Sleep with toddlers on vacation.....

[klinlin]

....is it possible?????

Yesterday, our power went out at about 2 pm for our whole town. We live out in the country, so that also means no running water and no heat. Not a good combo for my boys who are 2 1/2 and 4. Took the boys to the YMCA, for 4 year olds swimming lesson. After about 20 minutes he threw up in the pool, he 'd not sick, but a little nervous maybe. Lovely. They had to shut the whole thing down for an hour. Lots of other mothers staring at me.

Took us 40 minutes longer than usual to get home. There is only one road leading into town,and since the traffic lights were out, and it was now rush hour. it was backed up for miles. Now it is 6:30 pm, and 30 degrees, and we still have no power. With the only light coming from the car, I grab pajamas and a diaper and drive back down to a Holiday Inn with power. The boys are so excited, they are clapping an jumping up and down. We have been talking about sleeping at a hotel for months as we are 2 weeks away from our trip. They can't wait to get into their pjs.

And then..... nobody sleeps!!!!!!!!!!!! After a while my oldest and my husband are snoring, but my baby is wide awake MEOWING!!! (we don't even have a cat. we don't know anyone who has a cat! ) After what seems like ages, he finally falls asleep, only to wake us all up at 4:30 this morning.

Today was a lost day for all of us because we are so tired. My little guy "napped" from 11am - 3:30pm. We spent lots of $$$$ on our upcoming trip, and I don't want us all to be exhausted the whole week. Normally my guys are in bed by 8 and we don't her from them for 12 hours

Anyone out there have any experiences or advice that could help. DH wants me to switch ressies to a 1 or 2 bedroom. Like that is even possible at this point. Not to mention the $$$$

Thanks!

 

[waspnest]

I've found that the first night is the worst. After that they either settle into a routine, or are so exhausted by the end of the day that they just fall off to sleep.

We went to Sea World for a long weekend when ds was 3, dd was 6 mos. Ds was up and roaming the hotel room for HOURS after we went to bed. I finally tossed him in the van and drove around Orlando (actually, just lap after lap around the Universal area, since I wouldn't find my way back to the hotel if I strayed too far ) until he konked out. Carried him up to the room and got a few hours of sleep myself.

That all being said, I'd say to count of them being tired enough to fall asleep quickly in the evenings. Being at Disney, that'll probably be the case. We spent a week at my in-laws, also when ds was 3 (and it was just me and the kids for most of the week, dh was home working). Every night he was up just bouncing off the walls for hours after I tried to put us all to bed. That was a truly miserable week, but I didn't have the benefit of the Happiest Place on Earth to wear him out.

 

[BevS97]

we've had this problem on routine hotel stays (as if there is such a thing, but we stopped ni a hotel recently to break a long car journey, noone slept a wink)
but at WDW we are all tired and we sleep just fine, the youngest usually falls asleep as soon as her head hits the pillow.

 

[tjmw2727]

My dds are 2 years apart also and we have been doing wdw and other vacations since they were born, they are now 8 and 10. Our first wdw trip youngest was 15 mos and oldest was just over three, Don't Worry.

I would also not invest in a 1or 2 bedroom unless you are DVC or money is no option LOL - or try the cabins because sometimes you can get a good rate.

When we can afford it we try and get a balcony so we can put the kids down and have some alone time. Generally by the time we sit for a 1/2 hour or so on the balcony the girls are fast asleep. WDW has a story time channel that tells stories without pictures - great for bedtime, even though we don't do that at home.

Remember though that at Disney your children will likely be tired by the time you hit the room. Many times mine were asleep on the bus!

On the days when we had an early night and dinner at the resort we would split up. DH would take older dd for an evening swim and I would bath the baby and get her ready for bed. I would then put her in the stroller with her "lovie" and sippie or bottle. I always brought a comfy reclining stroller so we would take a walk around the resort. She would alwyas fall asleep and I would then join dh and dd at the pool for a while. The next early night we alternated, dh did the bath and walk and I swam with older dd. FWIW she was not a stroller sleeper..... except at WDW.

What worked for me was not trying to be so stuck to a schedule and trying to go with the flow. It dosen't work for everyone but for us, when on vacation, whatever works is what we do. If what your doing the first night dosen't work try something else the second night. Relax, you are going to have a great vacation!!

TJ

 

[CleveRocks]

My kids were 5 and 2.5 when we went to WDW in May, our first time away with them. They can both be handfuls at bedtime at home, so we were having nightmares about what would happen at WDW. OUR KIDS WERE PERFECT!!! We figure it's because they were so exhausted each night from all the walking and excitement. EVERY NIGHT WAS GREAT!!! A few times, our 2.5 year old fell asleep while still on the bus. It never took them more than about 5 minutes to go to sleep any night.

And like I said, they usually give us at least a little problem on normal nights at home. GOOD LUCK!

-- Eric

 

[disneymom3]

The first night is definitely the worst. Also keep sleeping arrangements in mind. My older two, had to sleep with one of us with our hand on them to keep them at least somewhat still. Our youngest sleeps in the daybed or what have you and he conks out just fine.

 

[wtpntigger2]

The first night was rough with dd (then 2) because we had spent the day traveling and not at the parks. The rest of the trip she went to sleep without a problem and even fell asleep in my arms on the bus ride back from MK one night.

 

[megan4777]

My DD#1 (2.5 yrs) will wake up when you look at the door that leads to the stairs to her bedroom. I swear she has to be the lightest sleeper ever.
We went to visit Mickey 10/26. We woke her early (we had a very early flight but also put her to bed early...she did sleep) and she didn't sleep on the plane. We arrived but our room wasn't ready so we headed to my aunt and uncle's studio. She was so excited she promptly nailed her forehead on the chair (see black and blue on hairline in ALL pictures). We decided to run her around.. a half hour or so later, we popped her in dbl stroller took a nice long walk and she slept (she's also not a stroller sleeper).
That night we went to Epcot until after fireworks (she did cry b/c she's scared of fireworks...SURPRISE!!!) and then we got back to the room around 10:30ish.
I was so scared how she would act b/c we have DD#2 who was 3.5Months and still wakes for a bottle at night. DD#1 NEVER woke up at night the whole trip. She even took naps at times. She's a napper at home so we tried a few times and succeeded there.
She slept in bed with DH and I (we had the master bdroom with one king bed) and that is a huge change for her and us (she slept across the pillows lengthwise...) She usually sleeps on the floor at home. I swear that she crawls off of her bed and sleeps on her floor. Hello, nice Italian made $400 bed waiting for her....the instructions were only in Italian so DH took FOREVER to put it together. I do have some funny photos, though.

Anyway, the first night may or may not be rough. RUN them like crazy. They will sleep. DD#2 was in the snugli 90% of the time and so she would sleep but DD#1 needed her nap or early bedtime. You'll do absolutely fine and you will have a good time


I edited to add that Minkydog reminded me *read post after mine first, I guess*(sign me up for the "worst mom ever" award, too) DD#1 did "need" Benadryl on the plane on the way down. She did sleep for about 45 min but she woke up while descending and had some ear issues.
We gave her gummi bears and gummi fruits (she won't chew gum....just swallow it after 5 seconds) for the take-off and landing.

 

[minkydog]

sorry, this made me think about when my kids were little and we would go camping in the tent. They were so wired up and hopping around, I used to dope them all with Benedryl about an hour before bedtiem(I know, I know,I get the worst mother of the year award for that one. ) Of course it only works if Benedryl doens't make your child more hyper.

 

[cruiserkaren]

Haven't read all the posts yet.....but I did see something that caught my eye.....Your 2 year old sleeps TWELVE (12) HOURS every night!?! Wow, my 2 year old hasn't slept that long at one time since she was about 16 months old. I wouldn't know what to do with myself.

 

[princesspiglet]

My parents live about 4 hours away and everytime we go visit, the first night is the hardest. Once she gets usd to the fact that we are staying there for a few days, she is fine. When we went to WDW in Dec 2004, she was 2 years old and we wore her out at the parks all day and skipped nap time. By the time we got back to our hotel around 8/9 pm, she passed out and slept through the night without a peep.
I think you will be fine. They will be so excited throughout the day, that they will probably just pass out at night.

 

[J and R's mom]

This thread is making me feel a little better.

I have a 2.5yr old and a 1yr old. The last time we had them in a hotel room (a 1 night stay) the baby wouldn't sleep AT ALL! It's had me freaked out ever since about this upcoming trip.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that if she is bad the first night that she'll settle in or just be too plain exhausted on the subsequent nights.

 

[klinlin]

Haven't read all the posts yet.....but I did see something that caught my eye.....Your 2 year old sleeps TWELVE (12) HOURS every night!?! Wow, my 2 year old hasn't slept that long at one time since she was about 16 months old. I wouldn't know what to do with myself.

My guys are great sleepers. I follow the rule that my mom always told me when I was a child. "You don't have to go to sleep. but you do have to go to bed." They are on a very good schedule because of it. But because they are so used to being alone in their rooms, my youngest has a very hard time when we are all together in one room.

 

[klinlin]

My DD#1 (2.5 yrs) will wake up when you look at the door that leads to the stairs to her bedroom. I swear she has to be the lightest sleeper ever.

This is just like my 2 1/2 year old!




I edited to add that Minkydog reminded me *read post after mine first, I guess*(sign me up for the "worst mom ever" award, too) DD#1 did "need" Benadryl on the plane on the way down.

DH has already stated that DS#2 will need Benadryl. WE ar in the bad parents club.


Thanks to everyone for their words of encouragement! I'm sure we will be ok after the first night.

 

[liamandcaili]

We usually have many problems when staying at hotels...DS6 and DD4 aren't used to staying in the same room, so when they do, they jump all over the place, tease each other, throw things at each other, sing songs, tell stories, etc. The last time this occurred, they kept each other awake for three hours past bedtime. Another problem is, DD can't sleep without a light on, DS can't sleep with one on. Also, DD doesn't like sleeping in strange beds without me, which means she starts asking me to come to bed at about 8 PM...if she and her brother aren't destroying the place. Anyway, the last time we stayed at a hotel, DD didn't get to sleep until about 1 or 2 AM...and we had to get up at 6.

This, however, was not at all the case when we were at Disney. The first night was a little rough...I had to keep telling them to get back in bed and to be quiet, but they finally fell asleep. After that, we were so busy, I think they were grateful to see their beds at night and were usually asleep within 10 minutes...and I had to wake them up in the morning! This never happens at home.

The only thing I am going to make sure I bring with me to further help the sleeping situation is a nightlight. That way I won't hear DD complain about it being too dark or DS complain that it is too bright. They both use a nightlight at home, so that should resolve that issue.

Have fun!

 

[kidshop]

My guys are great sleepers. I follow the rule that my mom always told me when I was a child. "You don't have to go to sleep. but you do have to go to bed." They are on a very good schedule because of it. But because they are so used to being alone in their rooms, my youngest has a very hard time when we are all together in one room.

My kids are like this too. We always stay in the cabins (or offsite). In regular hotel rooms, we stay in a suite. It's just not worth it to me to disrupt the sleep routine. I just stayed 1 night with family where ds3 slept in the room with us...he was awake from 3-5 then at 6, he told me the sun was up! I will not do that on vacation. At home, I really don't know what time he gets up, b/c he stays in his room until I get him. Anyway, IMO, it's a great idea to have a separate room for the kids.

 

[Grammyof2]

sorry, this made me think about when my kids were little and we would go camping in the tent. They were so wired up and hopping around, I used to dope them all with Benedryl about an hour before bedtiem(I know, I know,I get the worst mother of the year award for that one. ) Of course it only works if Benedryl doens't make your child more hyper.

This reminds me of once when my oldest DD (now 24, then about 1 1/2) was driving me crazy, not sleeping or napping and I was 8 months pregnant and dog tired. My mother came over to visit and said she would take care of DD going to bed and for me to relax. DD did go to sleep and slept all night. I was amazed and asked my mom what she did so I could repeat it. She very calmly said " just a small dose of Nyquil". I didn't repeat that but was very tempted many times. She lived so all is well

 

[jodifla]

My kids are like this too. We always stay in the cabins (or offsite). In regular hotel rooms, we stay in a suite. It's just not worth it to me to disrupt the sleep routine. I just stayed 1 night with family where ds3 slept in the room with us...he was awake from 3-5 then at 6, he told me the sun was up! I will not do that on vacation. At home, I really don't know what time he gets up, b/c he stays in his room until I get him. Anyway, IMO, it's a great idea to have a separate room for the kids.

This is one of the reasons we bought DVC. We have stayed a few times in the same room with DS, who is almost 4. Some nights were just fine, some nights we were up all night.

So now I just spend the DVC points and get at least a one bedroom, often a 2 bedroom! I love my sleep, especially on vacation.

Good luck!!

 

[ms.ojo]

I tried Benadryl and have the misfortune that it makes my kids hyper! Good thing I tried it here at home first. LOL But as others have posted, when we got to Disney, night #1 was the hardest...then it became much easier as we all were tired. There have been nights when we split things up. DD2 would sleep w/ me...and ds5 would sleep w/ dh. That seemed to help too.

 

[CheriePenguin]

The first night was rough with dd (then 2) because we had spent the day traveling and not at the parks. The rest of the trip she went to sleep without a problem and even fell asleep in my arms on the bus ride back from MK one night.

Just had to say I love your shirts (in your siggie photo!) I bought a set of the same ones for me, DH, and DS! I'm also designing some custom ones on my own and with some help from the "Homemade WDW T-shirt" board. Hoping it will be warm enough for T-shirts on our upcoming trip.

DS will be 20 months old, and has been having some night time sleeping issues too - some nights horrible, a few great. Hopefully he'll be tuckered out enough on the trip to let us sleep too!