Hammock for our little sailor...

[garrobito]

Ok, our little bb is growing and growing.. almost 4 month now and counting..
Until now, he sleep in a small travel crib very close with us in our cabin..
But it's time to assign at this sailor his own cabin (or bunk...)
I was thinking install a little hammock rather than put net around the bunk to avoid any fall..
Any idea??

[Cheechako]

Hammocks swing.. maybe not a good thing? I find them terribly uncomfortable... but if I was raised in one probably not!

[belizesailor]

A proper hammock, not one of those abominations created for gringos with spreader bars to make it lie flat, is comfy and secure even when swinging because it wraps around you. Here in Central America it is quite common to see babys snoozing securely in a gently swinging hammock.

If the swing gets a little too lively on a boat a guy line or two can fix that.

The trick to an adult sleeping comfortably in a hammock is to lie at a slight angle across the axis of the hammock. Some fancy camping hammocks even have an asymetrical cut to them for this purpose.

[JPA Cate]

Here's another idea: at some point the bebe is going to need it's own space anyway. Why not pick the spot now, and make it child-proof so that after he becomes mobile there's still somewhere safe for him to be, and that later on, he accepts it as his designated area?

Cheers,

Ann

[Steadman Uhlich]

Howdy!

I have considered the same issue, years ago. I don't have children (yet), so no need yet to implement. But I have given it thought.

My thinking is that a Hammock is one of the best ways to enjoy a good sleep when aboard a boat. It is the traditional sailors bed.

If I had a young child, I would rig the hammock over a berth that has a mattress below. During the day, if in the Saloon, this would be over a settee the cushion of the leeward settee. As mentioned before (by Belizesailor I recall) the hammock that does NOT have the spreader bars at both ends will envelope the body, like those slings that mothers use to haul a baby around when shopping or walking.

I think a sleeping child will easily adapt to that same motion and comforting wrap-around snugness. I know I would, even as an adult. In fact the rocking of a boat is likely one of the best feelings and harkens back to being rocked in the arms of a mother.

There is a website for anything one can think of! Here is a link to an entire site and forum devoted to hammock making and using.
https://www.hammockforums.net/forum

A few photos of sailors in different navies using hammocks for their beds/berths.
Also, a cute photo of the ship's cat in his own hammock (WW1 or WW2 era convoy ship).

[StuM]

For babies, you can't beat what they do in PNG:

[skipmac]

Hammock may work in a calm anchorage but I have tried them when there was a bit of swell coming in and the swinging gets very wild.

Tried rigging a small hammock in the galley once to hold onions and such. At sea even in moderate conditions it would smash the contents against the ceiling. Had to install bungee cords all around and even that was just partial help. The hammock still banged around quite a lot.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by garrobito

Ok, our little bb is growing and growing.. almost 4 month now and counting..
Until now, he sleep in a small travel crib very close with us in our cabin..
But it's time to assign at this sailor his own cabin (or bunk...)
I was thinking install a little hammock rather than put net around the bunk to avoid any fall..
Any idea??

A hammock would scare me. It would seem something would be needed as bedding for warmth. An infant could get turned over and smother.

[MBWhite]

Have you considered building a small pipe berth instead of a hammock?

One of the funniest things I've ever seen on a boat was my first child sleeping soundly up in the V berth with the boat plunging, he'd rise off the berth surrounded by all his pillows and a stuffed animal like an astronaut, then press back down when the boat would come back up. Never woke up, LOL.