Toddler beds and baby proofing DVC rooms?

[5forDiz]

The high latches and the sliding outlet covers are both very easy to operate for the elderly - think they should be standard in all new apartment and hotel construction. i use them in my remodeling for apartment interiors. The magnetic cabinet lock takes a little getting used to, but they are really easy if there is a mark on the cabinet showing where to put the magnet. In a hotel though, the magnets for the locks would very like quickly get lost, though. None of these child-proofing features takes any additional strength, just some extra height over pint size tot size for several of them........
http://www.safebeginnings.com/WebComponents/Catalog/Public/showproduct.asp?id=182

Your suggestions & efforts will probably have better chance of becoming a standard if perhaps you address your concerns directly with hospitality industry/trade groups, etc and/or guest services departments of specific resorts & hotels where you find these features lacking.

 

[CarolAnnC]

This discussion is not DVC specific, and is really more suited to our Family Board. I am moving it over there for further input. Thanks all...

 

[frtchr]

We take masking tape. Duct tape leaves residue, and I don't want to be charged for extra cleaning! LOL We have stayed in DVC 2 bedroom villas in the past and will again in May. DD3 sleeps on the pullout couch, and she has never tried to get out of bed or open the doors. Too tired!

 

[MarriedToAPrince]

My DH and I were just talking about this. We were thinking about renting a 1 bedroom villa but I am not comfortable putting my DD in a room by herself with full access to a kitchen. So we are going to rent the studio villa instead.

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

Another tip, before you let you kids run around take a small flashlight and search under the bed and around on the floor for dropped medication.

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I never thought of this, I'm really glad you shared this tip.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The high latches and the sliding outlet covers are both very easy to operate for the elderly - think they should be standard in all new apartment and hotel construction. i use them in my remodeling for apartment interiors. The magnetic cabinet lock takes a little getting used to, but they are really easy if there is a mark on the cabinet showing where to put the magnet. In a hotel though, the magnets for the locks would very like quickly get lost, though. None of these child-proofing features takes any additional strength, just some extra height over pint size tot size for several of them....

It's not so much the strength required, but the dexterity required to operate them. Arthritis can make it difficult to slide the outlet cover and install the plug at the same time.

 

[bangzoom6877]

It's not so much the strength required, but the dexterity required to operate them. Arthritis can make it difficult to slide the outlet cover and install the plug at the same time.

It's also very easy to bring plastic outlet covers and just put them into the outlets upon arrival. We have these all over our house so we could just take them with us from home...no need for them to be in the house when we are not in it!

Also a word of caution: I am not going to move any coffee table or anything up against the balcony door. This is because I don't want the boys climbing on it and getting hurt. I know the table is in the room anyway, but if it is right up against balcony doors it might make it more intriguing for them to climb on it.

I'm not all that worried...my kids get so tired at Disney, that I am sure everything will be all right. I still worry though and would rather worry for nothing than to not worry and have something happen. We're still gonna see when we arrive if the boys can sleep in the bedroom with us, in their Cars sleeping bags. They are little so for this trip it might work. And they prefer sleeping in their sleeping bags in hotels so they just might want it that way anyway!

 

[jpeka65844]

We've taken the sofa cushions from the pull-out and made a "mattress" on the floor for DS4. He never did roll off of it but if he did, he wouldn't have been that far off the ground.

Believe it or not, he's also pretty comfy in a PnP still! We were surprised about that! He just can't get in or out by himself which for a 4 y.o. can be pretty frustrating! There was one instance where I was tooling around the bathroom and said "Ok, get out of bed and go potty!" to which he replied "Umm, Mom. I can't." Oh yeah!!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

We've taken the sofa cushions from the pull-out and made a "mattress" on the floor for DS4. He never did roll off of it but if he did, he wouldn't have been that far off the ground. ...

That won't work with all the sleeper sofas. Some have cushions that don't come off and flip under the foot of the bed to support it.

We did use that method with the older sleeper sofas when we brought our niece along and she and my son didn't want to share a bed. (they were both little kids)

 

[scarlet_ibis]

Haven't read through to see if anyone has mentioned this, but you should specify that you will not accept a handicap-accessible room. Part of my family was placed in a HA villa one trip and (1) there was nowhere in the room that anybody could store things like medications that my cousin's toddler could not reach and (2) the kids could reach the hot stovetop and the knobs for everything.

 

[disneyjr77]

Lots of great tips in this thread i was wondering about the actual doors leading outside. We'll be staying at Pop and the Polynesian and DD5 sleepwalks, are the doors set up so that she couldn't open them in her sleep and walk out? I know they have the locks on them, but don't know how "hard" they are to unlock and they have the flip over things but don't know if they're within reach if she were to reach up. I may be overly paranoid but better to be safe than sorry.

thanks!!

 

[momto2js]

For the bed rail issue. We have used pool noodles under the sheets. They are cheap at any drug store and then can be left behind.

 

[RhettsMom]

For the bed rail issue. We have used pool noodles under the sheets. They are cheap at any drug store and then can be left behind.

What a neat idea! I assume you put them under the fitted sheet? I may have to try this at home. Also, I believe you can buy noodles for $5 a piece at some of the resort pools, like BC!

 

[linzbear]

I was really concerned on our trip to BLT in October (especially because of the concrete 'footer' to the railing) with our DS2.5. The balcony door to the living room was incredibly hard to open (took strength as well as understanding), and you had to be able to read the instructions. Really though, we left the shades down and didn't even show DS that there was a door there. He slept on the single pull out chair with no rails (the arms had a little rail to it), but he sleeps on a mattress on the floor without rails anyway.
The balcony door to the master is easier to open, but there are still 2 locks. A tension rod here is probably a good idea if you're really concerned. I wasn't because we had the curtains drawn so you couldn't see the doors, and he wasn't thinking about finding the balcony after waking up from a nap - he wanted to find us!

We had DS taking naps in the master in the king, and going to bed for the night on the sleeper chair - really, we didn't need the kitchen after he went to bed.

We also had a rail for my younger DS who was 6mo at the time. He slept in the king with us at night and in the PnP for naps (at the time I wouldn't put both boys in the bed together, but now I probably would).

Anyway, we had no problems and rarely went out on the balcony anyway (too cold & mosquito filled).

 

[happymommy]

I haven't read through all your responses, so I apologize if this was already suggested!

I used to travel for years with an aerobed "sleepaway bed" - it's a smaller than twin size inflatable toddler bed (but big enough for about an 8 year old) with raised sides, and it comes with its own mattress pad. My kids both slept so well and safe in it, and it also comes with a travel bag (we just checked it as luggage). I think I originally got it from The Right Start but have seen it for sale elsewhere.

I would always ask for an extra flat sheet, and put that down underneath it, just to feel cleaner than the carpet! Then make it up with whatever bedding - either bring your own or ask housekeeping for some.

My kids, being 2 years apart (and constantly getting asked if they were twins) used to fight over who got to sleep in it! I bought it for DD and used it probably for over 5 years!

I definitely would look into investing the $100 or so - it's totally worth it!

 

[moonpie85]

Th

These just got patented back in 2004, and are great - I ordered several cases and did all our outlets in our apartments - they have a cleaner look than regular outlets too:
http://www.safebeginnings.com/WebComponents/Catalog/Public/showproduct.asp?id=182

I only wanna say that my daughter has been able to mess with these since about 15 months old. Sadly, I have a monkey on my hands

 

[moonpie85]

Lots of great tips in this thread i was wondering about the actual doors leading outside. We'll be staying at Pop and the Polynesian and DD5 sleepwalks, are the doors set up so that she couldn't open them in her sleep and walk out? I know they have the locks on them, but don't know how "hard" they are to unlock and they have the flip over things but don't know if they're within reach if she were to reach up. I may be overly paranoid but better to be safe than sorry.

thanks!!

I think they have that safety lock ya know the little knob with the long thing that goes over it and you can only open the door like 3 inches? I don't know what to call it! haha But depending on her age/height, that might help!