how to get him to sleep somewhere else?

[lin7604]

 how do you get your lo to sleep in a different place when you are out late? We have a x-mas party tomorrow and don't know what to do. It doesn't start till 7pm and his bedtime is normally 7:30- 8pm, i know he will probally good till 9 at the very latest but after that, they are hoping that we will just put him to bed at their place till we are ready to leave. How can i get him to sleep at their house in a strand room/bed when hw won't even sleep in our bed? boy my parents had it easy.....they took me out all the time and i slept at other places till they were ready to go home! boy parenting now a days is sure different! oh he is 13.5 months!

[amywiz24]

When I take my 15 1/2 mo old to other homes, I just try to recreate his normal bed time routine as much as possible. I would take a pack n play so he can't wander around. Definitely take whatever transitional items he uses and try to do your same pre-bed routine (or at least an abbreviated version). I usually just take a few books and then sing some lullabies instead of taking a CD. I also think it is important not to let him get over tired. The only time I have problems gettting my son to sleep on the road is if I wait too long to put him to bed! Good luck and enjoy your party.

[lin7604]

so you don't think me waking him at midnight to get him dressed to go home won't disturb him too much?  That is what i am also worried about and hten him not getting back t sleep as the cold air gave him a second wind. .  ( as it is freezing here!!! )

[amywiz24]

I suppose that depends on the baby. My son is pretty easy going and usually does not have  a problem with that. ALthough, last weekend I went to a holiday party and it took me an hour to get Sam back to bed after I got him home. That is the ONLY time that has ever happened! He aslo had a cold that weekend...........

[Layla]

I think during the festive season, you can only do your best & he will probably be a little out of sorts for a few days if he does wake at midnight & then stays awake until you get home, etc.. but he'll then get back into his old routine.

I would take pack & play (if you have one) & like pp said try to recreate his bedtime routine. If you have to hold him in your arms until he falls asleep & then lay him down in a safe place (I wouln't put him on a bed unless its blocked and he can't fall out). Its not something you do all the time so chances of him wanting to be held to sleep night after night are very small.

We did something similar with Isabella when she was about 9 mo. But we actually pulled apart her cot & set it up at in-laws house & then at midnight had to pull it apart again and by the time she went back to sleep it was 3am. She was a little out of sort for a few days... just do an earlier bedtime the next day. We didn't have a portatable cot so it was a bit of a pain/hassle with the cot.... we don't actually do that anymore.

If you think it will disturb his sleep too much could you leave him at home with a sitter?

[lin7604]

we were goijng to leave him home but the in laws have a x-mas party as weel and so does the uncle.  There is no one else and we just moved out of town, so no one near by or no one we know yet to ask.  SO if we go we have to bring him with us!    It worries me more i guess just because he got a Hep A ( as we are going to mexico in Jan) shot on Wed and has been running a fever with it and has been cranky and today he was breaking his fever but got really whiney so i felt his gums and sure enough he is breaking a second molar.  It's almost to the point of cutting through i hope.  SO he has been off as it is and sleeping more and going to bed earlier then normal, so it might just be a terrible idea to bring him out hoping he will last a little longer, won't it!

[Layla]

If you have to take him, you have to take him. I probably wouldn't keep him up until 9pm though & instead put him to bed at his usual bedtime. If you keep him up he might get even more overtired/grumpy so he will find it harder to settle.

[amywiz24]

I agree about putting him to sleep at his normal bedtime. If he's already out of sorts with teething, shot, etc; he needs his normal sleep amount. Don't feel guilty about having to take him, all parents need some socialization. And kids can take some disruption to their routine. He may just need an earlier bed time or longer naps the next day.

[lin7604]

thank you, i will see how he feels today and if the day is better then we will take him and hope he does fine there and if not then i wil just have to leave and hubby will have to get a ride home we someone else.

[lin7604]

well i have to say the night went great!!!  NOW everyone is saying " see you should do it more often, great!"     Anyway i had him have a late nap from 4:30-5:30 and he was a bit off for 30 min after, wanted cuddling and a bit whiney as i guess he felt it was out of sorts.  BUt he lasted till 4.5 hrs pretty good adn then we put him t bed there and he fell right to sleep with a little rocking.  We left at 2:30am and he was sound asleep, got a bit fusst as we got him ready to leave but went right back to sleep once home and then he slept till 8:30am!  He has never done that ever especially when he stays up late he usually gets up at 6am.  So that was nice so we got some sleep intoo and he has been in a great mood today!  WOW.  I am so imoressed, but i know not t expect such a great result next time and not to get my hopes up as it will fail next time of course!!!!

[Layla]

Thats great to hear!!!

[Aly Mac]

I was going to give my experience, and then realised that it had already happened!  I'ts amazing how they adjust - I think we worry more than them sometimes!

[lin7604]

i have to agree, sometimes we worry ourselves crazy for nothing!