what to do if dd goes to bed early

[emmababy]

My dd 9 months goes to bed around 7:00. What do those with early sleepers do in the room while she is sleeping? Do most of your kids need it to be dark and quiet?

 

[WantToGoNow]

My kids go to bed at home at 8:00. But on vacation, they stay up with everyone else. They have always had a dark room - we just put a nightlight in when dd3 went on the top bunk of the bunkbeds.

I don't think I would plan to end my evenings at Disney that early -- you will see no nighttime entertainment and personally I think the evenings in the parks are the most magical times - and much less crowded. I would get her comfy in the stroller and keep on going -- but that is your choice to make.

 

[Darcy03231]

This is one of the hardest things about staying in a hotel room. Hopefully she'll be so tired from all the excitement she'll crash and stay asleep no matter what (my kids were older when we went the first time and they were so exhausted after a full day they would have slept through anything). I would try all the lights out and just have the tv on low. If she needs it to be completely dark and quiet, once she asleep you can try the tv on low and see how that works. Otherwise, guess you and DH will be going to be early every night.

 

[KTME]

Our youngest DS is 6 months old, will be 7 months when were at Disney. He too goes to bed at 7:00. We're planning to just keep on going. We bought a smaller stroller that fully reclines (Combi EX). He doses off when we're out and about at home in his other stroller, so I see no problems. I'm not too worried about the noise level keeping him up either. He sleeps through ice hockey games when they score and the sirens and madness that follows.

Give it try for a night out. Your little one may sleep through it all and you can still soak in the Disney and not be holed up in your resort room.

Best of luck!

 

[Experiment113]

My kids are ages 4 and 9 and this will be our 3rd year in a row we've gone to WDW. We have found that the best days at Disney are when we stick as close to their home schedule as possible (less cranky kids). We go to bed early each night with the kids (we are usually exhausted anyways). We also get up early and enjoy the parks in the mornings when it is not as hot or crowded. My son will take an afternoon nap in the stroller. We plan two late nights at the Magic Kingdom to enjoy the fireworks & parades, but usually my son has slept right through these. We haven't seen Fantasmic or Illuminations since before we had kids, but we are willing to make the trade-off to have pleasant days. We'll eventually do more at night when they are older.

I do take along a bunch of night lights to put in the room so that I can see to get ready for the next day (shower and lay out clothes for the following morning, etc.) after the kids go to bed.

 

[karenTX]

When we went, DD was 18 months. We stayed at POFQ which has the drape between the sink area and rest of room. We pushed her crib (rented from ABBF) as far into the sink area as possible. After our normal bath/bed routine, we'd put her in the crib, pull the drape closed and watch TV quietly or read until she was really out. Lucky for us, when she is out...she is OUT! So then we were able to watch tv, pack, whatever. HTH!

 

[hollyb]

My kids go to bed at home at 8:00. But on vacation, they stay up with everyone else. They have always had a dark room - we just put a nightlight in when dd3 went on the top bunk of the bunkbeds.

I don't think I would plan to end my evenings at Disney that early -- you will see no nighttime entertainment and personally I think the evenings in the parks are the most magical times - and much less crowded. I would get her comfy in the stroller and keep on going -- but that is your choice to make.

Her baby is only 9 months old, of course put her to bed if she is tired why make her suffer and be miserable? Belive it or not Disney will not exoplode, there can other trips.

People why there are so many crying whining kids in parks, because the parents drag them around for hours thinking of only themselves.

 

[devotedchristian]

This is one of the hardest things about staying in a hotel room.

I agree! DS is our only child and is a light sleeper. I couldn't stay in a hotel room with kids which is why we are renting a 3 bedroom villa.

 

[Darcy03231]

We don't stay on-site anymore for this reason. My kids are much older and we go for longer periods of time and do more things than WDW. I've found its much easier for us to rent a vacation home with a pool. Plenty of room for everyone to spread. If someone wants to go to bed early they can. I also like the flexibility for meals, and having more than one bathroom!

 

[NotUrsula]

Her baby is only 9 months old, of course put her to bed if she is tired why make her suffer and be miserable? Belive it or not Disney will not exoplode, there can other trips.

People why there are so many crying whining kids in parks, because the parents drag them around for hours thinking of only themselves.

I may have mis-read, but I think that WantToGoNow meant that the baby would SLEEP in the stroller while the rest of the family went to night events.

Many babies can sleep anywhere and will sleep through anything -- if so why not let them sleep in a stroller and in arms and let everyone else enjoy the evenings in the parks? We always kept going, too; that's why comfy strollers were invented. Unconscious is unconscious, the tot didn't know the difference.

 

[CastleCreations]

Another thing that I've done, is on the day's that you aren't in the parks, I put my daughter in the stroller and pushed her out by the pool. My friends and I had a nice evening swim while she slept in the stroller. Don't worry, she was right there with us. It was a relaxing way to end the day.

 

[DISNEYFOS]

Many babies can sleep anywhere and will sleep through anything -- if so why not let them sleep in a stroller and in arms and let everyone else enjoy the evenings in the parks? We always kept going, too; that's why comfy strollers were invented. Unconscious is unconscious, the tot didn't know the difference.

I agree. My daughter was very content to sleep in her stroller. We dressed her in her PJs, bundled her up and she was out. DH and I would enjoy walking around at night at Epcot... We just needed to stay away from bus transportation, so we didn't need to fold the stroller.

Noone was irrevocably harmed by it...but it all depends on your childs temperment. Its worth a shot to see if it works..If not, then the portacrib in the bathroom hallway with towels drapped...or the splurge on a room with a balcony.

 

[Hannathy]

I agree with the stroller. That's what we always did. They slept we did what ever we wanted,especially when you have older kids they can ride and the baby can snooze. Since she is your only one and if she is a sound sleeper you could plan some nice dinners after she is sound asleep.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Her baby is only 9 months old, of course put her to bed if she is tired why make her suffer and be miserable? Belive it or not Disney will not exoplode, there can other trips.

People why there are so many crying whining kids in parks, because the parents drag them around for hours thinking of only themselves.

Good God!!! The poster wasn't saying she should stick the baby with pins to keep her awake! She was merely saying that her kids adjust to the schedule and stay up later than they do at home. My children are the same way. They aren't cranky, crying and whining. We let them sleep as late as they want. If they are tired we put them to bed but mostly they want to stay awake and see everything. I also don't know too many parents who want to drag any child around the park screaming their heads off. Maybe you can be less abrasive and actually read the post before being so snarky huh?

 

[macmahony]

My kids have always stayed up much later at disney, thankfully they will sleep late too. We have done a few christmas partys, and halloween partys, and we have on more than one occasion been leaving the park very late with them. Sometimes they have crashed in the stoller early, (or one or two of them...we have three). They will sleep late in the morning (sometime after 11), and since we go for two weeks, I don't feel the need to get up early every morning to be in the parks at rope drop. (plus we go off season) When I know we are getting up early, I try to plan an early night the night before. But, my kids have traveled a lot, and are used to being very flexible when it comes to vacation.
I say, see how it goes, try it one night, if she falls asleep in the stoller, or is happy as could be stay out one or two nights. You don't have to stay every night, but I would of been very disapointed if for two weeks I had to sit in my hotel room from 630 at night on.
My kids have had a meltdown or two, but then again so have I. In september when we were there, we were not used to the heat, and that got us good, thank goodness the parks were empty, because we spent lots of time in the pool, but still fit in everything we wanted to.
I would say see how things go, don't push it, but try to see what happens. They are so easy at that age, your baby could fall asleep in the stoller, and you could have a few great hours of just enjoying things while the baby sleeps!
Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[susykt4]

DS4 is AWFUL if he doesn't get to bed by 8pm. We've been to Disney 3 times with him and have only stayed up late once- in Feb for the Pirate and Princess party. It was a mistake to go as he was grumpy the next two days. Those were the only fireworks/night shows/parades we've seen.

He and DD6 are both ususally so tired they sleep through the tv and one light on so DH and I can watch tv or read. It's a little boring, but overall worth it because both kids are rested and ready to hit the parks at opening when the crowds are lighter. We figure we'll get to see the fireworks and night shows when the kids are older. For now it's no big deal to skip them.

 

[bartleby1]

Good God!!! The poster wasn't saying she should stick the baby with pins to keep her awake! She was merely saying that her kids adjust to the schedule and stay up later than they do at home. My children are the same way. They aren't cranky, crying and whining. We let them sleep as late as they want. If they are tired we put them to bed but mostly they want to stay awake and see everything. I also don't know too many parents who want to drag any child around the park screaming their heads off. Maybe you can be less abrasive and actually read the post before being so snarky huh?

Ooohhh I learned a new word, lol! LOVE it! I never heard the word "snarky" before, but just the sound of it described that post perfectly, lol! I'm defintely adding that one to my vocabulary.

OP, you may find that your little one does just fine in the stroller or you may also find that you are so exhausted by her bedtime that you will be more than happy to hit the hay also, lol!

As for us, I guess you could put us in the "selfish, drag-around-our-kids" category. They are very mild mannered and handle it just fine. I've NEVER had any of my kids throw a tantrum or even cry in public, with the exception of an injury here or there. We don't return to our hotel for a mid-afternoon nap and we often stay and watch the night shows. It's all what they get used to. My youngest was 9 mths on her first trip and she did just fine napping in her stroller or on a dark ride or show. You might find that your little one takes more naps during the day due to the stimulation of the sights and sounds of disney that come bedtime, she may not be tired.

Play it by ear. Your little one might surprise you.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

My little ones always stay up pretty late in Disney, but when we do finally get to the room, they just pass out! DH and i still watch tv, talk, everything They are heavy sleepers! When they were babies, we never stopped doing everything when they took naps, so they got used to alot of noise

 

[WantToGoNow]

The "snarky" response to my post is exactly why I rarely post here anymore.

If the child is tired, it will sleep -- whether it's in a bed, stroller, arms or on bench.

My children are 23, 6 and 3 -- I am not clueless. Exceptions are the rule with our vacations -- the kids go to bed late, they may/may not sleep later, they eat more junk, and they are bought more gifts.

If you want to go to bed before the sun goes down, go ahead.

 

[bartleby1]

The "snarky" response to my post is exactly why I rarely post here anymore.

If the child is tired, it will sleep -- whether it's in a bed, stroller, arms or on bench.

My children are 23, 6 and 3 -- I am not clueless. Exceptions are the rule with our vacations -- the kids go to bed late, they may/may not sleep later, they eat more junk, and they are bought more gifts.

If you want to go to bed before the sun goes down, go ahead.

WantToGoNow - I could be wrong, but I don't think that was directed at your post at all. I think it was directed at someone who posted disagreeing with your post.