I'm afraid to go on vacation! (2 to 1 transition related question)

[saltyqueen]

Hi!!

My 12.5 month old dd is in the midst of the 2 to 1 transition. I've just shortened her first nap to 45 minutes (down from 1 hour) in the last couple of days and she slept for 2 hours yesterday afternoon, so that was a victory. However, it seems like she's taking a long time to fall asleep before the 2nd nap. This morning she had her 45 minute 1st nap; And this afternoon, I brought her to her room 3.5 hours after she woke up from the first nap, and she still took over 30 minutes to fall asleep. (she may have been distracted by some stuffed animals I put in her crib, but if she were really tired, would it take that long?) So I'm just not sure what to make of that.

But my big concern right now is the vacation we have coming up. We'll be staying at a hotel in a 1 bedroom suite, and I am terrified of what's going to happen when I leave her in a strange room by herself. I will, of course, follow the routine that she is used to and provide her with all the other familiar and portable comfort objects, but I just know she's going to freak out when I close the door and leave her in an unfamiliar room by herself. She is great about going to sleep on her own at home, but i have no faith that that will happen in an unknown place. Can anyone help me with this? I am tempted to forget about the vacation because I'm so stressed out about the sleep issue, but what's the alternative? Never go anywhere for the next 2 years? Yet if we do go, is there any way to avoid what I'm fearing? Should I, for example, try to give her just one nap per day so that she'll be so tired that she'll collapse at naptime and bedtime? I'm willing to try anything! Any advice you might be able to offer would be very much appreciated!!

[anna*]

I have found that if I stay with my LO until he is fully asleep at a new place, after that first time he is happy to go down to sleep by himself, just as he would at home.

[saltyqueen]

Thanks, Anna! I'd be happy to do that, but in the past, my presence has distracted her from the business of going to sleep. And if it is already taking her a half hour to fall asleep at home by herself, how long will I be standing by her crib in a hotel bedroom? It's certainly worth a try, though, if that's the only solution. Thank you for your input, Anna!

Katherine

[anna*]

You know, it might take ages for her to fall asleep. But if you can relax and resolve to have a good time, and have her sleep when you can, but if you can't then do super early bedtimes, you'll get through. Yeh she might get overtired, but you can fix it when you get home, right?

[saltyqueen]

I'm also thinking about the possibility of giving her a catnap in the stroller for her first nap, but shortening it even further to about 30 minutes. Then, presumably, she'll be so tired by the afternoon that the second nap won't be such a struggle?? I don't know.

She just woke up really early from her second nap after just a 45 minute first nap, so I don't know what's going on with her or how best to proceed with the 2 to 1 transition. Uggh!

[Brodster'sMommy]

I feel your pain. DH and I have been on so many trips since DS was born - sometime flying places twice a month and in different time zones! And I would get super stressed out and worked up before each one. It's a lot of work! And no, you shouldn't let this deter you from going on vacations. You need to live your life too. A couple things that i have learned and have helped me get through all these vacations are:
-Try to enjoy your time no matter how your LO sleeps
-hotel rooms tend to have super thick curtain that can block out almost all light. If you could get your LO calm in your arms in a dark room, maybe when you put her down she won't notice she is somehere unfamiliar?
-try to get a room at the end of a hall - one less neighbor to make noise and less traffic outside your door
-Bring lots a familiar stuff from home that she sleeps with - blankets, teddys, lovies, etc.
-Sometimes my DH or I would have to take a nice long drive around the block to his DS to nap but it helped get through the day.
-try keeping the winddown routine the same so again it's something familiar.

I've had horrible trips and easy trips no matter what I have tried so again, try not to stress out and enjoy your vacation. Your LO will most definitely not be in her element so some discomfort is to be expected. 

I would also say to try for a 30 minute nap. It might help your LO go down easier for the second nap. 

[saltyqueen]

Thank you, Brodster's Mom, for sharing your experience! I guess I'll just do the best I can to make it work. i wish I were one of those laid back moms who could just go with the flow and not worry. Unfortunately, I seem to be the opposite of that. I worry so much that I wonder if it's worth going on vacation at all. But in the spirit of trying to live my life, I will go.

thanks again so much!!!

Katherine

[saltyqueen]

I will try to be optimistic, Stacy! We had one bad experience on vacation a few months ago where she was freaking out when I left the room at naptime, so there is a precedence that makes me fear the future, especially since at almost 13 months old, she has grown increasingly aware of her surroundings. Thank you very much for posting and offering encouragement!!!

Katherine