To all you mommy's with toddlers!

[Chrissyb8885]

I will be traveling with my sister and her 3 kids she is really worried about her youngest (who will have just turned 1) sleeping in her porta-crib. They did a "test run" last night and at midnight gave up and put her back in her room cuz she wouldnt sleep!!! anybody else have the same problem? what did you do? also is it completely cruel to put the crib in the bathroom at night so you can close the door? We are staying at the contemporary i wonder if it will even fit in there??? I dont think we could actually stick her in the bathroom to sleep but im running out of ideas HELP I would like to get a little sleep while on vacation

 

[dlstc]

DDH took my DD<2 up to see Grandma and took the pack and play. She would not go to sleep. I asked him, "did you put her blankies and music box in it and put her night light in the room?" He said no, he didn't "bother." I took her again a month or 2 later, included the said items and guess what? She went right to sleep and slept the whole night through. I would suggest doing everything to recreate her crib environment.

That said, I have had problems with her sleeping in a strange hotel room the first and second night, but by the third night she was fine. She just had to get used to the surroundings.

I would have absolutely no qualms about putting my daughter in the bathroom AS LONG AS I was absolutely, positively 200% sure she could not get out of the pack n play. I've read about toddlers drowning in toilets (could bring a lock) or turning on hot water faucets and burning themselves. One other drawback - what if someone has to use the facilities while she's sleeping?

Hope this helps and good luck!

Diana

 

[MomE@Home]

We used a Pack N Play for our DD when she was 18 mo. old. The first night she fussed and did not sleep well but after that we were so busy that she fell asleep on the way back to our room & slept through the night.
One thing we did was to have her favorite blankets, doll & books in the play yard to make her feel secure and I also used sheets for the Pack N Play so she would be more comfortable.
I kept the play yard in the same room as my DH & I as she felt more secure being able to see us(being in a strange place & bed).
Hope this helps !

 

[Gillian]

My kids sleep anywhere, pretty much, but I'm also not above putting them in the bathroom! A pack n play can be folded, moved into the bathroom and then reopened. A portable wood crib might be a problem. That's what we had at the Polynesian when we stayed there.

We haven't travelled with 2 kids yet, but with DS we would put the crib in the darkest part of the room and sit out on the balcony until he fell asleep. it usually doesn't take long, because he is so active on vacation.

They might want to keep trying with the protable crib. Best of luck!

 

[kilee]

We had our neice (15 mo) on vacation w/ us last fall. As well as my sis and her DH. The first night was brutal-- she wouldn't sleep and was MISERABLE the next day. To boot, she came down w/ a cold on top of the new surroundings and strange bed. (We were in a pool home we rented). They wound up letting her sleep w/ them. They were lucky because they had a king size bed. It was the only way anyone in the house was gonna get any sleep.

She went right back to her crib once home to w/o a problem. Which was a concern.

 

[kangaandroo]

Sounds cruel to me. What about bringing her into bed with her Mom?

 

[bartleby1]

Neither of my kids would sleep in the pack n play. Last trip they were 3 years old and 14 months old. DH slept with one and I slept with the other. My 14 month old wouldn't sleep in the pack n play and my 3 year old would have fallen out of bed without one of us there! It worked out fine. One hotel we stayed in only had a King bed, so we all shared. That was a little tight since my kids are big bed hogs but we made do. I'd rather have them right there with me, than waking up in the middle of the night scared and not knowing where they are.

They will be 4 years and 2 years on our next trip and I plan on doing the same thing. HTH!

 

[tassie42]

our dd almost 3 refused to sleep in the pack n play this past April! She hopped up and down screaming! We eventually gave in so I had my two dds and me in one double bed.(mydd8 laid across my feet) not very comfy I was afraid I was going to kick her! My dd kept crying on and off all night long! I was really getting anoyed with her. We thought it was cause of the strange hotel room but it turned out she had a double ear infection! ( we had the dr come the next morning cause she said her ear hurt!)

The other nights we got the trundle bed (we were at por) my dh slept on it and my ds10 and dd8 got the other double bed and I let my dd3 sleep with me it was easier than fighting with her!

I had to laugh when I read a post on the resort that said the trundle beds were uncomfortable for anyone over 5. My dh never complained! although he was in the army and learned how to sleep anywhere.

sorry this is so long winded have fun on your trip!

 

[Mrs. Toaster]

My 2 year old is still in a crib, and doesn't sleep well in the pack and play either. We plan on renting a crib from A Baby's Best Friend (www.abbf.com) for our upcoming Disney trip. You can find all kinds of reviews on them on the Families board. Worth the money, for some good night's sleep!

 

[babby]

Boy you really hit my concerns on the nose! My 18 month old only sleeps in his crib behind his closed door in his own room. I thought maybe we could place the pack and play in the area where they have for you to hang up your clothes and put a sheet or blanket hanging from the bars at the top so that he could not see us when we put him to bed. He will likely just end up pulling the whole thing down though. I am worried about how he will sleep on our upcoming trip in June. He has never slept with us and I don't know if he would. I just hope he has so much fun in the parks that he is so exhausted he doesn't even know where he is sleeping! Anyhow, have a good trip!

 

[babby]

Whoo Hooo I just hit "veteran" status!!!! 75 posts! Yippie!! I'm a dis veteran!!! haha

 

[CEDmom]

Our DD never liked being in a Pack n Play. She would actually throw herself against the side to try to tip it over. Needless to say we took her right out of it. On vacation she either sleeps with us in a king bed or in a sleeping bag on the floor. She goes right back to her own bed when we get home. We've been doing this for about 3 years now. If she's on the floor we block off the area with chairs etc so she doesn't roll all over the place. I think the bathroom idea is a bad one. It's punishing a small child for something that isn't their fault.

 

[kangaandroo]

Originally posted by babby
Whoo Hooo I just hit "veteran" status!!!! 75 posts! Yippie!! I'm a dis veteran!!! haha

me too and I didn't even notice it until I read your post, and then went to check mine!

 

[riopooh]

Our DD3 wouldn't sleep in the pack n play. We went skiing (she was 2 & 1/2) I would let her fall asleep in bed with me and then move her. We spent her 3rd bday at Disney - and had no success at all. I ended up with my DS9 and her - neither would go near my DH - he snores too much!

PS - I was wondering how many post it takes to become a veteran - thanks! (I'm gaining on it!)

 

[Hugpug]

For the life of me I don't understand why you would want to take any child to WDW under the age of 4. Not only is it a complete waste of money but I don't believe a child under the age of 4 should be put through the grinding hassle and truma that touring a theme park such as WDW. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[kangaandroo]

My daughter (16 months-14 for our last trip) loves it because I take it at her pace. She travels so much with us that she has NO problem sleeping anywhere as long as mommy is there. She loves the sights and sounds. Will she remember it? Probably not, but if i only did things with her that she would remember we would spend our days not doing much! Will she benefit from it? Of course she will, as long as I TAKE IT AT HER PACE. kids benefit from seeing and doing new things,having many varied experiences. Plus it gives this tired breastfeeding, co-sleeping, atachment parenting, stay-at-home mommy some great refresh time with the baby. It makes all very happy. BUT every kid is different. Mine loves it, yours may not. My next one may not. It's all about knowing your kids, their limits and following them.

Stace

 

[pklein09]

We traveled to Niagara with our 18 mos old, as well as the 3, 4, and 5 year olds (yes - 4 kids in 5 years - and I'm still mostly sane!!!) We just took them to WDW when youngest turned 3 and the others were 5, 6, and 7. While in Niagara, he slept in a porta crib pretty well. However, I did have a bottle of Benadryl and Childrens Tylenol Cold with me. I also brought the same medicine with me to WDW. I may get some flack for this, but a little bit of Benadryl/Childrens Tylenol Cold goes a long way with a kid who won't sleep. We took Amtrak to Orlando and all the kids got their dose around 8:00 pm and I had no problems with them sleeping.

Best of Luck and enjoy the trip!

 

[tjmw2727]

My oldest had a difficult time on our first trip when sleeping in a PnP. Our second trip I brought some PnP sheets with us washed in our detergent and her lovies and a musical toy from her crib at home- this made a huge difference.

I would keep up with trying to use the PnP at home but if she dosen't settle then don't push it - if you have to use the PnP at disney you don't want it associated with "bad times" LOL.

During a vacation we leave all our conventional wisdomf at home, and just do what works. At times kids have slept with us - in the stroller, anything that worked. My youngest DD to sleep in her stroller, it was a large full size that fully reclines. We would get her bathed and dressed in PJ's in the evening, when she was fed and sleepy we would walk the hotel or even go to Epcot (from BW area) and enjoy some "adult time" while she slept happily in the stroller. Then when we returned for the night it was not a problem switching to the PNP.

As an alternative a couple resorts offer a full size crib, I know the Swan/Dolphin and the GF do or you can rent one from a baby's best friend. Check out abbf.com online for prices, IIRC they deliver and pick up to any resort. I would still bring a couple sheets from home and some familiar objects. HTH

TJ

 

[bartleby1]

Originally posted by Hugpug
For the life of me I don't understand why you would want to take any child to WDW under the age of 4. Not only is it a complete waste of money but I don't believe a child under the age of 4 should be put through the grinding hassle and truma that touring a theme park such as WDW. Just my 2 cents worth.

LOL ! If you've ever experienced the look of awe and smiles from ear to ear on a toddlers face as you walked down main street for the first time or when they met their favorite character you would understand why! Under 3 years is FREE anyways, so it isn't wasting any money. I would also never leave part of my family home while I took my older ones on vacation .

 

[MelessaG]

My kids have been going since my oldest was 18 mos. and they all love it. (I go at their pace too). My oldest (DD#1) slept in her pack-n-play with no problem. My middle one (DS#1) did not, and so he slept with me on his first trip. No I didn't sleep well, but still have good trip memories. (He also got an ear infection, maybe it's a travel thing?) My youngest (DD#2) also did fine in the pack-n-play, but we had it easier with her. We were at the Residence Inn, and put her to bed 30 minutes before we went so she would be sleeping before we all packed into the room. I'm not above isolating a child's bed in a quiet room so they can fall asleep, but only once have we stayed in a hotel that space permitted that. I'm not sure a pack-n-play would fit in a bathroom-at least not anywhere we have stayed, and there is the worry of them getting out and into trouble in the bathroom. It also depends on the age of the child. Our expected DD#3 will be about 6 mos. old on our next trip (My 4 will be spaced over 6 years and I'm glad to hear it can be done ) I don't forsee as many problems with her at all because she won't yet be at the 'pulling up' stage. But if there are problems, we will adapt. We make so many overnight trips to my grandparents' that she will probably already be used to the pack-n-play. Continuing to practice with it probably wouldn't hurt either.