Bed insulation

Steven
Bunks and stretchers can be problematic in the cold especially for kids as you have now discovered. Many quite inexpensive solutions thouigh (how much is a bad night's sleep worth - quite a lot I reckon). I'd plump for a foam camping/walking mat and add further insulation under their bags - a small doona, a quilt or even another small cheap sleeping bag bag. I'd also put some rubber matting under the bunks to reduce the movement of cold directly below them. A lot of body heat is lost through the head and feet so encourage them to wear a beanie and warm socks to bed if they get uncomfortably cold at night. Oh and try and send them to bed warm - after a cup of milo or something.

Try a sheepskin rug.

We have one in our rooftop the same as the sheepskin mattress cover under the bottom sheet on our bed at home.

Phil

Not sure where the echo came from sorry.

Instant stereo lol

Had a hickup there.

Try a sheepskin rug/mat under their sleeping bag etc. Same idea as the sheepskin mattress cover you put on the beds at home. We use one in the rooftop.

Phil

Get rid of the bunks.
The little ones are better off on the ground with adequate insulation underneath.

When I take the tent camping, we simply roll out the swag and use it as a mattress with a sleeping bag as a doona on top.

The problem with an insulation mat of any kind is that you need to overcome the mass of cold air layer between the ground and underside of the bunk beds.

The coldest night we ever spent camping was when we had camp stretchers to sleep on.

Hi Steven
I may have a different solution.
Few years ago we bought rooftop tent. When we slept in it for first time, it was a horror! We waked about 3am, not only very cold, but the bottom of mattress was totally wet from condensation.
We glued permanently two layers 3mm and 5mm Cortex Flute Boards (in Sydney is sold cheepest by Graphic Art Mart, 2/25 Loyalty Rd. North Rocks. (02) 8843 0299) under the mattress.
Wonderful, light, slightly flexible stuff, which is also used for crafts and real estate signs.…it sold the problem instantly!
It is not expensive, and it is a permanent solution.
Good luck.

Dana

Hi Steven
I may have a different solution.
Few years ago we bought rooftop tent. When we slept in it for first time, it was a horror! We waked about 3am, not only very cold, but the bottom of mattress was totally wet from condensation.
We glued permanently under the mattress two layers 3mm and 5mm Cortex Flute Boards (in Sydney is sold cheapest by Graphic Art Mart, 2/25 Loyalty Rd. North Rocks. (02) 8843 0299).
Wonderful, light flexible stuff, which is used for art and real estate signs.…it sold the problem instantly! It is inexpensive, permanent solution.
Good luck Dana

Our 2 kids sleep on stretcher beds in the camper and to solve our problem which is also your problem we bought 2 50mm sponge mattresses the ones with a zip on material cover and pretty cheap as I recall then we place the mattresses inside the sleeping bag so now the kids don't get wrapped up in the sleeping bags and are toasty warm all night.
We have done this now on 3 winter outback trips.
To pack away I just leave the mattress inside the bag, roll it up and strap it as there is plenty of storage room in the camper.

Mal

Fastest way to fix it is to get either some cheap emergency space blanket, or better still some silver foil coated car windscreen protectors and put them under the kids, ideally fastened hanging just under each of the bunks so the kids aren't directly on them, that way any moisture goes into the air gap. This works well in camping hammocks which also suffer from convective cooling, especially in the snow. Proper insulated bed rolls (thermarest etc) are a better and more permanent fix. Trying to stuff more doonas etc under them will fail as the doonas compress and lose their insulation which leads to CBS (Cold Bum Syndrome). Understanding that you are losing heat in a different way is the first step to combatting it.

I hate the cold.... and it hates me.
Electric blanket and a super quiet generator. (Honda or Yamaha).

Hi Steven r3

We use to have a camper trailer with kids in bunk beds. I would put picnic rugs (rubber backed ones) down on the floor as "carpet", this helped to keep everyone's fee clean when going to bed. Dimpled foam matresses under the sleeping bags or in the bags as suggested above works fantastic. Fold sleeping bags over in the morning as the stretchers tend to be damp with condensation and will go mouldy. Therefore I use to air out the stretchers and bags by folding in half each day. For emergencies whether on a stretcher of the floor don't forget good old "newspaper". This is a great insulation whenever you find yourself short!!!

Dede

Our girls slept on bunk beds for 3 yrs while we travelled Oz. We had a blanket that we put on the beds first. The blankets were filled with a type of fluffy filler. They weren't expensive but that kept the girls warm. The coldest we slept in was minus 4 and not a problem. Bunks are brilliant as it gives you more room it the camper. As mention wearing a beanie in really cold weather also really helps to retain heat.

Josh

When we brought our bunk bed stretcher things for the kids (had a camper trailer at the time) they came with plain cotton covered foam mattresses, they weren't overly thick an bulky but seemed to do the trick in regards to insulation and comfort. Clark Rubber probably sells similar sort of things, we recently brought an eggshell one for some extra padding in our swag (no longer have camper trailer etc).
I know I wouldn't contemplate sleeping on a stretcher without some sort of padding, if not for insulation at least for comfort!

another idea that I have herd off is to use the silver / blue sarking that they use on house walls, lay a sheet of that under the foam bedding and it will stop the cold coming up and body heat escaping .

Would be a cheap option if you can get a place that will cut some off the roll for you.

Trevor