traveling advice needed

[alison]

We are going on a short trip, and staying in a hotel. M sleeps in a crib for all her naps and at night. I've been trying to get her to take naps in her bassinet, because that's what we plan on having her sleep in on the trip. She screams her head off as soon as I lay her in the bassinet. She's 12 weeks old, and I sense that she may not like sleeping in it, because it's a little small for her now(?).

Do you have any tips for how to get her accustomed to sleeping in it? I really don't want to have to buy a pack n play.

I've got until next Monday to get this figured out.

[L.Jane]

I don't have any suggestions for how to get her adjusted, but I know in certain cities you can rent a crib. Its just an alternative to buying a packnplay.

[fluffhead]

Why not just ask the hotel to put a crib in the room?
Worst comes to worst, she sleeps in bed with you.
(that's a lie - worst comes to worst, one spouse sleeps all night, and the other walks the baby up and down the lobby thinking evil thoughts about the spouse who's getting all the sleep)
(not that I'm bitter...)

[rainbabies]

Fluff

Alison, many hotels have cribs and or pack n plays.

[rainbabies]

Meant to add...bring your own bedding. She may appreciate a familiar smell. And Lysol spray or bleach wipes. (for the hotel crib)

[mommax3]

Fluff, you and I are twins in so many ways!

Alison, I have no advice, but I wish you well!

[peggyfromwastate]

I'd probably go ahead and buy a pack and play. You'll use it lots over the years. I always feel so icky using hotel ones- even if I wipe it down... It's just... too many places where other babies probably chewed on it, spit up on it, etc.

I second the advice about bringing you own bedding either way.

But, given all that, we usually end up with a Fluff situation.

[alison]

I'm coming down with a cold. Argh! I'm in no mood to deal with a Fluff situation next week.

I am going to keep at it with putting dd in the bassinet, and if it doesn't work by Sat, we'll try transitioning to a pack n play. I guess I'll need one of those sooner or later anyway.

I'm surprised that M loves her crib so much. I don't know if you remember, but my mil told me the crib would be inhumane the first few months...

[MrsK]

You mean that M hasn't gone insane looking out through those jailhouse bars yet?

[alison]

You mean that M hasn't gone insane looking out through those jailhouse bars yet?

She loves her crib. I swear when I put her down for her naps while she's still awake (but tired), she gives me this huge sigh of relief.

My mil was dead wrong about so many things. I told her that they do things differently now, because they've advanced beyond what they did with us in the 70s.

Instead of the pack n play, you may want to try the peapod. http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/...emNumber=12283

I bought one for Mattie before our trip this summer (she was about 7 months?). It can be used until they're 5, and folds up really tiny. We were quite happy with it.

[migirl]

Jenn, that Peapod is cute!!

I just wanted to say that we get *tons* of use out of our Pack n Play, DS#2 (21 mos) is fast asleep in it right now.

Our first hotel stay with DS#2 was a total nightmare, BTW. Not to scare you or anything, but it looked much like Fluff's scenario.

[alison]

Uh oh, what happened Jane?

[HouseofWool]

The peapod looks awesome - much better than a pack and play. Not to scare you, but Sophie won't sleep anywhere but her bed. My nephew has the exact same crib, but she will not sleep in HIS bed, just hers.

[Pollyanna]

First, I cannot believe Miya is 12 weeks old!! When did that happen?! Our babies were pretty much done with their bassinets by the time they were 6 weeks old. I second the usefulness of a pack-n-play, they are really great. The peapod link Jenn provided looks great as well, and I could totally see my kiddos playing in it as they got older.

I hope you have a great trip!!