First Vacation

I agree with the Mom's who say encourage your child to adjust to the new surroundings. This should be a recurring theme throughout your process of raising your son anyways. Children are resilient and highly adaptable...IF we let them!!! My husband and I have always been BIG on vacations, we usually go on 2 large vacations per year and several small weekend getaways always WITH our children from the time that they were born. My kids find new surroundings to be exciting...like an adventure. Bring with you some of his "usual" items but leave room for introducing him to new experiences as well. Keep in mind that vacationing with a kid is not the same as vacationing with your spouse alone and just come to expect it to be slightly challenging. We have now reached a point with our boys 6 and 7 years old that we can now leave the country for a trip and it is quite enjoyable. You kind of have to adopt the mindset that your going to have to "go with the flow". Don't stress about nap schedules...he should be adapting to your schedule, not the other way around. I am not saying that it is easy, but it IS necessary to allow your child to become adaptable.

J.,
The good thing is that you're prepared for the worst!! Good for you. My son was always a good sleeper until vacation!! Here are some tips that helped me: My son's room is dark at home, so I would make sure you have good blinds or darkening shades along if this is an issue with your little one. Also, I would make sure to have a fan or noise machine if this is something that is the norm with him. Most importantly, keep routines the same as much as possible. For us, it's 1:00 naps and 8:00 bedtime. We always take a bath, eat a snack, brush teeth, book and lay down. If you keep your bedtime routine the same, it will definitely help!! These may all be things you've thought about! Either way, best wishes for a great vacation!
M.

I thnk you shouldn't worry so much, but try to relax and go with the flow. I would try his own bedroom nearest yours when you get there. If he listens to music at night or sleeps with something special, make sure to bring that - something familiar. When you get there, don't act concerned or worried about it, or he'll pick up on it right away. Either be nonchalant, or make it seem like a special adventure - whatever you think works with your child. Stick to your regular routine the first few nights - don't get him overtired or wound up too much. Then if all that doesn't work, you can put the crib in your bedroom. It will be fine.

You definitely want to keep his scheduled naps. If you don't it may not be easy to get him back to his normal schedule again.

Take your son .. take his crib and take his favorite toys. Put him in a room close to yours, but not in the same room, you are right that it might wake him .. and that would not be good. Definitely keep his schedule as much like home as possible.. you really don't want to skip a nap and then have a melt-down at dinner or after .. not a fun vacation for you! Bring plenty of water bottles and make sure he stays hydrated .. if he usually gets regular juice it would be a good idea to dilute with water. Buy a good quality baby sunscreen and slather him with it .. make sure he wears baby sunglasses and a sunhat if possible .. a sunburned baby is a VERY unhappy baby! Bring tylenol just in case. Get some beach toys .. and an umbrella .. keep him shaded as much as possible .. even with the sunscreen. One last little thing .. if the surf frightens him don't force the issue .. let him play at the edges and feel the coolness on his legs and bottom. Play in the sand with him. Have fun .. they are out of this fun stage so quickly .. enjoy your time with him on the beach!

J.,
You definitely need to relax so you can enjoy this time with your family. it will be wonderful if you don't worry aboutr every little thing. you need to bring enough stuff with you to get you through your trip there. Bring also so basic foods to have in the house right away. going to the grocery is always crazy at the beach. don't take your whole family with you. bring jyour sons favorite things with you but don't pack to many things. I would either rent a crib or do what someone else mentioned by putting the mattress on the floor. It will fun for your son. sI would not put him in the same room as you especially if he is not use to that. Put him in the closest room. bring a night light with you and some of his favorite books. I would try to stick to your regualr routine so he wont become to grouchy as the day goes on. you don't want that if you plan on maybe going out to eat in the evening. I have always stuck to my kids schedules, even when we spent aweek at Disney adn my somn wasn't quite 2. I brought my folks along and they took him back to the hotel for his afternoon nap. That gave my daughter so time with just her mom and dad and by dinner my son was rested and ready to go. Remember to just go with it and really try to enjoy yourself. After the first vacation you will realize it is not so hard. Have a great time.
L.

You could rent a crib! Also, I always bring a rubbermaid container filled with toys. It makes a great "toy box". Try finding some things he hasn't played with in a while, so you can enjoy the vacation, too!

Hi J.,
My advice to you is this.....do NOT bring your crib. Your little angel needs to be able to adjust to different surroundings. Try putting him in one of the other bedrooms, since he is used to sleeping alone in his room at home. If you act nervous about anything, your son will immediately pick up on that and give you a hard time. Just go with the flow....and he'll be fine. I wish you a wonderful vacation.
-L.

Hi, Jen. Congratulations on winning the trip! What a wonderful opportunity! 2 years old is a wonderful time to be introduced to the beach. He will be enamored with the sand and the water, once he gets over the intimidation of the waves! I have a 8 yr. old and a 4 yr. old and I can tell you we've done many a family beach vacation. Kids adapt to their surroundings. If he's used to sleeping on his own, try it. You may find that he's unable to do it and you may have to move him. Or, make it fun and do a campout in the middle of the living room. Or, let him sleep with you if it's fun. Fun is the key word. He'll re-adjust once you get home...honest. It may take a few days but they get it that they are in different surroundings. Naps might be more tricky since it's likely you'll be running around throughout the day, but trust me, with all of the sun and fun he'll probably want to nap! :) Have FUN...nap WITH him! It's YOUR vacation...just relax and see what happens. Remember, with motherhood, even the best laid plans go awry at times! Good luck, RELAX and have FUN (did I say that enough??)

Have a great trip! A word of tactical advice...You can rent baby equipment (including cribs) from a number of local companies who will deliver and pick up from your beach house. Lasty year I went with my [then] 15 month-old to beathany Beach - used Bethany Beach Rentals. They have beach equipment, too (chairs, umbrellas, etc). He will love the beach - a year later, my baby is still talking about the sand and the waves, and asking when are we going to go again.

Don't count on doing too much relaxing, though :)

It is also possible that no matter what you do, the excitement and strangeness of being in a strange place is going to cause some problems with sleep, particularly the first night or two. So, I second all the sentiments about relaxing about it -- if you expect that he might not sleep so well, that also lets go some of the stress you place on yourself about it. Keep him and you busy during the day to distract from potential meltdowns, let him take a nap and give him down time when he needs it, and you should be ok. Don't have activities packed for every minute, and you should be fine. Unless you are bringing along a babysitter, "vacations" with small children are a lot of work, even a misnomer, sometimes more so than when you are at home, I think, because home is comfortable, you have everything you need and know exactly where it is. That doesn't mean don't go on them, they are still wonderful, but if you are really looking to relax, either go without the little guy or have, again, a babysitter lined up. Have a good time!

J.,
My family and I have vacationed in Rehoboth & Dewey Delaware for years and we love it there! After my son was born, we took him that first summer at 6 mos old. A bit of advice: rent what you can--baby gates, crib, linens, high chair, stroller, etc. There are LOTS of places you can rent from there and it is very reasonable. Order the stuff and they have it waiting at the house when you arrive---very handy!
Also don't expect your son to be at the beach, pool, on-the-go all day, after all he's still a 2 year old. Vacations, once you have a child, are different--but still fun! Plan small things to do. Don't be over-ambitious about what you can get done in a day. We usually divide & conquer once we're there--someone get the house 'ready" someone grocery shops. We find it easier to have breakfast & lunch at the house & maybe go out for dinner.
Maybe go to the beach after breakfast for an hour or two then return to the house to cool down & grab lunch. Let him keep his normal naps, bedtime, etc as much as you can. If you are driving, try leaving at night (or early a.m.) and let him stay in his pj's til morning. Just keep an outfit in your purse ready for him. Comfy clothes. Also, we found that for a car trip--a portable DVD player is worth it's weight in gold! I also bring a bag of "new toys" for my son to play with on the way. Dollar store stuff or a new DVD.
Personally, I would take the video monitor with me. I did. But forget a lot of the other gear. RENT WHAT YOU CAN--and believe me, there is not much you CAN't rent there.
As for where to sleep--I would keep it close to what he does at home. If he usually sleeps by himself--choose a nearby bedroom and set the crib up in there. My soon got a kick out of his "new room" at the beach house. I think we, as moms, tend to over-think stuff that kids will easily roll with! If it's a problem, you can always roll the crib into the master.
Feel free to email me if you think of any other questions!
Enjoy your vacation!

Hi J.!

One great thing about public message boards is that people, typically, are not afraid to say things to you that those close to you would rather avoid. Therefore, let me state it simply: You're being ridiculous! If you continue to go through life micro-managing little details such as these as far as your kid is concerned, you're going to create a little monster while at the same time driving your poor husband absolutely bonkers! Children adapt very well to most every situation. Part of the fun of going on vacation and exploring new places is getting out of your same ol' routine! Your son certainly does not need his crib (nor you the video monitor)...a pack-n-play and sound monitor would suffice. He may not sleep quite as soundly as he does at home, however, if you play hard every day and eat like little pigs, as all vacationers should, chances are, he'll be exhausted and sleep quite well at night! Have fun on this trip and RELAX!!!!
Many Blessings, J. in Pittsburgh

Just a suggestion about his sleeping arrangement. Instead of renting a crib pick what room he will be in and put the mattresses on the floor. One side against the wall and get a bed rail for the open side. This way you will feel safer that he won't hurt himself. I agree with everyone else, relax he will adjust to it just fine. Try to keep his naps and bedtime the same but don't stress if you can't. Also, brind some favorite things from home but don't overpack that just adds more stress!

Good luck, relax and have fun.

My advice to you is travel light... You don't need every gadget and gizmo you have at home. You will enjoy yourself much more if the vacation is not all work. Don't be a mess.. kids love to go away and he'll do fine. Definately, will need a nap after a day on the beach, and you'll want him rested so you all can stay out later and go to the boardwalk!

(When my SIL comes to visit us, she bring bottle warmer, 20 bottles, 100 toys (we have toys here), their own bath towels... ugh!) ... so Travel light is my advice.

Hey J.,
My kids are now 13 and 15 and we traveled with them when they were under 24 months and they did great. When do you go the shore. Maybe for now you can let him nap in his pack and play. THis is a great time to start traveling with children because they are so open to learning. You will be fine with him in another room especially since you have your video. You are going on vacation so I am going to utter the words I cringe to hear but need to hear them myself often "RELAX" have a great time and your son will be so tired with all the new things to see and do that he will be exhausted. Enjoy your hubby and son. He "your son will get alittle crabby" lol but bring a favorite blanket or snuggly that he loves. Even if it gets sand on it all will be ok. Kudos for winning this trip. My family had a reunion at Bethany Beach and we had a great time last year. Hang in there and have an awesome time.
J.

I guess I dont really understand what youre scared of and why?! You are 39 yrs old... He is 2 and your Husband is going... Good luck and try to have fun!

I agree 100% w/Susan G. Don's et him see/experience that you're nervous! Have him sleep separately...at least try it that way...and prepare him in advance. Enoy your time! Lucky you!

J.- Congrats on the trip. You will have a blast! I travel a lot with my kids and I think you need to keep their sleeping as normal as possible. Make sure you make time for his naps and keep his bedtime close to his normal bedtime.

When we travel, we try to keep the kids in seperate rooms form us, they do just fine and get used to it qiuckly.

Kids are better at adjusting than we think. He will be fine if you try to stick to his sleeping schedule.

Enjoy your trip!

S.

One of the tricks that I've learned with travelling with a little one is to only bring enough wipes/diapers to get you to your destination. You can buy more wipes/diapers once you get to the shore. I'd put your son in another room. I personally have found that every time I sleep in the same room as him, I don't sleep. I wake up to every move he makes. Have fun!

We just returned from the beach yesterday with 2 16 month olds and we had a blast! Both boys were a little scared of the waves, but also very curious. They loved going in the water as long as they felt secure and we didnt let the waves knock them around. They also had a blast playing in (and eating, LOL) the sand. I would suggest trying to go early in the morning or later in the afternoon when its not so hot, as it was clear they enjoyed it much less when they were overheated. Because of this, we spent most mid-days at the pool, which they both LOVED.

I would also suggest at least trying to let him sleep in a separate room. Our boys had a hard time the first night, which is always true for us the first night away from home, but after that it was a breeze.

Just relax and follow your son's lead (dont try to plan too much). Hope you have a wonderful time!

Oh I remember the first "vacation" we took our son on he was 2 at the time and we went to the beach. We rented a condo and for all intents and purposes he was put in the 2nd bdrm (you will all be much happier for it) of course I had the monitor on constantly AND the first night I slept in the bdrm with him (unbenownst to him of course). It is a very uneasy situation for the first time. Rest assured keeping him on somewhat of his normal sleep/eat schedule will make it a more enjoyable vacation for everyone.
We are now going on a trip with my son and our new baby girl who will be 6 months in Septmeber so now there will be 2 shedules to keep!

Best of luck and have a great vacation!

Hi Jen,
It sounds as though your vacation will be wonderful and the house sounds great!!! The most important part of it is have fun and relax!! I know it can be stressful changing environment, packing up, etc....but the best thing you can do it provide change for your little guy. It makes them more adaptable and flexible when you go different places. This won't be your last trip, so it is great to start while they are young. Here are a couple of tips -
1. Try putting him in the pack-n-play while you are at home and see how he does. You can put his special "stuffies,blankies", etc in it and really talk it up if you need to!
2. Talk to him about the trip - little bit at a time - talk up the fun part about the beach, sand, buckets, pool, etc.
Make it sound special (because it is) and have him focus on that - not that he won't have his crib, etc.

Remember, kids' emotions feed off ours - they can sense stress, etc....if you show too much worry about the bed and room he is in, he will worry too. But if you show excitment, he may too. (I know this all sounds easier than reality :) ).
I would recommend starting him in a guest room at the beach house and see how he does - you can always move him. The first night or two might be tough, but he may settle down. Plus, he may be so tired from the sun and beach, he just clonks out!!! We hope, right! Most importantly, enjoy your vacation!!!!!! Good luck and let us now how you make out!

I've been traveling with my two children since they were infants (now 3 and 4) and found that they adjust a lot easier than we do. Our first trip we brought a whole car load of stuff half of which we never used. The only essentials were a pack and play, a booster seat, diapers, clothes for the trip and snacks for the way.

Try and keep him in another room if that's what he does at home. It'll make you both feel better in the long run! I'd bring the monitor so you can check in. I also bring the animals and crib blanket my kids sleep with to make the pack and play more familiar. I was also told they smell like home which is comforting.

The first night might be rough but the sand and sun have a way of knocking your kid out every night for the rest your stay. As long as you keep him on his schedule he should be just fine. Enjoy your trip!

With all my family residing in CA, we've been travelling with kids since my eldest was 3 months old - and now they love and look forward to it! I know I agonized over all of this my first trip, but honestly, I can say that with the amount of fun you'll be having, I think he'll adjust within a day or so no matter what you do. You're going to be on the beach, in the sunshine, having a great time ... and he's going to get tired out. He may very well continue his naps out of exhaustion ... or he may not, but either way, he's going to be very tuckered out at night and I doubt he'll realize his surroundings. Maybe make the vacation a time when he can fall asleep on the couch with you while watching a movie and then you can plant him in the crib in a different room without him even knowing it. Honestly, when it comes down to it, all you can do is play it by ear and take it as it comes. With a two year old, your guess is as good as anybody's. They are unpredictable. But as he gets more trips under his belt, the more flexible and adaptive he'll be. That's what we've discovered. Most important is that YOU don't stress out. Kids pick up on that and trips become about stressful preparation instead of fun adventures. Besides, you want to be able to relax, too, and I know that's hard to do if you think your child is uncomfortable, but there will only be so much that can be done in unfamiliar surroundings and he's going to have to learn to adapt a little on this trip. BTW, our kids are now 10 & 12 and love their 7-hour plane trips and road trips.

Hi J. -

I echo a lot of the other moms responses. Your son is two...this is the time you CAN be flexible. No need to bring all the gadgets. Rent a crib...or better yet - rent/purcahse a bedrail for your little one. Speaking from experience - both of my little boys LOVED sleeping in a big boy bed with a bedrail (just push the other side against the wall). I personally love going to the beach with my little guys now they are a bit older. Naps are less mandatory for my youngest. If he doesn't nap in the afternoon...no big deal - he just crashes a bit earlier that night (I just don';t make a habit of it). Kids do adapt well...it is us adults that tend to have the issues :)

Good luck to ya!!!

I suggest trying to keep routines as normal as possible. Try putting him in a different room since that is what is done at home. Try putting him down for naps. Take along familiar blankets, toys, bedtime music if you use it, etc. The first few days may be a struggle, but hopefully he will adjust quickly. Have fun!

I echo the other recommendations, but especially to try a pack and play at home now and see how he does - it will save you lugging the crib if he can adjust! And also to try and keep his sleeping routine as normal as possible; do try for those naps when you can, it will make for much more pleasant days and evenings for all of you! :-) Good luck and have a great time!

My daughter was 2 in February, and you'll be surprised at how easily your son will adapt. The first night may be hard, but you will all get through it. My daughter had never slept anywhere but her crib and we put her in a pack and play for vacation and she was fine. You son is old enough to begin reasoning with him. Just make sure that you take a familiar object with you, like a stuffed animal, for him to use as a comfort. Just relax and have fun.

I think you received a lot of good advice, not the least of which is to relax and not let your son know how nervous you are about his adjusting to different surroundings during the vacation. Talk to him about the trip, perhaps read books about fun times at the beach. Our children traveled with us on very long road trips from the time they were infants. My husband and I were so young and inexperienced that we didn't know that driving 8 hours in a car with a 2-year-old and an infant was supposed to be stressful! We had no clue, and I think because we were relaxed, the kids were, too. (And it helped that we drove a lot at night when they normally sleep.) We've had tons of amazing road trips with out kids over the years, and now that they are 20 and 18 years old, we have lots of great memories. So hopefully this will be the first of many great family outings for you. This summer my youngest son and I will be making a road trip to Yellowstone National Park. What's really cool is that all the baby and kid gear we used to pack has been replaced by camping gear. My son now maps out the routes and helps with the driving as well!

Traveling is such a wonderful experience. It's all about doing something different. So relax and your little one will adapt and become a great traveler in the future.

Before I would take the crib, I would try the pack-n-play at home and see if he would sleep in it. Either yours if you have one or borrow a friends for a couple of weeks. If he will sleep in a pack-n-play, it will be a whole lot easier to pack to go. Also, if you have a pack-n-play and he will sleep in it, it will be easier to move around the beach house and to the beach if needed. For instance, you can put it in one of the other bedrooms with the monitor in there. Then if he has problems, you can move it to the master bedroom. Also, if you are going to spend the day at the beach, you can take the pack-n-play to the beach for him to nap in or play in when you need a break from chasing him. With a beach umbrella, it would also be a place that is shaded.

My best advice is other than the pack-n-play issue, don't fret over what might or might not go wrong. Some simple things to get you prepared. He is 2, he doesn't need whole milk anymore so that means if you need milk on the way, you can stop at a fast food place like McDonald's get him a Happy Meal with Milk to drink and he will be happy plus he'll get a toy. With regards to what to bring. Find a backpack (or other bag you already have) and load it with his favorite toys. Include a few favorite cds. If you have a portable DVD or a laptop that can play DVDs, pack a few of those. Also, a coloring book and crayons (even if he just scribbles... If he eats crayons, try those twistables that Crayola makes where they are made like a lead pencil but with crayon on the inside). This should keep him busy pretty much on the trip down and while you are down there. For my son (who will be 4 next month and whom we took on a trip to Colorado Springs from Pittsburgh, PA on his second birthday), we packed the Chuck and Friends cars and trucks by Tonka, some fisher price little people, and Thomas the Tank Engine take a go track and trains (we have the roundhouse that has a place for track in the top and a place for the trains to be stored when it is all closed up).

A couple of little tricks we have used to get us through these trips:
1. We leave in the evening after the kids have eaten dinner. This way we can drive til 1 or 2 in the morning while the kids sleep (we have 3 kids now: 8 1/2, almost 4, and 10 months on the 19th). This means that we have to occupy them a little less and they sleep through a good portion of the drive so no complaining and less stopping.
2. If driving is going to take more than 1 day (like the trip to Colorado Springs), we plan to stop near a place that has something for kids to do (like Columbus, OH where they have a wonderful zoo). The next morning, we wake up get breakfast and head off to that activity for the children, like the zoo. We spend several hours there, letting the kids get plenty of exercise and tiring them out. We either have lunch there or right after we leave there. Then we get in the car and drive for several hours. Stop for a late dinner and continue on.
3. We know that kids need to stretch a little more and once they are potty trained need to stop and use the facilities a little more. We try to stick to highways that have rest areas along the way since they are set up to allow people to stretch and use the facilities. Most have picnic tables, too, which means you could eat your own food if you pack a cooler.
4. Pack plenty of snacks that your son can eat as well as a few bottles of water and juice so that you don't have to stop at every fast food place or gas station market for something. Also, if your son starts to get cranky and you aren't going to get to the next restaurant for 30 minutes, you can give him a little something to tide him over.
5. We take advantage of stopping for gas to make a potty run and check diapers.
6. Make sure to pack a pillow for the parent not driving, a blanket for the parent not driving and a blanket for your son. This way, when that parent is not driving they can catch a nap (especially helpful if you get carsick on long trips). Also, if you have the air on in the car, you can cover up if you need to so that they driver can have the air at his/her comfort level and not worry about how everyone else is doing.
7. Finally, since you only have the one, be prepared for the parent who isn't driving to ride in back with your son to soothe him if necessary or just to play with him if he is starting to get frustrated with the drive. Also, be prepared to listen to the same kids music over and over (or bring a walkman that will play his cds or tapes). My aunt and uncle went to the beach one year and the only way they kept their then 2 1/2 year old busy and quiet was to play the same tape over and over on the road. They knew the songs backwards and forward by the time they got there (which is why I recommend bringing multiple kids cds or music cds that your son likes... my son likes tim mcgraw and the eagles so that has helped us on occasions).
8. Finally, pack a first aid kit that centers around what your family may need on the trip and keep it readily accessible. Include bandaids, bactine (or whatever medicine you use on cuts), a bandage in case of sprains, tylenol and motrin/advil for your and your husband, fever reducer of your choice for your son, benadryl for adults and benedryl for your son (or other allergy medication of your choice). The benedryl is important because you are going to a new environment. You might find unexpectedly that your son has an allergy that you were previously unaware of. The benedryl on hand could save his life or make him more comfortable depending on the severity of his reaction. Don't forget the measuring spoon for the medicine. Also, include in this kit any medications that your family uses regularly which I haven't included on this list. Also, a copy of your medical cards are a good thing to keep in this kit. Because it is going to be readily available, it will be easier to locate anything you need in a medical emergency if it is in this kit. It doesn't have to be huge. We use a small bag or backpack for ours and tuck it under the front seat of the car.

Anyhow, I hope this helps. Have a great trip to the beach.

Jen!
Your son sounds awesome. He's going to have a blast on this trip! He's already a good sleeper. People have been hauling their kids around since cave man times. My daughter has been rigged up in plenty of weird travel beds and lack thereof. Once we were visiting my husband(touring musician) and the motel we were in didn't have a crib available, so we spent the whole night retrieving her from bizarre places on the floor she rolled to-but she never woke up. It's all about a full fun day to knock them out at night. Your accomodations sound extremely safe and comfortable and all is well. Spread the good vibes, don't put unnecessary worries in the air. Put him wherever you are most comfortable putting him, and deal with any problems as they arise. Don't pre worry. It's a vacation! Definitely offer and encourage naps, but if he's too excited or distracted no biggy-do something fun instead. A break in the routine is what vacation is for! Pour on the good times and have a blast!

Hi,
We always rent a full size crib when we go away. Lots of places provide crib rental services. Might be easier to rent instead of bringing your crib. I wouldn't vacation in a less than standard bed so i would never put my kids in a pack n play! My son never had a problem with sleeping in his own area. We would bring some special things from home for the crib and all my own bedding.

Enjoy your vacation.

We go on vacation to Dewey Beach Delaware every yaer since my kids were 6 months old. I would not suggest bringing your own crib. We always rented one. It's like 25 dollars a week. If you have an extra bedroom let your child sleep in it. He'll be fine. Relax and don't worry so much, it's vacation.

I have been traveling (air/auto) since my son was 4mos. He is now two and has taken at least 8-10 big trips. Each trip I venture on, I take less and less stuff. The first trip was a nightmare based on the amount of stuff I took and the amount of stress I put everyone through...including my son. With each trip, my son has adjusted to the elements. I try to keep him on a regular schedule with sleeping. Otherwise, he would get over-tired and be a mess. Also, I try to keep his routines the same. Bed time/bath time...snacks etc. It should not be stressful because it what you do at home. I would recommend a pack n play or rent a crib at the destination. However, make sure you ask what type of crib because I got a really flimsy one once. I choose the pack n play now. I always put the same blankets and animals in the pack n play so nothing has changed for him. If you keep the routines the same he should be fine. Also, our motto is, if we forget it....we can buy it there. Goodluck and relax!

I would make it as easy for you as possible. Does he sleep in a crib at home or in a bed?

DD's first vacation this year will be to the South Carolina (she's almost 9 months old). She naps in her pack n play during the day (and she slept in the bassinet of the pack n play for the first 4 months of her life) so there will be no problems taking that for her to sleep on.

I'll keep her to approximately the same schedule she's on now (except for travel days because we'll be in the car for 9-12 hours). So she naps 2-3 hours after she gets up, then again about 3 hours later. Eats whenever she's hungry.

I've noticed that she's not real particular about where she sleeps. My parents live 300 miles away so she's used to long trips. They purchased a crib for her use out there and she's been fine with that on the few nights she's slept in it.

I think I would put him in his own room, in either the crib (if that's what he's used to) or in a bed and use the monitor. I'd also think about a baby gate or two for containment.

Have a wonderful trip!

S.

Kids are generally more adaptable than some parents give them credit. I would suggest not bringing your entire crib with you. This is suppose to be a vacation and it sounds like you're adding more work and stress upon yourself than necessary. I suggest bringing a pack n play and using a separate bedroom. If he's not sleeping in your room at home, then he's going to get used to sleeping with you on vacation and then you'll have more problems at home. It's better to have problems on vacation than at home, lol. I suggest bringing a night light, a boom box with nature sounds or soft music (no singing voices) to use ONLY if necessary to help sooth him IF there's a problem. Bring his favorite blanket and stuffed animals to sleep with in his crib. Familiar things IN his pack n play usually works fine for children. Keep his same sleeping, eating and napping schedule as he has at home, as much as possible without totally ruining any fun plans and he should be fine. You should really try to have him keep his same sleep routine as home or you may have problems later. Let him try these new things instead of anticipating failure right off the back. You're being protective, and that's good, but don't let it over shadow your family fun and letting your child try new things.

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HarrisburgPAChat

Don't fret over the crib! Make it an adventure for your little guy and talk up a sleeping bag or a blow up mattress while you are on vacation. Both of those things can be in your room by your bed so he knows you are there, even though he's in a strange place. You can always introduce a sleeping bag before you leave so you don't have to worry about taking a crib. Kids adjust to their environment very quickly and explore their new surroundings with great joy. I have 3 boys 6,5,3 and we take them on vacation and just go with the flow and not have high expectations for planning too much. It makes it more enjoyable for the whole family and we're able to relax and have a great time. Do plan to keep him on a napping schedule because you, your hubby and your little guy will be happier that you did since over stimulation can make your son cranky too. Remember: Don't over think or stress about your vacation and get in a positive mindset that it's an adventure and you are going to create fabulous memories for your family.
Also, you don't need to pack too many clothes for your son. He will be in a bathing suit most of the time enjoying the pool and/or beach. Good luck and ENJOY!!!!!

Hi J., well taking the first trip anywhere can be a crazy time but I hope I can help you a bit since I have done this before and also with two kids. One instead of bringing his crib there are alot of places that you can rent cribs from I have done it and it has worked out great I would just bring my own sheets things like that. I would put him a regular room just like he has at home. Naps well it all depends on what you have planned for the day, if you miss one he will catch up. But always remember three things DIAPERS, WIPES, and SNACKS!! Have a great time and remember take lots of pictures!!! R. C.

Hi Jen!
No need to worry so much about your son!!! A few thoughts as we've done several family vacations with children. I would try out a pack and play - just so you don't have to lug his whole crib - maybe for a naptime or later evening at a friend's house, or something like that. Also, I would stick to his schedule as much as you can - naps - you'll all be much happier. I've certainly taken my boys off schedule for a day or so, but they really need to stick to some sort of schedule - this is just my opinion, but it seems to work for us.
As for him sleeping in your room in DE - I would set up as much of his stuff as you are taking in another room - close to yours, but I think you're right - he's used to sleeping alone right now. I would say to just relax and try to have fun with it - he's going to have a blast and so will you!!! Enjoy!

Hi Jen,
Since you are taking his crib, he should feel comfortable and will probably do best if you continue his normal routine of naps, etc. Try him in a room on his own at first and if it doesn't work, then move him in with you. Things will go fine and enjoy the vacation!

Oh, my heavens, you need to relax. GET A PACK-N-PLAY. Put him in another room so you and your husband have some privacy and don't worry so much. Do whatever you want when you get down there. If he's tired, put him down for a nap. If he's enjoying what's going on, let him stay up. Don't worry about everything so much. Kids are pretty portable and pretty adaptable as long as the basics (i.e., mommy and daddy) are there. When he's tired, he'll sleep - and it won't matter if it's a pack-n-play or a crib. At two, you don't even really need a video monitor. I know it's tough with having only one child and how special that is, but after having a few, I can tell you, you are worrying way too much about little things here. Relax!