we're having a baby this summer.

The bunk I'd planned might not be suitable for a while since I've read little kids need a proper mattress. I'm thinking I'll take the doors off one of our large foot cabinets (~30x15x14"?) and cut down a crib mattress to fit in there for the first 12-18 months.

I'm thinking a curtain to segregate the bunk from the rest of the cabin would be good for nap time, it already has nightlights in the ceiling in that area. The 12v outlets in the cabin are switched so little fingers shouldn't be able to get into trouble with those for a while, and the 120v outlets are tamper-resistant.

Beyond electricity and sleeping arrangements, what other important concerns are there for a little camper in a tiny camper?

[KennethW]

May be a temperature alarm? Don't want a baby to roust

[Kharn]

I have an AC all ready to install once the weather gets warm, we usually stick with electric campsites.

[Corwin C]

We tent camped with our kids when they were infants ... a bassinet went along and was a Godsend to us being able to move the child without waking them. When they were older, we used a folding playpen when we had room. Child-size sleeping bags are relatively easy to make out of blankets (velcro patches are easier than zippers.) Make sure to dress them the same as you so they are neither to warm or chilled, have fun, and take lots of pictures (you'll regret it if you don't.) The important thing is to GO ... stay flexible with your plans and schedules and be safe.

[George Taylor]

We started camping with our son when he was 4 months old. I had to install a "shelf for him to sleep on. I just went and got a 3" piece of memory foam from a fabric store and we wrapped it tight with a sheet. That worked great. As for the temp as someone mentioned, the baby monitor we had for home had a thermometer built in and had 2 remotes, so we brought that along with us. At nap time we would just lay him on the bed we slept on, leaving one door closed and using a piece of wood to prevent him rolling out the door. The light during the day did not seem to bother him at all. What our friends told us was not to change what you like to do. That is what we did and Alex loves when we are camping. He got used to our schedule and the things we do and it has made it a lot easier for us.

[bc toys]

We are in the same situation but its our granddaughter. She is 17months and we want to take her camping with us can't decide where to put her in her port a crib we use at home or build her a bunk over our feet.

[Socal Tom]

The bunk I'd planned might not be suitable for a while since I've read little kids need a proper mattress.

Kids have been around a lot longer than "proper mattresses". Make sure the kid can't roll off the bed, and follow the safe sleeping rules ( sleep on the back), and don't use something too soft and the baby should be fine. The idea of putting a bassinett on the shelf is a good idea for a starting place. Most babies are pretty tolerable of just about any sleeping arrangements. When my son was 8 months old we went to Disney world. He fell asleep in a baby bjorn carrier on my chest while I was trying to eat dinner. I wouldn't worry too much about curtains. They will be in the way, and if he/she can sleep through you climbing into bed, then the light won't be a big deal ( besides, it will make it easier for you to peek in on him if there are no curtains in the way.
Tom

[Kharn]

The bunk I'd planned might not be suitable for a while since I've read little kids need a proper mattress.

Kids have been around a lot longer than "proper mattresses". Make sure the kid can't roll off the bed, and follow the safe sleeping rules ( sleep on the back), and don't use something too soft and the baby should be fine. The idea of putting a bassinett on the shelf is a good idea for a starting place. Most babies are pretty tolerable of just about any sleeping arrangements. When my son was 8 months old we went to Disney world. He fell asleep in a baby bjorn carrier on my chest while I was trying to eat dinner. I wouldn't worry too much about curtains. They will be in the way, and if he/she can sleep through you climbing into bed, then the light won't be a big deal ( besides, it will make it easier for you to peek in on him if there are no curtains in the way.
Tom

I'm somewhat cautious because the bunk I designed is just a canvas sheet between two rods, so there will be a dip in the middle and I'm not sure that's a good idea until they're able to roll over on their own. I will need to come up with some sort of extra bed rail because the cabinet's forward lip is only ~4" deep, but how to make it so I don't have to put any holes in visible areas of the cabin and without interfering with the sliding door tracks.

[Socal Tom]

The bunk I'd planned might not be suitable for a while since I've read little kids need a proper mattress.

Kids have been around a lot longer than "proper mattresses". Make sure the kid can't roll off the bed, and follow the safe sleeping rules ( sleep on the back), and don't use something too soft and the baby should be fine. The idea of putting a bassinett on the shelf is a good idea for a starting place. Most babies are pretty tolerable of just about any sleeping arrangements. When my son was 8 months old we went to Disney world. He fell asleep in a baby bjorn carrier on my chest while I was trying to eat dinner. I wouldn't worry too much about curtains. They will be in the way, and if he/she can sleep through you climbing into bed, then the light won't be a big deal ( besides, it will make it easier for you to peek in on him if there are no curtains in the way.
Tom

I'm somewhat cautious because the bunk I designed is just a canvas sheet between two rods, so there will be a dip in the middle and I'm not sure that's a good idea until they're able to roll over on their own. I will need to come up with some sort of extra bed rail because the cabinet's forward lip is only ~4" deep, but how to make it so I don't have to put any holes in visible areas of the cabin and without interfering with the sliding door tracks.

Ahh I see . Better safe than sorry, until they can roll over they should be on their backs.
My suggestion would be to make a shelf that hooks onto the two rods, that includes a taller lip, or use a bassinet on top of the rods until the baby is old enough.
Tom