We are taking our 2 1/2 year old son and 9 month old daughter on my husbands business trip to Texas next month and I am a little nervous about it. We will all be staying in the same hotel room and to be honest that is what I am most nervous about. I have had some not so good experiences when my son was younger with him not sleeping and walking the halls of the hotel at all hours of the night and it was not fun! I just wondered if anyone has any suggestions on how to help the kids sleep with everyone in the same room. Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions or tried and true tips that have worked for them during traveling and vacationing times. While I am looking forward to the family time and vacation, I am nervous about how we can make it work!!
I want to thank everyone for their advice! It is greatly appreciated. And just to clear something up, my son was not by himself when he was walking the halls, I was pushing him in the stroller trying to get him to sleep! Just want to try and avoid that this time with my daughter! But again, thank you to all for the great advice. Will let you all know how things went!
My daughter was 7 mos old when we had to go to Michigan for a week for my step daughters wedding, we had to stay in a hotel room with her and my 16 yr old stepson... I took her collapsable play pen and a pillow off my bed (do not change the cover because it smells like you!) and she slept thru the night with no problems. Might help, wont hurt to try! Good luck!
M.,
While I don't quite understand how your son walked the halls last time you were in a hotel, I have a few words of advice. First, when you get to the hotel make sure you are on the ground If you make sure they know the ages of your kids and that they may be active they can try to put you at a less occupied floor or section of the hotel so you won't disturb or be disturbed by other guests! Next, make sure you use the door lock that most hotels have on their doors, not just the deadbolt, as most of them disengage when you pull the handle, use the thing that is like a chain on a regular door, it is higher, out of reach of little hands, and keeps the door from opening all the way, decreasing the chance to "escape" for your little one. Third, bring some familiar bed linens, like pillow, blanket, and so on. The smell and familiarity will be a comfort to him at bed time. My youngest hates any break in his routine, if yours is the same he'll need to have things close to him that he knows. Depending on your length of stay, he should be ok after the first or second nights there, it is an adjustment. Beyond that, I'd say be prepared to be up the first night to comfort him and let him know it is all okay!
Good luck.
Hi M.,
We have done that type of trip lots of times. If you can, get a suite. This way you have 2 rooms available for sleeping and you will have flexibility at bedtime. When we all have to sleep in the same room, I sleep with my youngest son and my oldest sleeps with my husband and we have a "sleepover". We all go to bed at the same time, which helps the kids feel more confortable. Bring something like a noise maker or a fan to mask loud noises in the hotel. Have fun and good luck.
i was having the same exact worry a few months ago when we had to go away for 2 nights and stay in a hotel. my daughter has had some sleep issues in the past. well, at the time of the trip she was 2 and we basically just all laid down together at her bedtime after some cuddling and settling down, gave her her usual sippy cup and stuffed animal and she went right to sleep! i was shocked. and she even slept easily for a nap on the second day. so all i can say to you is to keep bedtime as close to how it is at home. and also try to stay positive. it might turn out to be way easier than you think!
Hey M. My name is C. and I know exactly how you feel when my youngest was barely year old we went on a vacation with my in laws btw..never do that..lol and Jaedynn was a really good sleeper and slept by herself at night but at the hotel she coudlnt so she cried all night because of my husbands snoring it was hell the second night was a little better but we were happy to get home my only suggestion is to start out now and get them used to you all being in the same room so its not such a shock when you go..good luck
C.
When I took my son on vacation I had him sleep in his playpen. I started with naps in the playpen a month before we left and he was comfortable in it. I don't know if that really helped, I mean he slept but he slept away from his bed often because we go on little trips all the time. And I co-slept with him sometimes also. I hope others have some wonderful ideas for you!
M.,
Take little things from home to keep them comforted. My son always like a hot wheels car next to him-even as a baby. Their favorite blankie and book and keep to the same routine as much as possible, ex. dinner, bath, book then bed. If you rock or sing them to sleep--do it. Also use a nite light if their used to it--keep the bathroom door cracked-that sometimes helps. When my daughter had just turned 3 and my son was 5 weeks old when we ventured on our first vacation with the two of them. We survived camping outdoors in a tent for a week!! We had a great time and have lots of family memories.
