Sharing a hotel room with a toddler

[roxannex]

Sorry if this sounds stupid! We're going to book tonight for a 4 night stay at AKL in December with our two year old. He was never one for co-sleeping. It always ended up as co-playing, so he has always slept in his own crib in his own room. If we're around, he just stays up and thinks it's playtime.

Any advice or suggestions on how to handle this in the hotel room? He still sleeps in his crib at home, but I think he might be too big for a pack and play...but not big enough to sleep in his own bed.

How do you manage to stay up when it's time for the kids to go to sleep? Or do you? (After a long day at Disney, I might pass out by 9.)


Thanks!

 

[mymadelynn]

I think there are place you can rent a regular crib and have it set up in your room. I would have it set up far away from were you will be sleeping.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

Also, I'm thinking that maybe sitting out of the balcony instead of being right in the room may help. I think we are also going to ahve issues with our daughter so this is what we are planning to do.

 

[roxannex]

That's a good idea. Go out on the balcony while he goes to sleep.

In my mind, I don't think it's a big deal. I'm telling myself that this is a family vacation and the idea is to have fun...so bedtimes go out the window. But then I'm thinking...hmmm...after a long day with our son, we are going to want a little time to chill out!

You can get bed rails for the bed, can't you? Maybe that would work.

 

[GiGi30]

Try http://www.abbf.com/ You can rent full size cribs from them. I used them for our trip a few weeks ago and highly recommend them!

 

[GiGi30]

Forgot to add that if you are staying in a Disney Resort, they deliver the goods to the hotel and pick them up, so all you have to do is call bell services to have them sent to your room.

 

[Elmo888]

DD2 slept in a pack n play at WDW, and she was fine. She slept in a PNP 2 weeks ago, and she'll be 3 in a month. If he sleeps in crib at home, I would definitely stick with one on vacation, whether it is a PNP or a crib from abbf. Everyone will be happier and he will be safe. (DD2 slept in "travel crib" at a hotel recently, and it was much smaller than PNP. She had to sleep diagonally to fit! But she was happy and secure. She kept talking about her "tiny crib".)

I found it to be difficult sleeping with the kids (DD6 and DD2) in the room. I'd definitely take advantage of the balcony until he falls asleep. And a bottle of wine! If your child tends to fall asleep in the car, stroller, etc., it might not be too bad. He might be asleep before you get to the room. Neither of mine fall asleep in the stroller, car, etc., and it was difficult to get them to sleep at the hotel. Our trip in January was our first family trip ever (hence our first stay in a hotel as a family), and it was a real eye-opener. We've stayed in two hotels with them since, and it has been at all-suite hotels (kids in one room, adults in the other).

The other thing that I would try is a sheet hung on those removeable sticky hooks. I brought a shower curtain (already has the holes for hanging, I thought), but where I could hang it was too close to the PNP (a plastic sheet and a toddler don't mix - what was I thinking?).

Also, I would try the PNP in various places, if one place in the room doesn't work. We stayed at WL (same size rooms as AKL), and there wasn't much floor space. We had the PNP in the sink area and in front of the front door (but then we couldn't get out of the room for anything). Another place to try is by the sliding door to the balcony. With the curtain and the bed blocking light, once he's asleep, it should be fairly cave-like. We didn't try this, but I wish that we had.

Have a great trip!

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm not 100% sure you're even going to have to worry about this. On our recent trip to Disneyland, by the time we were back at the hotel room, DS was either already passed out or on his way...and the hotels are much closer at DL than at WDW, I hear! So you might not even have to worry about this...just make sure his clothes are comfortable enough to sleep in, and maybe ease up on the nighttime toothbrushing rules...

 

[Nicsmom]

Don't stress too much. Our DS is the same way. We usually stay in a 1 bedroom at one of the DVC resorts. However, the last time we stayed at the YC. Our DS slept like a rock. We even watched TV while he slept. He would never do this at home. It must be the Disney magic. We've also rented a crib from abbf. Worked out great. Highly recommend them.

 

[TheDizMom]

I have found with my kids that the first night or 2 they are awake with us and not wanting to go to bed due to excitement and being all together in one room, but after that they are so tired they zonk once they hit the pillow. My DH usually goes to sleep with them, or if he's not tired yet goes for a walk around the resort or to the arcade. I am the one who has a hard time. I solved this by bringing along a book and one of those little book lights you can clip to the book. I stay quietly reading in my bed and there isn't enough light to bother the kids. The balcony is a good idea too, I may have to try that next time .

 

[caracap]

I just came back with out 1,2 & 3 year olds. After the 1st night, we drove around until they were all asleep and would carry them in. They are so routine at home that my 1 & 2 year old would NOT fall asleep the 1st night. I tried putting my 1 year old in the PNP, and she woke up screaming after an hour. She slept in one bed with me, my DS slept with my DH, and my DD slept with my mom in our connecting rooms. We are still catching up on our sleep!!!

 

[mom2aredhead]

On our recent trip to Disneyland, by the time we were back at the hotel room, DS was either already passed out or on his way...and the hotels are much closer at DL than at WDW, I hear! So you might not even have to worry about this...just make sure his clothes are comfortable enough to sleep in, and maybe ease up on the nighttime toothbrushing rules...

I agree. I even starting bringing PJ's to the park at night and would put them on him before we left. Every night, without fail, the kid was sound asleep on the bus back to AKL. I would just give him a bath in the morning or in the afternoon after we went swimming instead of before bed like we usually do at home. Fortunately he's got a very easy going personality so the change in routine didn't bother him at all.

Also (lucky for me...and hubby )my son is a VERY sound sleeper. We had no problem carrying him off the bus, thru the lodge and putting him in the bed without waking him up, and we could turn the TV/lights on with no problem.

You can request bed rails at AKL (no charge) and the mousekeepers will come and put them on the bed for you. Also, if you want added safety, the bed will push against the wall - the headboards don't move, but the bed itself does - that way you only have to "worry" about 1 side.

 

[roxannex]

Thanks for all of the great advice! My son always falls asleep in the car, he may very well be asleep by the time we get home.

I also like the idea of pushing the bed against the wall and getting bed rails. We may try that!

BTW...I am the mom of a redhead too. Go redheads!

 

[LisaFB]

We'll be at AKL in a few weeks with both our kids (DD is almost 4 and DS just turned 2). DD is fine in her own bed and we asked for a PNP for DS. He likes to be confined even though he's in a toddler bed at home and out of the crib, so we know it won't be a problem. They both share a room when we sleep at my parents so that's ok as well. We're making sure to bring our portable DVD player and we'll be sitting on the balcony watching movies until the kids fall asleep. We'll be doing the same thing on the cruise... Pray it works!!