At what age did you have your toddler sleep in the sofa bed/bed with the pool noodle trick?

[kboo]

Contemplating some trips to WDW in 2018 where our YDD will be 2yrs 3 mo and then almost 3. Not sure what we should do for her sleeping arrangements - when our ODD was that age, we only had 1 kid so we brought an inflatable toddler bed to use in the hotel rooms. Now, we are considering DVC studios, which have 1 queen and 1 sofa bed (some but not the ones we are considering have Murphy beds). I'd really like to have the 2 girls share the sofa bed, but not sure if I'm being unrealistic for that age?

 

[ElenaRN]

We always just put our kids in the bed with us at that age on vacation.
What does your daughter sleep in at home? Is she in a bed or a crib? DVC rooms have Pack-n-Plays available, so that might be an option.
DVC rooms also usually have those cylindrical decorative pillows that we have used instead of a pool noodle under the fitted sheet.

 

[wilkeliza]

Just read the whole thing and see you don't want to use the toddler bed. If it is a regular pull out the child rail Disney has should work on it so no need for pool noodle. If the bedrails don't work and she hasn't rolled out of the toddler bed you should be good with the pool noodle.

 

[froggygal1301]

We were actually just discussing this for our DD that will be just under 3 when we travel. I was honestly going to just make her a little bed out of a pile of blankets to sleep on on the floor, because she does roll out of beds. I just read about the pool noodle on another thread though and was thinking that might be a good idea. I kind of think there's a chance she will still fall out if we cut in it half like I saw recommended so maybe we will use a whole one on either side??

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

I was actually just wondering about this. My DS will be days shy of his 2nd bday when we go and his already too big for a pack n play (currently 18 months). Can someone please explain this pool noodle trick and what the bed rails are that are being talked about? Thanks!

 

[Klayfish]

Not sure I completely understand what the concern is? At that age, our kids just slept in "regular" beds...well, OK...the boys had "racecar" beds.

I'd just let them sleep in a regular bed if one is available. If they fall out, they'll climb back into bed. If it's all that worrisome, put some folded up blankets or pillows on the floor next to the bed.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Our DS will be 2.5 on our upcoming trip in August, and we will very likely be renting a crib....he still sleeps in a crib at home (refuses to sleep in a bed), so if that's still the case as our trip approaches, we will rent a crib.

 

[unrequited23]

We have to use the 'divide and conquer' method with our boys, 5 & 2.5. If we put them in the same bed, they would never settle down. In regular hotel rooms we move an ottoman or luggage bench next to the bed where the youngest is going to sleep. We are planning to request a bed rail at Disney.

 

[KarenAylwood]

We went to Disney last year when DS was just shy of 3. He loved his crib so he stayed in it until just after 3 when he move to a twin with bed rails. I wasn't about to give up the crib before 3 if we didn't have to! At Disney we just got a pack n play and brought our own sheets/blanket. He loved it and slept fine (and it was free). Now when we travel we use this and love it: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Intex-Toddler-Airbed-Tan/22899906

He couldn't have shared a bed (with ANYONE) at that age and probably still couldn't. If he fell out of a bed he'd lose his mind and wake us all up which is why I love the toddler air mattress. He's fallen out of bed 3 times even with rails up in his twin, that's how much of a crazy sleeper he is. And two out of 3 times that has resulted in a massive nose bleed that takes two people to deal with.

However, I have many friends who's kids share beds with no problem, or use an air mattress (or regular mattress) on the floor and if they roll out they just get back in. It's definitely kid dependent. I wouldn't be trying the sharing a bed for the first time at Disney. If you've done it before and it's worked out then I'd do it in a heartbeat.

 

[kboo]

We went to Disney last year when DS was just shy of 3. He loved his crib so he stayed in it until just after 3 when he move to a twin with bed rails. I wasn't about to give up the crib before 3 if we didn't have to! At Disney we just got a pack n play and brought our own sheets/blanket. He loved it and slept fine (and it was free). Now when we travel we use this and love it: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Intex-Toddler-Airbed-Tan/22899906

He couldn't have shared a bed (with ANYONE) at that age and probably still couldn't. If he fell out of a bed he'd lose his mind and wake us all up which is why I love the toddler air mattress. He's fallen out of bed 3 times even with rails up in his twin, that's how much of a crazy sleeper he is. And two out of 3 times that has resulted in a massive nose bleed that takes two people to deal with.

However, I have many friends who's kids share beds with no problem, or use an air mattress (or regular mattress) on the floor and if they roll out they just get back in. It's definitely kid dependent. I wouldn't be trying the sharing a bed for the first time at Disney. If you've done it before and it's worked out then I'd do it in a heartbeat.

Yikes! Our older daughter moved to a twin bed from a crib with the side off, when she was about 3. So the second trip, I feel pretty good about having them share a bed (or dividing and conquering, with a bed rail). But the earlier trip, I was hoping not to have to use a pack and play since we'll likely be in a BLT studio - it will be cramped in there since the older daughter will be on the sofa bed anyway. We'll figure it out, I guess.

Thanks, PPs, for the reminder about the bed rails.

 

[KarenAylwood]

Yikes! Our older daughter moved to a twin bed from a crib with the side off, when she was about 3. So the second trip, I feel pretty good about having them share a bed (or dividing and conquering, with a bed rail). But the earlier trip, I was hoping not to have to use a pack and play since we'll likely be in a BLT studio - it will be cramped in there since the older daughter will be on the sofa bed anyway. We'll figure it out, I guess.

Thanks, PPs, for the reminder about the bed rails.

We were in BLT too!! We had a 1 bedroom though so there was a laundry room. It's the perfect size for a pack n play and that's where DS slept. He loved it. He kept calling it his bedroom. My parents were in an adjoining studio and now that I know you're in a studio I think you're right to consider putting them together. Does she move a lot in her sleep now? If she's not a crazy sleeper then I'd get a bed rail and go with that. Mine was all over the crib/bed since he started sleeping in a crib on his own at 6 months. I still have yet to figure out how he falls out of bed with literally 12 inches clearance at the bottom.

 

[kboo]

We were in BLT too!! We had a 1 bedroom though so there was a laundry room. It's the perfect size for a pack n play and that's where DS slept. He loved it. He kept calling it his bedroom. My parents were in an adjoining studio and now that I know you're in a studio I think you're right to consider putting them together. Does she move a lot in her sleep now? If she's not a crazy sleeper then I'd get a bed rail and go with that. Mine was all over the crib/bed since he started sleeping in a crib on his own at 6 months. I still have yet to figure out how he falls out of bed with literally 12 inches clearance at the bottom.

I was reading your post in the other forum, and your son sounds like my ODD! If I would post a pic I would, of my ODD who fell out of her crib (luckily 6 in off the floor) and stayed asleep on the hardwood floor! Thanks for the confirmation about trying to put them together - I think for the earlier trip, we'll still get a PnP and see if we can fit it in the entrance area or kitchen, if sleeping together is a big fail.

 

[Klayfish]

We have to use the 'divide and conquer' method with our boys, 5 & 2.5.

Hah...now that I can relate to! We went to WDW when the kids were something like 6,3,3. We stay offsite, so we always rent a condo or townhouse. We rented a 4 bedroom, 2 story townhouse and thought we had it all covered. Well, the twins insisted on dragging their twin mattresses into our oldest sons' room and sleeping together. It was a big 'ol party. We chose not to divide and conquer because we were on vacation and wanted them to have good bonding time. They usually passed out on their own anyway before too long, so it wasn't a big deal. But they had so much fun. In fact, that tradition continued at home every single weekend (and on vacation too) until they were 10, 7, 7. We'd drag their twin mattress into the older sons' room and they'd have a sleep over.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I was reading your post in the other forum, and your son sounds like my ODD! If I would post a pic I would, of my ODD who fell out of her crib (luckily 6 in off the floor) and stayed asleep on the hardwood floor! Thanks for the confirmation about trying to put them together - I think for the earlier trip, we'll still get a PnP and see if we can fit it in the entrance area or kitchen, if sleeping together is a big fail.

Just an FYI, the weight limit on a PnP is supposed to be 30 lbs, according to the booklet that comes with it. My 17 month old is just over 30 lbs and I'm planning on having him sleep in one for a 2-night trip we are taking next week, but I probably wouldn't put him in one for a whole week. I'd think a child over 2 would be way too big for a PnP?

 

[Dis703]

At 2 years and 2 months ODS just slept in the regular bed no pool noodles or railings. At 22 months my twins slept part of the night in pack and plays and part of the night with me in the queen sized bed. No railings needed. Next trip they slept together in a queen size bed at 2 years old (closer to 3) and did fine without anything blocking them.

 

[Elliesmommy]

This is only my first trip to WDW with a child, HOWEVER, I have been taking her to hotels on a regular basis since she was a year old.

At 2.5/3? I would either have her sleep with me. (Two beds) hubby slept with his son, I slept with our daughter. It was always a special treat for the kids. Or...

If, for some reason, we wanted to sleep two adults in one bed. The kids were more than happy to sleep in a makeshift bed on the floor with the bedding from the other bed. They loved it and thought it was like camping. (The nurse in me just imagined all the icky stuff on the floor that is not shampooed out after every guest)...So I rarely ever opted to have them sleep on the floor.

Now that I am divorced, single mommy, to my DD (now 8) , I book a king bed if I can. Ha, if I book a double, she wants to sleep with me because we are at a hotel and that is what she has become to expect. I don't mind. Its nice to cuddle but just be aware that this type of expectation can develop of you allow them to share beds with you while traveling.

 

[Sabathamk]

We recently had a work related hotel stay when my youngest was 22 months. We didn't realize they charged an extra $25/night for the pack and play, so we went without it and put her on the bottom bunk of the bed (the room had 2 bunk beds, and we had 4 kids, so perfect). I just used the extra pillows from our bed and put them on the sides like 'rails' under one blanket and she slept fine. Wanted to get out all the time to walk around until tired enough, but otherwise it was good.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Just an FYI, the weight limit on a PnP is supposed to be 30 lbs, according to the booklet that comes with it. My 17 month old is just over 30 lbs and I'm planning on having him sleep in one for a 2-night trip we are taking next week, but I probably wouldn't put him in one for a whole week. I'd think a child over 2 would be way too big for a PnP?

Depends on the kid. Our DS turned 2 in January and currently weighs about 27 lbs...close, but still under 30!

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

The issue for us with the pack n play is the majority of them are 39 inches long. My 18 month DS is 34.5" which leaves just over 2" clearance each between his head and feet and the ends of the pack n play IF he is laying perfectly in the center. As we all know, toddlers move a lot and so he frequently bumps into the edges and gets frustrated. Also, he's learned how to climb out, and those things aren't particularly stable when a 23 pound toddler is putting all his weight on one side to climb over it. He ends up knocking it over on its side and last time it hit him in the head.

My daughter didn't hit 30 pounds until she was 3 and a half, but was 38" shortly after she turned 2. She didn't fit comfortably in a pack n play much past 18 months either.

 

[TravelingTotMom]

With our son (almost 3), we either let him sleep in the middle (if it's a king), or he will sleep with me in a queen with a bedrail on one side.

The bedrails are great, and super easy to get. You can either request them at the front desk or call housekeeping from your room. As long as you don't have a "Do not disturb" sign on your door, they will deliver them into your room while you are at the parks, etc. It's been hit or miss if they actually put them on the bed, but it's pretty easy to do.