Sharing a room w/DD3 - sleep questions...

[capenor]

OK, so I don't expect this to be a big problem, but my DD is 3 and really never sleeps with us (only occasionally, like a single night in a hotel)....but we'll be sharing a room at CSR when we go next week.

I suspect she'll be so exhausted (though happy!) from all the excitement that getting her to sleep won't be tooo mcuh trouble, but I'm curious if most other families who do this all just go to sleep at the same time? Stay up and watch TV, read? Trade off going for a walk around the resort? Etc etc. Our DD usually sleeps 11 hours/night and while I'm always glad to catch up on my zzzs, that's a lot for me!

What do you do?

AV

 

[debster812]

The resort TV channels have 'bedtime' stories. Basically single frame picture/cartoons of Disney stories with a very nice relaxing voiceover. DS watched these EVERY single night and by the time the 2nd one was halfway done, he was usually fast asleep.

 

[Schmeck]

When my DDs were young, we all went to bed at the same time at WDW. It actually felt good to go to bed early! Then, hubby and I would wake up a few hours before the kids, get dressed, etc, and have some nice quiet time.

Now I think we sleep more than the kids do at WDW! They're usually still awake when I pass out on the bed...

 

[pooksma]

We put our then 3 yr old son in one of the bed's and usually one of us would sit and read him a story. Then he would watch a couple of the bed time ones from the Disney channel. We found that if he had lots of time to get relaxed he would drift off without us even noticing at first!!!

 

[lemondog]

We had this worry too, except we will have two 22-month olds in addition to our 4yo. None of them sleep with us at home and they are used to sleeping in the dark with a noise machine. We have decided to book a FW Cabin. One of our twins is a VERY light sleeper and I just can't see us all in one room, especially with the way my DH snores. Our 4yo will sleep on the top bunk, one of the twins will sleep on the bottom bunk with a rail, and the other will sleep in a pack n play. I'll probably sleep on the double bed in the bedroom and let DH have the Murphy bed. We are used to sleeping on a queen so I am not sure we would both be comfortable sleeping in the same bed.

This way we can put the girls to sleep in the bedroom and we can still hang out and watch TV in the living room area. I too am hoping we'll all be worn out enough to sleep well at night. My girls go to bed very early so we'll just plan our trips around early mornings rather than late nights.

 

[alloyd1170]

My son (when two and at three) was so tired that he crashed as soon as his head hit the pillow, if not sooner! We were able to watch tv without any problems. Then again, we rarely ever have a problem with him going to bed at night. When hes ready, he will either go get in his bed, or crash right on the floor.

alison

 

[siennacrew]

We were at disney last month with our just turned 3 yr old son. He didn't sleep very well. He fell asleep very easily but fussed a couple of times during the night. We had nightlights and it still didn't seem to help. I just think he was overly tired. I would suggest taking pj's w/ you to the parks or comfy shorts/sweats so if he falls asleep on the way back you can just put him to bed. Our son fell asleep everynight on the way back. We also got a bedrail from our resort WL. The first night we were there my son laid in bed and giggled! I think he thought it was so funny we were all in the same room!

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

When our kids were small, they were asleep, in no time. Sometimes on the bus back to the resort. DH, and I would watch TV, without waking them. My kids are very sound sleepers though. If yours are not, it could be a problem.

 

[jckdisneybound]

My daughter is also a very sound sleeper, so we would get her to sleep (by pretending we were all going to bed) and once she was asleep we could watch tv, talk whatever. Now when she was younger and woke easier at night, we would put the pack n play in an alcove closet area where it was a little darker than the rest of the room, so the lights wouldn't wake her up.

 

[Kritlyn]

I'm so concerned about the same thing. I have a 4 year old who I think will be fine and just fall asleep if I lay down next to her. The baby ( 8 months) ; however, will not sleep if he can see us... so I will have to figure out a way to set up his crib so he cannot see us. I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed. I hope to spend some alone time on the balcony when they are finally asleep.

 

[newtowdw1]

I think it depends on your child. Both of mine (DD8, DS 4) become more hyper the more tired they are. We, too, are using the FW cabins in August. It is even difficult to get them to go to sleep in the same room sometimes. From birth DD would become so overstimulated at any change in her routine that she wouldn't be able to settle and sleep. She'd wake up screaming throughout the night. Add in a genetic predisposition to insomnia, and we were all a little crazy!

So, you know your child. If it is going to be a living nightmare, plan accordingly. I've read that people bring those bed tents and screen off their child's bed. Or you could get a room with a balcony and pray for fair weather. Good luck!

 

[frndofpooh]

One of the things we have tried is to have one parent go out after bedtime and do laundry, hang at the pool or get some snacks/dinner while the other stays in the room while the children fall asleep. Usually I am the one hanging in the room with the sleeping children and I do the usual bedtime routine and then retreat into the bathroom for a relaxing bath. The sound of the running bath water helps my DS's to go to sleep and by the time the other parent is back the boys are asleep. Once they have fallen into a deeper sleep we are usually fine to turn on the TV if we keep the volume low. Also, if your room has the TV set in an armoire you may be able to keep the armoire doors extended forward to block any light from the TV.

In times of total desperation, my DH and I have been known to hang out in the bathroom playing cards until they nod off. Good luck!