BBB & room blackouts

[Ydnic]

Hi everyone,

Need some advice on blacking out ds bedroom.  We currently have black plastic taped at the top to hang over room darkening mini blinds (which don't darken, IMO) on his windows, but now that he's in a big boy bed, he can get out and he consistently pulls the plastic down.

Any suggestions?  Its interrupting sleep for him.  (But what isn't these days. )

Thanks!
Cindy

[Fiona (Leah & Kians Mom)]

I think black out blinds can be so maddening cos no matter what you do they always let in light or at least in my case and I have them in my room and both kids. In my room I have a blind and black out lining on my curtains and it's still not enough for me.
The only time I have been successful in having a room dark enough when dd was small was to actually buy black out lining and tape it over the window and make sure to cover it all around the edges so no light came in. It was ugly, I couldnt open the windows but it worked really really well. I tried the tinfoil but the window sealings were not good and it rattled all night long. Once I start traveling with ds I will buy a big sheet of black out lining and bring it and masking tape with me. It folds really small too so great for weekends away etc

Also can you move the bed away from the window to start with, might help :-)

[linfran]

Instead of blackout blinds we got a cheap navy roller blind and cut it to size.  We were then able to hook the cords over the curtain rails, out of the reach of little fingers.

[Ydnic]

Thanks everyone for the help and I'm glad to know that I'm not alone in trying to figure this out.  Ds is just too nosy for his own good and loves to look outside!

My husband suggested putting something outside of the window (they tilt in and maybe we could wedge it).  But, on a windy day, while it may be dark in his room, who could sleep with plastic flapping? 

I wonder if there's a product I could "paint" the bottom half of the window with...  hmmmm...

Cindy

[Ydnic]

That's a good idea!  I like that one alot.

THANKS!

[Fiona (Leah & Kians Mom)]

Another thing I did which worked quite well was get very thick shees of craft cardboard paper and cover them with sticky laminate, dark colour, like the stuff you would line drawers with them stick them in the windows. The top 2 I would leave in permenantly and the bottom 2 I could remove when I wanted a bit of light in for day time sleep when dd got to about 2.5.
It was tricky cutting to size etc but can be done :-) Also cos it was already thick paper and then covered back and front with the laminated paper it didnt move in the wind or draft.
Good luck :-)
Gosh had forgotten the extremes I have gone to :-)
Just remembered another thing my aunt did when we stayed in her house was hang a huge heavy wool blanket over the closed curtains via the curtain rail, worked really well the room was very dark

[Ydnic]

I feel too like I'm going to extremes!  DH rolls his eyes about it, but frankly, he's not the one who has to deal with ds on no-nap days!   

Cindy

[Ydnic]

I went to the local craft store today and got heavy black posterboard and duct taped it on.  The room is actually darker now than it was before! 

Keeping my fingers crossed...Matthew is in his room for a nap now.

Cindy

[Fiona (Leah & Kians Mom)]

That's great, hope it works for you guys :-)

[Ydnic]

Could it be??

Ds has started sleeping until a decent time in the mornings and getting the 11 hours of night sleep that he needs!  I think its the blackouts!

Now I'm GLAD he pulled the old ones down. LOL!

Just thought I'd share my joy!

Cindy

[Fiona (Leah & Kians Mom)]

Great news for you guys :-)

[NiknLily]

yep, DD started sleeping longer when I recently re-did the blackouts, we have blackout blind, curtains then had dark wool blanket covering over as pp said hanging on curtain rail.  This was fine for winter but the second the mornings and days got brighter she started sleeping less.  So I double folded the blanket and have drawing pinned it over window, result pitch black room even with sun full on window & DD can sleep for England again :-)