Where do you toddlers sleep?

[rsmithx]

Our trip takes place in 4 months when dd is about 18 months and currently she sleeps in crib just perfectly, all night long, no problems. But when we travel somewhere she doesn't sleep well. We use a peapod (pop up tent) and it takes forever to get her to sleep (vs. at home we just put her in the crib and she does it herself no complaining). She won't sleep with us (just giggles and plays at O' dark thirty. We're considering transitioning her to a real bed so we can just use gaurd rails. Anyone have some advice? And by the way we use a lovie and always take it with us and a pacifier, which we were going to try and wean her from...but maybe will wait till after the trip.

 

[tanyaandallie]

Have you tried using the pack n play or the crib provided by the hotel? Neither of my kid were a big fan of either but they can work. My kids just sleep with us when we travel. It was really tough traveling with my dd b/c she slept terribly away from home. But, once she hit about 2 she turned the corner and it's been fine since then. My 2 year old has never had the same problem. I get him to sleep in whatever bed we are in and just put pillows next to him so he won't fall off. He sleeps in a crib at home.

 

[labdogs42]

One trip, he slept in a bed with bed rails (I sat with him until he fell asleep) and the other trip he slept with us in a king bed with a bed rail. My son hates pack n plays so we didn't even try that. He's 2 and in a real bed at home now, so we'll either do a real bed with rails or let him sleep with us on this years' trips!

 

[tanyaandallie]

Do they have bed rails at the resorts? That would allow me to sleep so much better with my 2 year old in bed with me!!! I wouldn't wake up to check on him 100 times a night to make sure he isn't going to fall off the bed!

 

[mom2aredhead]

At home hubby and I have a king bed, so the 2 of us squeezed into a smaller bed looking over at the little person in a big bed was pretty funny.

He was still sleeping in his crib at home last trip, but we put him in the bed with the rails at AKL and he was FINE. Honestly, most nights he fell asleep on the bus or in the car on the way home from wherever we were and didn't move for hours..he was so tired it wouldn't have mattered where he was.

 

[disney_fan_fam]

How about using a pack n play and just bring linens/blankets she's familiar with? We stay at hotels often (my dd 16 mos) does fine.

 

[momtosam]

Need to know too, can you get bedrails at the resort?

 

[PA Princess]

I can relate because my youngest is much the same way...she is the best night sleeper at home and on her own, but it is more of a struggle when we travel. It is funny, because none of my older children were as good alone night sleepers as the youngest and so they always were fine to fall asleep when I was holding them or sleep in bed with us, etc...not the youngest.

Our last trip was September 2006 when she was 20 months old. We brought our pack 'n play and she slept in the sink area behind the curtain...we also had her Pooh bear that makes music and we usually play that at night and that really helps.

I hope you can figure out an arrangement that works well for you!

 

[mom2aredhead]

Need to know too, can you get bedrails at the resort?

Do they have bed rails at the resorts? That would allow me to sleep so much better with my 2 year old in bed with me!!! I wouldn't wake up to check on him 100 times a night to make sure he isn't going to fall off the bed!

It's the only on-site resort I've ever stayed in, and they had them there. Called Mousekeeping when we checked in and they brought and installed them for us...everything was ready when we returned from the parks that evening.

I would assume they have them in all of the resorts...??

 

[rsmithx]

Thanks for the great response, I think we'll be fine, we'll just have to use trial and error to get the right fit for us. She'll probably just be so worn out that it won't really matter

 

[krystalleigh1]

I'm a hdcp and have transitioned many toddlers from sleeping in the crip or pnp to a cot on the floor with the "big kids". It takes a week or two to fully transition them-but then it's easy.

Have you thought about making a little "bed" on the floor for her next to your bed? You could start by transitioning her by having her take naps on her blanket on the floor. If she gets up just keeep telling her, "lay down. It's nap time." No fussing. Just keep going over and laying her down. Her blanket can be her "nap boundary" and she'll learn to stay on her blanket. It really is easier than it sounds-but the first day or two you'll have to remind her to lay down a lot. If she gets used to taking a nap on the floor it'll be easier for her to go to sleep on her blankie at WDW. And it'll be easier for her to transition to a toddler bed, because she'll understand the concept of "staying put until nap time is over."

Krystal

 

[labdogs42]

Need to know too, can you get bedrails at the resort?

Yes -- I've gotten them at Beach Club and POR. I'm sure they have them at all of the resorts.

 

[SFLTIGGER]

One option we used last year for our DS; at COSTCO we found a small inflatable bed (is was Pooh so we just had to get it) it was like a combination btwn an air mattress and a sleeping bag. It worked well for us. One source where similar item are sold (as well as some cots that look really cool) is at One Step Ahead (www.onestepahead.com) go to Travel & Gear, then Travel solutions, then Vacation travel. They have inflatable beds, travel trundel, and a coulple travel cots that are very low to the floor and the prices start at $45. Hope this helps!

 

[Elmo888]

My 26 month old slept fine in a hotel-provided pack n play. The problem was getting her to sleep, but that seemed to be a factor of other people in the room (not a factor of the pack n play). She sleeps in a crib at home, and she will until she's 3 (or until she climbs out, whichever comes first). I did this with my first DD, and it worked well.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

We just use the bed. All the resorts have bed rails. We have never used the pnp for sleeping. They are uncomfortable and my kids were too big. Your little one will be so tired that she will probably pass out with no problem on the bed. I don't know if it is important to you for her to get rid of the pacifier but if it's not then why not just let her keep it. Unless you are planning in weaning her immediately why add the extra stress? It is a personal decision so whatever you decide on that good luck. I think you'll have a great trip. Don't even worry about it.

 

[SFLTIGGER]

... The problem was getting her to sleep, but that seemed to be a factor of other people in the room (not a factor of the pack n play). ....

That was our problem too! And the main reason DVC was such an easy sell for us. We stayed cash in a 1BR at BCV and bought DVC the next spring.