Toddler sleep and traveling

[GreyhoundsRUs]

So sorry, A

[ladymoreta]

I'm sorry Alison. I wish I had some advice, but it stinks that your vacation is over.

[Michele]

I'm sorry.

[migirl]

Oh, no ... I'm sorry!

[scrub-jay]

Ugh!! I'm so sorry!

[Pollyanna]

Nothing is working and dd is crying far too much...
We brought her into bed with us and she played for an hour--with my hair, dh's hair, somersaults, screeching, jumping. We're leaving once it's light out. This sucks.

Oh no, I don't really have great advice but I am going to encourage you not to leave. Don't let the toddler dictate the travel plans because she will and she is. She will get the hang of sleeping in different places. I know it seems futile and pointless but please hang in there. You and your hubby deserve to take a family vacation and she will need to learn how to be part of that. She's a very smart girl, explain it to her firmly. Then choose the method of getting her to sleep that is the "easiest" (I use that term loosely).

[Bittersweet]

I'm so sorry

[SuzySunshine]

alison, I know it sucks to think about but maybe its time to put her in a toddler bed. I know she is strong willed and you've had multiple issues with her on sleeping and eating but if the only way she sleeps at home is in a crib with a crib tent that is the only way she's going to sleep anywhere. If you are planning to travel, which you should, she needs to learn to sleep in a bed.

I'm sorry the trip was ruined, BIG BIG hugs!

[ladymoreta]

That's a good point, SS! The toddler bed transition isn't as bad as you think. Watch some episodes of Super Nanny for her method of getting them to stay in bed.

[peggyfromwastate]

Alison-- BTDT. My kids don't do family bed, but all bets are off at hotels with this age. I always ended up entertaining them and frantically trying to keep them quiet in bed with me or in the bathroom so as to not disturb the others (the others of our family). First night is always the worst and I never would get more than 2 hours sleep. And toddler wouldn't either. But it does get marginally better the following nights.

Hugs!!!

This so brings back memories of Disney 2010 when dd was 20 months. Ugh. First night-- 2 hours in our bed with dh sleeping on the floor and me doing every thing possible to keep her quiet until 5 when we could all get up to go to the parks. The next day we kept her up as much as possible. She would sleep in her pack and play for about 45 min after an extensive rocking to bed of an exhausted toddler. Then she'd cry when we got the others to bed. Then she was back in bed with me, dh on the floor. This went on for 12 days bc we were snowed in due to the blizzard. By the fourth day or so she was better about settling down in bed with me. She never got the hang of sleeping on her own though.

When we finally got home, she did CIO in her crib for maybe 10 min and that was it. She never thought she could get back into our bed.

Vacations have gotten MUCH MUCH better. But much more so after she learned to sleep in her toddler bed. We just took an overnight to the great wolf lodge waterpark and she woke up at 630 so I tried to put her in bed with me but she said: "no-- I want to stay in my cozy bed". It's just a little aero bed for little kids-- about 50" long but it *is* very cozy. I always ask her if I can sleep in it instead of the hotel beds and she says "NO MOMMY!!!! you will BREAK it!"

Hugs Alison. This WILL get better as time goes on.

[alison]

We're still here. Good f-ing grief...
Dh took dd out for a ride in the car at 11, and it did no good. She didn't fall asleep. They came back at midnight and we gave it another go with keeping her in bed with us. It took her about two hours, but she did fall asleep, and then was up at 5. So, she's gotten about 3 hours of sleep. No nap today - in the stroller or otherwise. She's completely out of her mind. Delirious.

We'll do one more night.

I do think we're going to have to move her to a toddler bed when we get back. You're right!

[alison]

PS. It does help to read about your experiences, so I thank you for that!'

[peggyfromwastate]

Hugs!!! You will all work it out eventually!!

It definitely gets better.

[Bittersweet]

Hoping you have restful night!!

[Pollyanna]

Hugs!!! You will all work it out eventually!!

It definitely gets better.

Yes this!! I promise that it won't be like this forever. Our first got in the habit of only wanting to nap in the car, I knew all the roads from Palo Alto to the City.