Using the walk-in closet as a nursery this trip!

[Claudia1]

Well..... actually a toddler's room. Our 3yr DGD is into everything and I was very concerned with her getting up and around the villa while we slept. There are 4 of us in a 1BR but I didn't want her to sleep on the sofa bed with our DS and worry about the kitchen right there. She is not used to having the stove controls do readily available and she always tries to push the buttons on the dishwasher.

This trip, I packed an inflatable air mattress and made the walk-in closet into "her room". She loves it! I put the iron & board in the front closet and used duct tape on the door to hang a motion sensor. If she opens the door, I will know it. The mattress is 60" long and is really too long for the closet but I made it work (with a lot of muscle and pixie dust!). I brought her balnkets from home & some small stuffed animals from her bed. I would suggest a good sweeping, though. I think that the closet can get quite dusty.

While I miss the extra closet space, I am much happier to know that my DGD is safe & happy. We are at BW. I think the closet in BC is too small but the OKW closet is bigger. This one appears to be about 5.5' x 5.5'.

BTW, you could also use a baby gate in the door jam. My DGD would climb right over it, though.

P.S. Please don't flame me for putting my DGD in a closet and on the floor. It is much better than a sleeping bag and far safer for a curious climber like her. We are not exceeding the occupancy limit, either.

 

[dianeschlicht]

No flames here! We have used the laundry room in the OKW units the same way. In fact, we will be doing that this winter too. We only have 5 adults in a 2 bedroom, but our DD has to have it absolutely quiet and doesn't want to be in the living room because of that, so we ar puting her on an airbed in the laundry room.

 

[lizziepooh]

We too used the laundry room at OKW for the pack and play for DGD. It worked great being able to shut the door and know it was quiet and safe for her.

 

[Patricia]

My son, now nine, spent many nights in the closet of OKW for his own personal space. He loved it and it gave us the chance to keep his bedtime routine going while on vacation, you know the "prayers, songs, good night, shut the door" part. Gotta love the DVC

 

[T.E. Yeary]

I am very impressed. We really do have some very "inventive" folks on this board! Just goes to show, necessity is the mother of invention.



HAPPY VACATIONING,
Tom

 

[JimFitz]

Motion Detector? Are you married to Jack Bauer?

 

[Mr Poohbrain]

No flames here! I think it's a great idea. We talked about doing that last Sept w/DS's crib, but felt "weird" about putting our DS in the closet. (Just saying it conjours up images of Children's Services walking in to BWV and taking our DS.)

So, I guess that makes me a "closet" closet-mom??

Mrs. PB

 

[Disney Doll]

It actually sounds like it could be kind of cool and cozy for a kid, all snuggled up on the floor of the closet. Kind of like an adventure.

Good thinking Grandma!!!!

 

[Claudia1]

Yes, a motion detector. DGD is quite stealthy and I am afraid that I might not hear her if she slides the door open. It is a simple Fisher Price product that hangs on a door knob. It goes off when it becomes unbalanced and I got is years ago for our yongest son, who was also an explorer. It was smaller than bringing a monitor.

We have been here only 3 days and the stove has become a major battle. The knobs and buttons are too interesting but she does respond well to our discipline. However, I do not trust her in the middle of the night. We have tried various ways thru the years to block off the kitchen but she is now old enough and smart enough to climb over the kitchen counter if she wanted to.

BTW, she is just as curious at home and we all have to use child-proof door knobs covers. We are all now on our third type because she keeps learning how to use them and get out at night. She is quite bright!

 

[JerJan]

Just 2 questions....Isn't it a little dark in the closest and I don't recall the closests having an HVAC register return in them, must get kind of stuffy?! Very inventive though.............

 

[Claudia1]

I have a night light in the outlet just outside the door. The doors are louvered and have a little air exchange as well as letting in a little light. She is never hot or seemingly uncomfortable in the morning.


Good questions, though!

 

[Luigi's Girl]

My DD14 claimed that closet since our first visit "home". She doesn't sleep in it but it doubles as her "dressing room". All of her "stuff" is immediately brought in there and set up and nobody goes in there!

 

[andriade]

I am sooooo glad you wrote about this because DH and I were discussing our upcoming trip in January. We will have DS(2) and DD(9 months) with us. We have a 2br with my mom, sister and her 3 kids. We figured we'd take the king room and they can all have the living room and 2nd br. Her kids are older and don't need cribs or isolation. Mine both need dark and quiet. This whole closet thing might work. Do you think a packN'Play will fit????

 

[CarolMN]

I know a Pac 'n Play will fit in the Master bedroom's closet at the BWV. Since the laundry room at OKW has reported to be very large, I'm sure one will fir there as well. Can't say for sure for any of the others, because I'm not sure the layouts are the same.

Best wishes -

 

[Dean]

DVC will have to charge you for a 2 BR if you do this, LOL. Seriously, that has been done many times. The other variations is using the closet in the second BR of a dedicated 2 BR for the same type purpose.

 

[JimMIA]

If DW reads this thread, I know where I'm sleeping in December!

 

[tazleiten12]

If DW reads this thread, I know where I'm sleeping in December!

Actually, I should put my snoring DH in there!

 

[Mickey527]

I was always afraid to admit that I used the laundry room as a bedroom but now that others have "come out ot the closet" I will too.
I had a two bedroom for my two sons and my 21 year old complained for two nights that he couldn't sleep with his 24 year old brother snoring.
I went to Walmart and bought an air mattress for $19 and the youngest went into the laundry room. He said it was the best sleep he had gotten that week. He spent the next 4 nights in the laundry room.
And when he gave me grief about waking up I put sneakers in the dryer.
Peggie

 

[Divamomto3]

i'm about to spend my first trip in a 2 BR next week, so I can't judge what the walk in closet or laundry room looks like....not a bad idea though!

 

[crisi]

I've found my kids in the morning in their closets at home - and those are little tiny closets. Sometimes kids like spaces that are their size.