Warning for caravanners over sleep hack using $2 summer item: 'This is unsafe'

Road-tripping around Australia in a caravan is the "in" thing right now, with scores of travellers set to hit the road over the summer. While it's long been an activity loved by backpackers and "grey nomads", caravanning and camping have become extremely popular with families as well, with parents feeling inspired to expose their kids to once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

As any caravan owner will tell you, there is a ton to think about before hitting the road, whether you have children in tow or not. And if you do have kids? Organisation takes on a whole new meaning!

One of the biggest problems caravanning families face is where everyone sleeps, especially if they are travelling with very small kids. As any parent will tell you, the issue of sleep is a big one and most mums and dads will do almost anything to ensure both they and their little ones get a good night's rest.

However, the issue of where to safely and soundly sleep babies and toddlers when travelling can be a tricky one, with Red Nose’s Director of Prevention, Education and Research, Margaret Polacska telling Yahoo Lifestyle that keeping safe sleeping guidelines in mind is crucial.

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One parent took to a popular Facebook group to ask for advice on this very topic, writing, "Any hacks for sleeping a 4-month-old in the van? She doesn’t fit in the bassinet anymore and her sisters are in the double bunk. I am planning on putting her on the little cushion insert on the table but wondering if there are some hacks, particularly if she starts to roll."

Among the many different replies, one person suggested a simple and affordable option.

$2 pool noodle hack for sleeping in caravans with kids

"Bunnings sells pool noodles with flat bottoms that make great rails for under the sheets," they wrote, referring to a $4 option from the hardware retailer. "Chuck a sheet on the island bed and wedge one or two under the sheet. Should be fine until she is more mobile!"

You can also buy pool noodles for $2 from most major retailers such as Kmart, Big W and The Reject Shop, for example.

The pool noodle hack is not just popular with parents who are on the road, either, with several mums praising the trick on social media.

"I wish I knew about this sooner for my other two kids, but better late than never, right?," one Aussie mum wrote alongside a TikTok of the hack.

"Oh my gosh, this is SUCH a good idea!! 🙌🏼," one person wrote.

"💯 I do this with my toddler and did it with my now 10-year-old," said another.

"I use this method," someone wrote on another video showcasing the hack. "But I do 3 so two on the bottom one on the top and tape them together. It makes it even harder to roll off."

"And if 1 noodle isn’t high enough, you can tape 3 together into a triangle shape and that works too," another agreed while someone else suggested wrapping the noodle in a blanket to bulk it up.

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Is the pool noodle hack safe for babies?

Although several people suggested the hack, Margaret says it is not recommended.

"Red Nose does not recommend using a pool noodle to keep a baby in place or prevent a child falling out of bed – this is unsafe and not appropriate," she says.

She continues, "When staying in a caravan or using a tent, the main thing for parents to remember is the bedding or mattress needs to be firm and flat. A safe sleep environment for baby is a clear sleep space where all potential dangers have been removed. Ensure there are no loose or soft items that can cover your baby’s face or head.

"For a baby less than two years of age, a portacot that meets mandatory Australian Standards is the safest place to lay your baby to sleep. Only use the mattress that comes with the portacot. Don’t add extra bedding as this can cause overheating and can be a suffocation hazard."

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