Little Climber

[luvthatduke]

Just got back from a x-country trip w/DS and DH, only to have our 17 month old figure out how to climb out of his portable crib,
(note - NOT a Pack n Play).

We were planning on having him sleep in it,
in November at WDW (staying at ASMo),
but now that's not possible.
He will be 21 months by then, and he is tall for his age.

So.... Any suggestions?

We think by then he will still be sleeping in his crib at home,
and the only thing I can come up with is to buy railings for the beds and have him sleep with me??
(Rail question: does one on the end help, too - or just on the sides?).

Also, I've read the threads about renting full-size cribs, which would work, except the latest thread I read said they don't even set them up for you!

My DH and I discussed it, and he's not too thrilled about having to put together a crib when we're paying good money to rent it.
He also admits that it was mighty difficult for him to set up the crib here at home, as he's not too mechanically inclined.

Any helpful suggestions are appreciated

 

[bigbabyblues]

I believe you can borrow bedrails from the resorts as well, I don't know if you request them at checkin or when though. May be easier than taking your own.

 

[prplcrzy]

I have gotten the bed rails at the resorts before. I get 2, one for each side. You can tell them at check-in and mousekeeping will bring them to your room.

I take one of the rails off at night and sleep with ds, but for naps I have both on. I didn't have any problems with him going down off the end, but if you are concerned, I would put some pillows down there to stop him from rolling off.

Have fun!

Nancy

 

[dijid]

Another option is netting to go over the top of a pack and play or crib. They're designed to keep kids in and cats out. I did a quick search and this is the first one I found:

http://us.shop.com/cc.amos?main=catalog&pcd=8745404&adtg=07050423

There's probably others out there.

 

[tjmw2727]

Even if he can get out of a portacrib he may not be able to get out of the pack n play. My personal feeling is to keep them in the crib as long as possible. My dd could get out of the smaller portable crib at my mil's but no way to get out of the portacrib as there is really nothing to climb on from the inside. So if he will sleep in one that would be my choice. It helps keep him safe and its free from the resort. I did bring sheets from home for that familiar feeling.

TJ

 

[Jordan's MOM]

I agree that those pack and plays are hard to get out of. Chances are that at WDW he is going to be so tired that he won't even try, and if he does, they are so much closer to the ground that he should not get hurt. You will all be in the same room so no chance of his wondering around. Childproof the room anyway just in case. If this does not work, you can request rails and sleep with him. I'm betting that he will come out of his regular crib VERY soon too.

Good luck.


Jordans' mom

 

[my3princes]

I take care of my nephew (now 2) everyday. He takes his naps in a pack and play. He went through a short period of time several months ago where he would climb out of the pack and play. The first time he found a pencil and decorated my walls, but after that he would bang on the door of the room for me to come and get him. In any event he still takes his naps in it and no longer climbs out of it. Now he just yells for me to come and get him. I think that the novelty of being able to do it has worn off. You have a while before your trip so don't give up on the pack and play so soon.

 

[frstimer128]

My dd was just under 2 when I put her in a bed. She was already potty trained so she needed to be able to get to the bathroom whenever she needed to. The first week or so was a little crazy with her getting up all the time but it only took a few days to get her to stay in bed. Once our regular bed time routine was done, I said goodnight and left her room. I had to wait outside the door because I knew she was going to get up right away. As soon as she opened the door, I would only say "Back to your bed" and walk her quietly back and leave immediately. If she stayed in for at least a few minutes I would open the door and quietly say "Good girl" and leave just as quickly. This only went on for a few days and that was it.
Gettting to my point....We went away on vacation in a hotel and she had her own bed. She was just 2 at the time. I made sure that the doors were securely locked and I put a bell on the door so if she got up and went towards the door, I would hear it. Maybe you can practice having your son sleep in a bed before you go. I loved not having the crib!

 

[crazywig]

my son stopped using his crib at 17 months with no issues (besides getting out of him room )

if your ds is tall he isn't going to fit very well in a pnp i'd think. i'd go for the bed. call housekeeping for the bed rails, if they have enough they'll give you two.

plus from what i've read about the all-stars putting a pnp in the room is going to make it tight.

i agree that he'll probably be in his own by then anyway if he's a climber.

good luck!

 

[tjmw2727]

Just wanted to say I LOVE the idea of the bell on the door. My nephew is a "busy guy" and I am going to suggest this to my sil who isn't sleeping well right now!!

I may also use it for my 9yo who likes to sneak out and play video games when she should be sleeping - (its summer what can I say!).

TJ

 

[disneymom3]

Not on the topic of the pack and play/crib issue, but for the busy two year old. We actually turned my son's bedroom doorknob around so it locked from the outside. I know some people think this sounds cruel but after the very first morning of waking to the sound of him opening the front door, it didn't sound like a bad thing anymore. I know all about not sleeping because you think your child may leave the house. So for awhile there, he was locked into his room at night from the time DH and I went to bed until I woke up in the morning, usually to the sound of DS saying, "I up now!" Which is a much nicer sound than the lock on the front door.

 

[luvthatduke]

Wow!
Thank you to everyone who's given
their input into our climbing dilemma!
I've been busy reading all the replys
and they are all well-intentioned and sound.

I am sharing them all w/ DH
and we're mulling quite a few solutions,
(or at the very least preparations)
to make our WDW vacation
one that is joyful and not filled
w/ "what might happen?"

The bell idea is FANTASTIC,
as that is my biggest fear.
DH is a very heavy sleeper,
so it would be up to me to hear our little guy.
The other heart-stopper is the way
he just launched himself
HEAD FIRST at the floor on our trip.
DH "just happened" to be sitting
in the right place on the floor
(he never sits on the floor unless playing w/DS),
and our little guy landed head first in his Daddy's lap!
(think of diving without putting your arms out)...
Shudder....

So, now we're examining his crib
and room situation here at home,
hoping to prevent a (perhaps)
wandering child's curiosity from harming him.
Sigh...

Thanks again, and keep the ideas flowing

 

[McKelly]

We stayed at ASMovies and were able to push the bed against the wall. Housekeeping had given us two bedrails (requested), so we put one at the foot of the bed and one on the side of the bed that was not against the wall. I felt it worked well, my kids were 2 and 4 at the time and shared the bed. And I did occassionally find one of them near the foot of the bed in the morning!! Yikes!!

The bell idea is great! I will have to remember that for our next trip!! I might actually be able to settle into a restful sleep!! Paranoid mom here! LOL!

 

[luvthatduke]

Thanks McKelly!

That's a great solution,
one I had not even thought of.

 

[long4disney]

We had the crib issue on our trip to WDW last year with our daughter. We stayed at the GF and they provided us with a number for Children's Furniture Rental (407) 522-0233 and spoke with the most pleasant man Roy. He delivers all kinds of baby items for guests staying at WDW resorts. I reserved a full size 62"x48" wooden solid crib from him and it was all set up for us when we got to our room. I called him a few days before we left to confirm and he said the resorts will let him in with a staff member to set it up. We only paid $9.00 a night and he will provide you with the linens too, bumper pad and all if you want. I just brought my daughter's crib sheet and blanket from home so something was familiar to her. She slept so well in it and I don' t think she noticed that it was not her crib from home. I know that I and the rest of my family slept well also not worrying about her getting up too early or in the middle of the night.

We just had an issue a few months ago when me daughter was trying to climb out of her crib, so I purchased a mesh crib tent from www.babycenter.com and now she thinks it is her very own princess canopy like her older cousins have on their beds. I know when we go back down to Disney in December we will rent a crib again from Children's Furniture Rental and bring her crib tent along to keep her safe! Any other questions please feel free to ask!

 

[luvthatduke]

Thanks a million!
Boy, you can't beat nine bucks...
Glad it worked out for you,
the "princess tent" idea is great

 

[mrsv98]

I wouls call A Babys Best Friend and speak to them. We have used them in the past and they are great. They deliver and set up whatever you need and then come and pick it up the day of departure.

For me, I would be very wary of the Pack n Play if your little one is a climber as I would be worried it would tip over. I would do a full size crib or toddler bed, both available at ABBF, I think they would be much safer.

Have a fun trip!

 

[tjmw2727]

While I agree that ABBF is great they no longer set up your crib in the resorts. They will leave the crib partially set up with bell services and instructions for you to complete the set up.

OTOH my sil used them for a crib and a stroller and loved the service and quality of the items.

www.abbf.com

TJ

 

[luvthatduke]

Thanks for the rental info,
we will be anxiously waiting
to see if our little climber makes
his escape from his own crib
before our trip...
If not, we'll be renting the full-size crib.

I'm curious - just how much
"building" is require to complete
the crib that ABBF drops off?
Do they leave you the tools?

For those that are reading these replies,
I have another query:
Are the double beds at the All Stars
able to be pushed together?
(I know from another response that
one can be pushed to the wall).

Thanks again *everyone* for your
great advice - we're keeping notes

 

[DisFam95]

We used ABBF in Feb and were concerned too about putting a crib together...recalling DH and I doing that with DS's crib at home and lots of "NO ...this piece" It was left in 2 boxes and the bed linens and bell service brought it to the room. There were very easy instructions and it realy does snap together. It's good solid construction and it took about 10 minutes...really.

However....DS wanted nothing to do with it!!! He LOVES his crib at home and will stay in an hour after waking up from naps. But he would not tolerate being in this one. The bed linens smelled very strong of detergent (so I know they're cleaned well) but maybe it smelled wrong to him. So we wasted all that money and he slept between us in the king bed. We used the crib to hold all the souvies all week!!!

So easy to do but our DS hated it!!!