Pack n Play vs. Bed Rails?

[zuzu310]

We will be heading down in September for my son's second trip. He will be 29 months when we go. Last year, he slept in a pck n play no problem but this year I fear he may be tall enough to get out. He has gotten out of his crib once and we just bought him a bed last week but here's the dilemma...do I try to work with him over the next two months, get him used to a bed, and borrow bed rails or do I see if I can hold out for two months, keep him in his crib, and see if he will sleep in a pack n play for one more vacation? Any advice from others? Thanks!

 

[sb682]

I would get him used to sleeping in his bed, since keeping him in the crib when he can climb out is a potential safety issue. 2 months should be plenty of time for him to get used to it and you probably won't have a problem at Disney. If you're worried about him rolling out of bed when you're at your resort, you can put pillows on the floor to cushion him. There are also inflatable bed rails you can buy for traveling, and I've heard of people slipping pool noodles under the fitted sheet to keep kids from rolling out of bed.

 

[Cobern]

They have bed rails at the resorts you can use. It took my son 2 days to get adjusted to his bed from a crib and our daughter took a week. As long as you are not planning on staying at POR and putting him in the flip down bed you will be fine. Most kids like the extra space, just bring what he is used to I his bed to make him feel comfortable. My son has a pillow pet and that helps him feel more at home when he is away.

 

[ateam79828592]

I found once my kids got to that age (2+) that they slept much better in a real bed than a PnP. The PnP just doesn't have much padding and can be too short from them. My 3 older kids all adjusted to a "big bed" within a few nights. Naptimes can be trickier though.

If it were me, I would definitely make the move to the big bed before the trip. The bed rails we have used provided by Disney have been good quality.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I'm looking at the pack and play we just got for our DD and there is no way that a 29 month old would be comfortable in that for a week. It would be like sleeping on a board with a yoga mat over it. He will be cranky your whole trip if he doesn't get a good nights sleep.

You have plenty of time to transition him. It most likely won't be nearly as big a deal as you are worried about. My friend put it off for months with her DS because she was worried. Grandma came for the weekend, said enough is enough, and DS was happily in his bed in 2 nights.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you are concerned about him rolling out of bed, you can try putting a pool noodle under the sheet at the edge of the bed. A cheap way to try to solve the problem.

 

[jennylyn_b]

At 18 months our dd was not comfy in a pnp so we got her the shrunks inflatable toddler mattress with bed rails. It inflated fast and sits on the floor. She was already in the toddler bed at home. This past trip in May she was 2.5 and we requested bed rails from housekeeping. She slept great in the second bed all by herself with the rails!

 

[Dani784]

All four of mine were in a toddler bed by 15 months. My boys were in one shortly after their first birthday because they were climbers. We're going next spring when my youngest will be about 29 months and since he's already in a toddler bed now, we'll be renting him a toddler bed from A Baby's Best Friend rentals for our 12 day stay. At least I think that's the name of the renal company. I'd recommend you do the same as your son is DEFINITELY old enough for a bed.

 

[Elleshoodat]

We will be heading down in September for my son's second trip. He will be 29 months when we go. Last year, he slept in a pck n play no problem but this year I fear he may be tall enough to get out. He has gotten out of his crib once and we just bought him a bed last week but here's the dilemma...do I try to work with him over the next two months, get him used to a bed, and borrow bed rails or do I see if I can hold out for two months, keep him in his crib, and see if he will sleep in a pack n play for one more vacation? Any advice from others? Thanks!

Our DS is 32 months and started sleeping in a toddler bed at home a couple of months ago. We used to put him in the PnP when traveling, but on our latest trip he slept in the bed (with me) with a bed rail on his other side. I would advise getting him used to sleeping in "a big-boy bed," as you will need to anyway.

Also, I agree with previous posters that the PnP would probably be a tight fit for a 29-month-old. Chances are he wouldn't be sleeping comfortably (and then you wouldn't, either).

Good luck!

 

[Phelia325]

All four of mine were in a toddler bed by 15 months. My boys were in one shortly after their first birthday because they were climbers. We're going next spring when my youngest will be about 29 months and since he's already in a toddler bed now, we'll be renting him a toddler bed from A Baby's Best Friend rentals for our 12 day stay. At least I think that's the name of the renal company. I'd recommend you do the same as your son is DEFINITELY old enough for a bed.

i also recommend a rental from babys best friend. we rented a crib from them when my son was 18m and were very pleased.

 

[CourtneyL]

I think the height limit on a pnp is 35" or 36". I would just do the big bed with bed rails.

I've been having a similar debate with myself for our next trip. DD will be 25 months and I'm not sure if I'll be renting a crib from ABBF or using bed rails.

 

[zuzu310]

Thanks everyone!! I think we will just transition him into a bed at home and then request bed rails from Pop. I am glad someone posted the max height for the pack n play because it has been so long since I have used one that I couldn't remember. I definitely think he would be more comfortable in a bed. Here is hoping my very mischievious 2 year old transitions seamlessly here.

 

[DznyGal]

We are staying at Caribbean Beach in a king bed room and were planning to get a pack n play. This thread is having me second guessing it. My son might be to tall for it when we go in November.
Do I have any other options with the king bed rooms?

 

[Cobern]

We are staying at Caribbean Beach in a king bed room and were planning to get a pack n play. This thread is having me second guessing it. My son might be to tall for it when we go in November.
Do I have any other options with the king bed rooms?

Bring a toddler blow up bed. I know I have seen them at babies r us

 

[Haley]

My dd will be about 30 months when we go in Dec and I've debated all the options. She's too tall for a PnP and could easily climb out.

But she naps on our queen bed every day alone and has never fallen out so I think we are just going to put her in one of the queen beds in our room in the middle and I think she'll be fine. I'll bring two noodles to put under the fitted sheet I think.

 

[laughinplace199]

I think I have weird kids. When DS12 was 3, he wanted to sleep in the PnP, so we let him.

Fast forward 8 years to when our youngest was 3.5 - even though he slept in a bed at home, he wanted to sleep in the PnP. I figured he'd try it and not like it and then he'd change his mind. Nope. He slept the whole week in the PnP. He had to sleep with his legs bent because he was too tall, but he didn't care. He slept well all week, and do did we!



And yes, the PnP is in the bathroom. We're terrible parents.

 

[cllrn]

http://www.amazon.com/The-Shrunks-T...18795&sr=8-1&keywords=inflatable+toddler+beds

Here is a link to the Shrunks inflatable toddler travel bed. We bought this for our 2 yr old daughter in January. She is tall for her age (38 1/2 inches) and was outgrowing her PnP too. We have used this 2 trips already and DD sleeps well in it. It folds up small, travels easily and inflates & sets up quickly. We will be using this again when we go in November for her 3rd birthday.

 

[disneypolybride2008]

good thread and lots to consider. it is hard to anticipate how our little one's will do. we took our 21 mo DD on her first trip. it was a cruise and they had the mini crib, nice metal one with a regular mattress. she cried and wanted out the first night but then slept through every night for the rest of the week. I had her between our beds and i had to hold her hand so she'd fall asleep. We just got back from her second vacation and she is 23 months now. The hotel had the same crib and she was playing at Sesame Place all day so she was worn out. Again, up the first night but then slept through the night for the next 3 nights. Then we went to her grandma and great grandma's and stayed in a similar hotel, again with the same crib. She did not sleep through any nights and was up multiple times. I think because she was not as worn out just being at grandma's house.
She was worn out the night before the cruise as we had a very long day and they had a pack and play, she slept in it pretty much through the night. DH said she cried a little and he patted her back to sleep.

As for Disney World, that will be when she is 28 months. The mini crib was a bit of a snug fit for her at 34 inches, so by then I would think she would be uncomfortable in a hard pack n play. It scares me to put her in a bed with me and bed rails b/c would'nt they want to climb over the bed rails? that would be a long fall! I wouldn't sleep well, worrying about her. I could rent a toddler bed but she will likely still be in a crib at home, so i dont know if she would do well with that, maybe i should get the rent a full size crib from abbf
Atleast she would have more room and more comfort. It was not fun being up all night. Oh and she rolls and moves all around her crib at night. How would she know to stay at the top in a toddler bed?

Oh, and i did buy that inflatable toddler travel bed, but at this point i wouldn't think she is old enough to stay put on it. Maybe by November though. Atleast I have that possibility.

 

[cllrn]

good thread and lots to consider. it is hard to anticipate how our little one's will do. we took our 21 mo DD on her first trip. it was a cruise and they had the mini crib, nice metal one with a regular mattress. she cried and wanted out the first night but then slept through every night for the rest of the week. I had her between our beds and i had to hold her hand so she'd fall asleep. We just got back from her second vacation and she is 23 months now. The hotel had the same crib and she was playing at Sesame Place all day so she was worn out. Again, up the first night but then slept through the night for the next 3 nights. Then we went to her grandma and great grandma's and stayed in a similar hotel, again with the same crib. She did not sleep through any nights and was up multiple times. I think because she was not as worn out just being at grandma's house.
She was worn out the night before the cruise as we had a very long day and they had a pack and play, she slept in it pretty much through the night. DH said she cried a little and he patted her back to sleep.

As for Disney World, that will be when she is 28 months. The mini crib was a bit of a snug fit for her at 34 inches, so by then I would think she would be uncomfortable in a hard pack n play. It scares me to put her in a bed with me and bed rails b/c would'nt they want to climb over the bed rails? that would be a long fall! I wouldn't sleep well, worrying about her. I could rent a toddler bed but she will likely still be in a crib at home, so i dont know if she would do well with that, maybe i should get the rent a full size crib from abbf
Atleast she would have more room and more comfort. It was not fun being up all night. Oh and she rolls and moves all around her crib at night. How would she know to stay at the top in a toddler bed?

Oh, and i did buy that inflatable toddler travel bed, but at this point i wouldn't think she is old enough to stay put on it. Maybe by November though. Atleast I have that possibility.

You might be surprised. Our DD was still in a crib at home when we bought & used this for the 1st time in Jan (26mos old) and had no problems. Just make sure she's worn out & tired the 1st time, as the 1st time sleeping in something new can be a rough transition-and put her in the same room as (or even right next to) you. Even naps in it went well. The sheets tuck in nicely around her and even though she was all over the bed in her crib, she stayed put for the most part in it. In fact, after our 1st trip with it, we switched her to a toddler bed at home shortly after since she showed she was ready.

Maybe try it out on a quick overnight or weekend trip to visit grandma or family before then, if within reasonable driving distance??

 

[disneypolybride2008]

we live far from family so we can't try that, but i was thinking of trying the blow up toddler bed at home before the trip. She is still in her crib, and i'm still wondering which option to do for Disney in Nov. The full size crib rental sounded like the best way to go so that she's not able to get out... but then again I have to turn her crib at home around and against the wall so that the high back is facing out so that she can't climb out, i dont know how high the walls are on the abbf crib's. By the picture they all look the same height all the way around the crib, which means it isn't going to be as tall as home b/c then you couldn't get the baby out, so she may climb/fall out of that. EEK! Also, at home she has a convertible crib so when she's ready we just take the lower front part off and put the bed rail on... it won't look like a toddler bed, more like a little day bed, so getting her a rented toddler bed would be a new experience. I'm really wondering how she would do having the freedom to get up in the night if she wakes and has free run of the room. That worries me. If we do bed rails with her in the bed with me, she may be nagging me to nurse during the night since i'm there. Also, worried about her falling off the bed where the bedrails aren't. Or climbing over the bedrails and falling.

We could bring the inflatable toddler bed, atleast she'd be safe from any fall danger b/c it lays on the floor, but will she stay put all night is the question.

Anyone have a picture of the abbf crib with a baby in it, so i can see how high the sides are?

thanks