Should we cancel trip? posted on families too!

[Camping Griswalds]

We were just away in a hotel this weekend for 2 nights. My DD 16 months was a nightmare! We were all in one room, plus a full sized crib for her. She DID NOT SLEEP!!! This is a baby who slept 8 hours through the night at one week of age. Really this just made our whole experience awful. The only way she finally slept was about 3:30 am on Fri night by sleeping in my bed. We have never done this with our kids when they were this young! Mostly not because we are opposed to it, but we have always had these great sleepers, who slept in their own cribs, because when they slept in our room, every time they stretched or tooted I was fully awake. I did much better if they were in the next room. Any way she just screamed. jWe were all so frustrated, and exhausted. My DH, and 2 DS and myself were all awake, nothing seemed to work. Even once she finally fell asleep in my bed ( DS 13 then went onto floor, and DS 9 slept with DH) she screamed out several times and seemed frantic until she could touch me. Nothing helped, not a bottle, not nursing. I was hoping it was just a one night thing, but she repeated this on Sat night too. I don't know if it's cause she was in a strange place, or strange crib, or maybe because we were all in her room, and she heard us snore, or semi-woke up and then saw us there...I was at my wits end!!! jDuring the day she was her usual self, so I know she's not sick or anything, and it wasn't like when kids have those night terrors...it was crazy!!! Then today we get home, and she goes to sleep in her own bed with no problems. What do you think? There is no way we can spend 11 nights in Disney like that! We've already told the boys we may have to cancel the trip. I am anxious, I really want to go, and know all of us would love it, but if the nights are like that, there is just NO WAY I can face that again!! We have the first 6 nights booked in 2 rooms at POP, and the last 5 at AKL in one room. Do you have any advice? Should we just put her in her own room on vacation? How crazy is that? Do we cancel the AKL and just add the 5 nights there onto 2 rooms at POP? Or do we just accept that maybe she isn't ready to travel for whatever reason, and not go? My husband is ready to NOT go! My boys don't want to go if she's gonna be like that either! I just am so sad. We need to make a decision soon, 'cause the deposit needs to be paid off by 12/13, and then I have to figure out what our options are in regards to our flights. This is just such a mess, and I am such a wreck!! HELP!!

 

[SJC1984]

I'd say the first night may be a little bad, but the second night everyone will be so tired that they will probably fall right off to sleep!! I know this isn't the best idea, but give them a small dose of triaminic if all else fails on your first night! I think that you won't have anything to worry about at all on the other nights! Go and enjoy your vacation!

 

[popisme]

Okay lets see..... My best friends son had some of the same problems on trips (including our Disney trip) and these things seemed to help. I don't know how long you have before your trip but try these things.

1.) alot of time it is the fact that they are sleeping in a "pack n play" style crib instead of their own so you might want to try having her sleep in a pack and play at home so she gets used to the "feel" also put her own sheets and any other things like an aquarium in with her and take these with you so it is as much like home as possible. This way it wont be like night and day for her.

2.) when you get to the hotel room most of disneys resorts (i know animal kingdom for sure) has a little alcove for the entrance hall or the bathroom that you can stick the pack and play so that it is away from everyone else. My friends son would freak out when he could see his mom but could not get to her so that helped also.

Alot of times at that age they get so used to having there bedtime routine the same everynight sometimes it is hard on them with to much change so the more things you can mimic from home the easier it will be on them.


I hope this helps...

Let me know if you have any questions.

Mariana

 

[720L]

I would just have her sleep with you if thats the only way she will sleep. My kids always slept in a pack n play at disney and I would put it right next to my bed so they could always see me. Bring stuffed animals from home and her own sheets and blankets from home.

 

[Camping Griswalds]

Crazy thing is...the crib in the hotel was a full sized crib and very nice like hers at home. I really want to go, and even said to DH, "well DD and I will sleep in one room, and you boys can sleep in other room." He said that even though that sounds okay, if the 2 of us don't get good sleep we'll be hateful!! Poor thing was so out of sorts, and I'd hate for her and us to go through that again. The other issue is though, that DS 9yo may be thoroughly pissed at sister! He is my big Disney fan and very excited to be going!! He was sad when I brought up that we might not be able to go....oh a mothers guilt...it's a terrible thing!! And even though I know we can just sleep toether, (DD and I) it was awful this weekend! She kept flopping in to me, and crying out and reaching for me. It was annoying and sad. And I really was super tired, and felt like I got no rest.

 

[DisFam95]

My 17mo was a pro sleeper..never woke up at night, went right to sleep. We had the full size crib at Disney and too went ballistic the 1st night. Screamed like we had never heard before. He ended up sleeping with us the whole week and was fine, He went right back to his routine once we got home.

It's a tough call since you can't really know the cause and how she would react in the future. I think I might just stay at POP and keep the 2 rooms. She probably won't like being alone and you and DH may have to tough it out or trade off nights sleeping w/ her.

Good luck and hope you still get to go!!

 

[Ali]

I don't know if it's the age, or the change of routine, or what, but around that age my son also would scream every night at every hotel we were in. We ended up taking a lot of walks through the lobby to let the people on the sides of us sleep. But we were exhausted. I don't think a seperate room would have worked for him, bcause he alwsys slept with us so we did it at the hotels too. The first time he didn't scream at least once when he woke up during the night was the last time we were there last month, and he's 4.5 now. Maybe you should investigate an offsite vacation home with regular bedrooms, so the crib can be in one and everyone can do things relatively normally.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Whenever we travelled with our daughter at that age, the first two nights were awful! I remember one night in the metropolis of Childress, Texas at some Comfort Inn, she STOOD in the pack n play all night screaming, yelling, sobbing. Couldn't get her settled. Finally around 4:00 a.m. she dropped in her tracks and conked. I had just finally gotten her out of our bed at home so I was no way starting that back up again, so I made her stay in the pack n play or held her in the chair. I remember taking her into the bathroom and playing peek a boo and reading stories and trying to get her tired out but she still wouldn't sleep! The next night, same thing in a different hotel in Dallas this time. By night 3, I guess she decided enough was enough and she slept fine. She always did this the first two nights on vacation until about age 4, just had a hard time the first two nights any strange place we went. Go to Disney, you never know she might do fine. Eventually, she will be so tired she will sleep I am sure! Here are some things that helped us when we did travel:

One time we put my son who is two years older than my daughter in the pack and play with her for a bit and that seemed to help her. We took him out before she fell asleep so that if she woke up she wouldn't freak because he was gone. But it seemed to make her feel better to have big brother in there for awhile. They were both small enough to do this for a short time.

Another thing, I got where I would put her in our pack and play at home for about a week before we travelled so she would get used to it at home.

Both my kids loved to fall asleep to music, I made sure to take a cassette player with their favorite trip on vacation.

I always bought her special new stuffed toys that I would give her right at bedtime.

Good luck, one nice thing my daughter is now a seasoned traveller and the best sleeper. She is always the one that has no trouble getting used to new surroundings!

 

[tommygirl79]

I really think that I would plan on going no matter what. You are chancing missing a WONDERFUL vacation for something that you are not sure will happen. Plus, DSs were already told about the trip and I don't think it would be "fair" to cancel on account of little sis (even though it would maybe teach a lesson about caring for family members). Since you have the option of another room, I think I would go no matter what and be flexible with her. If it takes her staying in another room, one of you comin back with her from the parks earlier so she's asleep in the separate room before she gets hyped up from everyone being around or whatever I think there are ways around this issue.

When are you planning on going? If it's a few months down the line, you might not have anything to worry about - kids change SOOO much at this age.

Should someone needs to switch off with her every night and maybe come back in the afternoon and rest, I still think it would be worth it - it's WDW after all!!! Since you'll be gone that many nights, I think she will be soooo worn out from everything WDW has to offer that the first night might/would be the only night in question and a magical vacation awaits...

I'm sure you will make the right decision for your family...whatever that may be...sending some decision-making-pixie-dust your way!!!

 

[ADisneyQueen]

My youngest DD did not sleep through the night at home even until 18 months. She would want to sleep with me in the middle of the night and needed to be right against me. Have you considered putting her in a toddler bed right now like a "big girl"? Both of mine were put in a toddler bed at 16 monthsb/c they tried to crawl out of the crib. Then maybe in the hotel you could put her in her own bed with bedrails from the resort and you could sleep in the other bed ( or perhaps let her fall asleep with you in the bed and then you switch to you own bed). Maybe it would be quieter with just the two of you in one room. I really hope you still get to go! Good luck.

 

[TEXASPRINCESSES]

My husband and I did the same thing with the alcove at the AKL when my daughter was three and still in a crib. We wouldlet her lay on the bed watching tv til she fell asleep then put her int he pack-n-play byt he door and hung a sheet up around the pack-n-play to drown out our room noise and light--it worked like a charm--the sheet hangs nicely on the big hinge from the room door--make sense???

Good luck no matter what--

ps--benedryl ahs been my friend many times as well--also--perfect harmless--if nothing else it helps them sleep and not get sick from all the cold and germs from traveling! Find what works for you--don't let this cancel a vacation for 6!

 

[nicolemarie]

Does Benadryl make her sleepy? I hate to suggest drugs, it sounds awful - but you might ask her doctor if a smaller than normal dose would be acceptable while you were out of town. Try it before you go and see what happens. There is nothing more miserable than not getting good sleep when you are out of town. Hope you work it out.

 

[Camping Griswalds]

You guys are so great! I have jsut e-mailed my TA to see if she had any good advice, or clients with similar problems. I am not above giving her benadryl. she has had it for colds previously, and it does make her sleepy. I have just never had to face this before. Our boys slept everywhere with ease. Oh well, I'm gonna sleep on this tonight and talk it over again with DH. I think we're leaning towards going now, but switching whole trip to POP in 2 rooms. Poor DH didn't even know about the AKL portion as it was a surprise for him and kids, but I had to tell him because of everything else going on with DD. We'll stay at AKL another time I guess, although he said, "well we could always try and see what happens" He HATES to give up AKL now that he thought that's where we were gonna stay for a little while!! I had always told him it was too expensive for us. Money is the least of my issues right now!

 

[Otimon]

Check, too, with the little one's pediatrician for advice.

Here's hoping you'll all be here for a wonderful vacation.

Best wishes.

 

[Mom-to-2-Princesses]

Good luck to you - I hope you can go.

My girlfriend used to travel with her babies crib bumper (since that is what they normally see and it blocks the other items in the room) It worked like a charm for her.

Lee Ann

 

[TinkerbellMama]

If I were you, I'd go and let her sleep in bed with you. I have to say that we are just back from WDW and our son slept like a rock, because he sleeps with us at home and slept with us there, as well. It's almost like he doesn't see bed as a place so much as a state of being curled up with Mommy and Daddy. He never has trouble settling down anywhere, thankfully. If he slept in a crib, he'd never sleep at home, either, so for us this is really the only option. Good luck to you.

 

[dmonroe]

We just got back from 9 nights at Universal/WDW, and our almost 18 month old made most nights miserable for us. We started off in a deluxe room at Portofino Bay--very bad night! He was up and down all night--sometimes crying, sometimes just talking to himself. The next morning we moved to connecting standard rooms for the next 2 nights. That was much better--we put the crib in the bathroom (which was really large!) and ds 6 slept in the room part. Next we moved to OKW for 3 nights in a 1 BDR unit. This worked well because we were able to set the pack n play in the laundry room. He still woke up at night, but as long as he coundn't see any of us he would eventually go back to sleep (unfortunately, I always had trouble getting back to sleep myself!) Next we were at SSR for three nights. Totally different setup over there! We tried putting him in the entry way, but he had trouble sleeping there. That was a really bad night. The next night we put him in the master all by himself. Dh and slept on the sofa bed and ds 6 slept on the sofa cushions on the floor. He slept well that night, but the rest of us did not! For our last night we moved him back to the entry way, and he actually did ok! Figures, on our last night!
Anyway, even with the yucky nights we still had a fun trip! The best part of it (sleep wise) was when we were at OKW and he could be in room by himself. Dh said next time we're getting a 2 bdr so everyone will be happy!
BTW, we didn't move around resorts so much by choice. We had to reschedule our trip because of Katrina, and we couldn't find 6 consecutive nights anywhere. (the 3 nights at Universal were always planned!) I really think that if we had been in the same place for all 9 nights he would have done much better!
Anyway, go and have fun! She'll probably sleep fine after the first night or 2. I would probably look into keeping 2 rooms at Pop for the whole trip, or may look into a Home away from home resort--we rented points from a DVC member. HTH-Dana

 

[lmogs]

I agree with the "make it as close to home as possible" advice. Anything in her crib at home, you should take. My two little ones had their moments travelling as well (made us wish we'd never left home) - but always after a few days, they adjusted. And, I would only use medicine if you've used it before (some drugs that should make them sleepy may backfire in some children, I believe). We try to do our bedtime routine - bath, books and into bed. Then we pretend to sleep too - until they've drifted off. If Mom and Dad seem boring, they don't really want to join us! HA! If I were you, I'd GO!!!

 

[jojomg]

I really think that at disney you have your kids outside all day everyday..until after dinner..when you get back to the hotel give her a bath or something else soothing..I have never had a problem with sleeping at disney..we are all so tired of the day..But I am a little concerned my dgd is coming this yr and she is only going to be 4 months..so I am freaking out a little bit.she might cry all day and all night...but I think you should take the chance that the disney magic will work on her....I will keep my fingers crossed for you...good luck

 

[TiggerandBelleFanMom]

I too would give in and just let your 18 month sleep with you on the trip, if that will get the job done.

We are not a co-sleeping family generally, but we sometimes resorted to this on vacation when our dd was around the age yours is now. My dd is a big mover in her sleep, and it does sometimes result in getting kicked as she rotates and thrashes, but what can you do?

In a worst case scenario, you might want to consider renting a car. My dd always falls asleep in the car if she is at all tired. Of course, depending on whether you think you can do the transfer once she is asleep, that might mean one of you will wind up sleeping in the car as well, instead of in a nice hotel room. But it beats not sleeping at all. And you can always get a massage!