travel advice? visiting family over thanksgiving

[jumblebox]

We're considering visiting my family for Thanksgiving, IF we can work out the details. One of our big issues is WHERE WILL HE SLEEP?

Our DS is almost 8 mos old, very mobile and consistenly pulling up - sometimes even cruising (and very curious). No one at our destination has a crib. He's never slept in his pack & play (playpen). I'm not sure it would be comfortable enough for overnight sleep, even IF we can get him to sleep in it. (There are support legs underneath the middle, and it seems kinda hard & lumpy.) My mom's suggesting we just put a folded up blanket under the (very thin) playpen mattress.

Usual sleeping: his crib is in our room (1 bdrm apt  ) He sometimes wakes a couple times, having misplaced his paci. And he's an early riser (4:30-5:30am). We usually just let him play until he "requests" our attention. 

Any ideas? What has been your experience? This will be our first overnight anywhere, since he was born.

TIA,
- LisaW

[Sydney]

Hi there

I would suggest using the pack and play.  That is what we use for overnight stays away from home. Our lo doesn't sleep as well in it as she does her own bed, but it does work pretty good for those family trips. I know that some people suggest having your lo sleep in the pack and play at home BEFORE you go on your trip, so they can get used to it.  Makes sense.

I agree it isn't the most comfortable.  You may try your mother's advice to make it a bit more comfortable.

If you have him sleep with you during this trip, it may just cause more issues once you get home. 

Hope that helps.

[Jaime]

My mom's suggesting we just put a folded up blanket under the (very thin) playpen mattress

.

i've done this.  it helps a lot.  just make sure that you kinda "wrap" the blanket so it can't move & doesn't go anywhere.  if you have a sheet for the playpen that will work, or using a stiff blanket that he can't bury himself into. 

[Sam's mum]

We have used the pack and play - I'd suggest letting him sleep in it occasionally at home so he gets used to it there.  I don't recommend sleeping with him - we did this as well while away one night and it was a terrible night.  Our LO thought it was play time everytime she woke (about 3 times) and it took about an hour each time to settle her back.

Hope the trip goes well

[jumblebox]

We leave first thing in the morning. Ugh! We tried, over the weekend, to put him down for naps in the playpen... but after 45 mins each time, we gave up. He wouldn't lay down AT ALL, and ended up overtired and hysterical both times. After the 1st attempt, he fell asleep SECONDS after being put in his crib. After the 2nd attempt, he fell asleep with me holding him, so I laid him in the playpen and he slept for a couple hours.

On the plus side, we shopped at a baby store today and found a pack & play mattress (about 2" thick) and sheets. That'll at least make it more comfortable.

Thanks for the suggestions.