Traveling and Hotel Staying with a 18 Month Old!

My daughters first flight was when she was three weeks old. Fortunately, I was staying at a relatives house who had extra space and I was able to put her in the living room for the night. Her second flight, she was 7 months old and we went to Michigan. There we stayed in a motel and of course she had to be in the same room however, there was enough space that I was able to put her a fair distance away from me. Both times, she slept pretty well considering back at home, she had her own room. The third trip, she was about the same age as your daughter now, and there was no exra room for her to sleep except in the same room with me. Again, I had her pack and play with me so she had something familiar of hers. I also made sure on each trip to take something of hers that she slept with at home so she wouldn't feel like she was being ripped from familiar surroundings. (I took her blanket and a stuffed animal that she always had with her.) I don't recall having any trouble at all with her on any of the three trips that I took with her although the third was different since we drove and she didn't like to be in her carseat for so long at a time.

If you have the portable pack and play. I would suggest you take that with and put her in it. You might try having her sleep in it a few times before you leave next month and then it won't be so strange to her. Good luck.

We travel a lot. It's not usually as bad as expected. We take a blanket to hang over the edge, and sometimes the top of the crib to block out light and distractions. Also, if you have the space, it's worth taking your own pack-n-play if she's already used to it. If you're only going one time zone away, it might be easier to keep home bedtimes and wake times. As for the flight, I usually take lots of snacks, a favorite cup, usually okay even if full. Worse case senario they make you dump it at security, but that's only happened to us once or twice. A new toy is a big help, too. It's not usually too bad, except that you'll probably have a very tired, over-stimulated baby by the end of the first day. That always seems to be our biggest struggle with sleeping since they sleep so well in the car on the way to the hotel and seem to be running on adrenaline when they wake up. If your dd has ear trouble, you might ask the doctor for benzcain drops to relieve pain. You only have to use them if her ears hurt, and it's an instant fix. Have fun! (You don't mention how far along you are, but lately, security seems to be suspicious of big bellies. No one has gotten too personal with me, though I have been patted down.)

Just make sure she has a security blanket or something fimilar to sleep with.
I traveled many times with my kids and found that as long as your there and have a blanket that they use at home it makes things a lot more comforting.
C. B

Your daughter will pick up on your feelings of anxiety and nervousness, so you and your husband need to start thinking of how fun your adventure will be! Just be prepared, take snacks and a new toy (as well as a favorite toy) on the plane, and try to stick to a bedtime routine at the hotel. Get a room with two beds in case she needs to sleep with one of you (you can always switch beds after she falls asleep) or sometimes hotels have cribs if you need one. It's such a hassle taking big baby items on flights, I would advise against a pack and play unless you really need it. We never took ours anywhere, just put the boys in the extra bed.

When our son was about that age, we took him to central Mexico (much longer flight) and he did great. We have traveled a lot with our sons (now ages 4 1/2 and 2) and they love every second of it! Talk with her about where you're going, who/what you'll see, get her excited about the trip. Just be prepared and have fun and don't stress about things! It's just a weekend!

We travelled with my daughter about the same time. Bring a sippy cup or a sucker that she can have during take off and landing. Since she will more then likely sit on your lap, bring hand held (but not noisy) toys for her to play with. Our flight was only 2 hours and my daughter was asleep right after take off for the most part. Forewarning to bring extra snacks, drinks for her in case there are delays, stuck on the tarmac and so forth. It depends what time of day you are flying too and you can have it around a time she typically sleeps she will more then likely sleep on the plane. I did wake my daughter during landing and gave her a strawed cup drink so the pressure wouldn't bother her ears on landing and take off.
We put a pack and play in the same room that we were in and my daughter did great. Bring comforts from home, a favorite blankie, stuffed toys and so on. I can say I brought a crib sheet too to make it more comfortable to sleep in the pack and play and it was more like home for her. Unfortunately you will need to go to bed when she is to unless she is a great sleeper and can sleep through noises like TVs, and all that. If they don't have a pack and play then putting her in the middle of you in a bed helps too.
Have fun and good luck. You will be amazed at that age how adaptable they are as long as mommy and daddy are around!

Hi C. -

I would suggest getting your daughter good and tired! I have found that if my kids are tired they will sleep pretty good just about anywhere we are.

Good luck!

I just want to say we have done the same thing and just put blankets up on the sides of the crib or pack and play so they couldn't see through and with my second we even put a blanket over the top until she went to sleep then we took it off it eleminated all of the distractions that come with being in the same room. We have been able to stay up much later then my children and even watch TV cause they have been so tired from taveling! The only big thing from our experience is that if your daughter is still in a crib don't try to change that this weekend! We learned that one with our daughter the hard way and didn't take a pack and play last weekend when we went away it was really hard getting her to sleep because she thought she had all the freedom in the world. But please remember that is just our experience and it might not be the same for you, she might to wonderful! My son has done fine traveling he is only 3 and goes to sleep just fine on the big bed at the hotel so it is different in every case! I hope this helps a little!