Toddler sleeping suggestions at grandparents'

amom333

Hi!  Our DD is almost 2 and we're planning on transitioning her out of her crib into a toddler bed soon since she will have a little sister in the fall and I don't want her to resent the baby for taking over the crib.  While DD hasn't tried to climb out of the crib yet, I think she will probably be okay with this transition given she doesn't sleep in a crib at day care but rather on a cot. 

My question is about what people do when they sleep somewhere else with their children, such as DD grandparents' house (both sets are nearby, so she'll likely be with one when we're in the hospital having DD2 and then we'll probably go back and forth to both houses over the holidays).  DD still takes one nap but isn't as good about going down for that when we're somewhere else.  Do you normally get a toddler bed or mattress for the grandparents' houses and do you baby-proof the rooms (or do you have someone stay in the same room - though not sure that would work at nap time)?  There will have to be a lot of clean up whichever room we put DD in (at both houses) and with dealing with preparing for a new baby (and wedding), the thought of cleaning and baby-proofing rooms in two other houses is starting to overwhelm me, especially while pregnant.  Obviously, I'll do whatever needs to be done, just wondering how everyone else has dealt with preparing sleeping arrangements for their toddlers elsewhere.  Thanks!

MNgirl326

LO usually sleeps in the bed with us when we are at grandparents house.  As far as naps, one of usually lays down with him until he falls asleep and then we leave the room and just put pillows around the bed   We bring the baby monitor so we can hear him while we are outside or in other parts of the house

LO is bigger now, so last time we brought a sleeping bag and a pillow to try.   He made it through half the night and then ended up in bed with us.  Not bad for a first try.

 

NCMichelle

When we travel to my parents' house there is only one full bed - which my DH and I sleep in.  DD sleeps on a regalo cot (folds small, easy to pack) and DS sleeps in a peapod.  He'll be switching to a regalo cot soon.

They each sleep in a room by themselves (DD sleeps in my brother's old room that has been converted to a craft room and DS sleeps in the office).  Neither are super baby-proofed but we do keep a monitor in each room. 

kgs0505

I wouldn't worry about cleaning or baby-proofing someone else's house.  But if they are planning on hosting you or your kids, especially for an extended period of time, I'd ask them to put anything they value up out of the tots reach. And if it's dangerous to temporarily relocate those items while you are there.  Hopefully that will take care of most of it.  My aunt refused to baby proof when we were at her house every single day for 2 weeks.  It was a PITA.  I couldn't leave my nearly 18 month old alone fore two seconds.  There was this stupid piece of crystal she had on her coffee table.  Everyday I would put it away out of reach so it wouldn't get damaged.  She really was attached to it, so I didn't want it damaged.  Every single day after we left, she'd put it back out.  It was ridiculous. 

As for naps, we stuck him in the PNP.  It wasn't ideal because we had been using it for timeouts, but it was our only choice, as being 16 months old, he wasn't yet out of the crib.  Of course, she (my aunt) tried to put the PNP out of the way and he spent one nap pulling all sorts of things into his PNP, an orchid, a papercutter, some books.  It was lovely.  If you have a video monitor, bring it.  Your 2 yo should be able to be trusted to stay in bed until someone comes get her fairly promptly after waking.  Especially if daycare already has that rule, just reinforce it at home.

Good luck!  And again, let the babysitter beware.  They will learn pretty quick what needs to be done to protect their stuff and your kiddo.

hatfieldk

We bought a blow up toddler bed that stays at the grandparents house for when he's there during the day for naps. Then we use it when we travel out of town for hotel use or wherever. It blows up and goes back down really quickly and doesn't take much room to store. We all love it!

 https://www.amazon.com/The-Shrunks-Tuckaire-Toddler-Inflatable/dp/B001EQ66WK

 

northtamarack

We were recently in a situation where we stayed with my parents for an extend period of time.  They happen to have had a single mattress which I put on the floor.    Since DS was a "wild" sleeper (all over the place) I put noodles (like the kind you bring to the lake/pool) under the mattress pad cover and then the sheet over all of it.  Even though the mattress was on the floor, it prevented him from rolling off of the mattress.  Now I feel like he is much less of a "wild" sleeper.  Anyway ...  

For nap time, the first few times I would lay down with him and wait until he fell asleep.  Once he was asleep, I would leave the room.  He would cry (or call mama) when he woke up.  I was shocked to find that he stayed in bed - it is a very energetic little boy.  I mentioned something to the daycare lady and she says that she has them stay in their cots until she comes to get them .... so thanks to her!  

For bed time the first few nights I would put him to bed and then go to bed my self.  About the third night I just said good night and left him.  He was totally fine with it, but I also think that he knew I was there.  I'm not sure how to prepare your little one for when the baby comes.  Do you think you could do a trial run at each house before hand?  It might make  her feel a bit better??  It is a tough one.

As far as childproofing, I really think that depends on the host.  I am totally comfortable with moving things at my parents, but I would be waaaaaay less comfortable with my IL's.  I pretty much have DH handle any issue with the IL's.  If I were you I would have these discussions before DD is in the situation rather than worry about it when you are on your way to the hospital.  I think a "I am concerned that DD might want to play with x, y and z.  If she does so there might be a chance she breaks it.  I will leave it up to you if you want to leave x,y and z out, but know that we will not be responsible if something breaks."  That way it gives the host the opportunity to make the decision.  Can you tell I got sick of people giving DS their phones to play with??  I was always so nervous he would break an expensive phone with the expectation that we'd pay for it.  

Good luck to you! 

 

 

amom333

Thanks for all of the suggestions!  I'm still not sure exactly how we're going to go about it - might see if we can get someone to stay at our apartment when we're in the hospital so at least we know DD will be safe and have her routine there.  We'll definitely be going back for the holidays, though, so I'll have to figure out how much to move beforehand so DD doesn't hurt herself (not worried about her breaking other people's things as much as I am her her hurting herself accidentally by pulling something over).  I'll definitely bring the monitor for her room, especially since I don't want to keep her in our room with the baby waking up every couple of hours (would not be fun to have two children who aren't sleeping!).  It's also good to know that she might stay there and wait for us if they do that at day care (I'll have to check but I'm pretty sure they always end up waking her up because she'll otherwise sleep beyond the allotted amount of time).  Thanks again!

 P.S. PP, I completely understand being annoyed at other people giving their phones to toddlers - 3 out of 4 of DD's grandparents do it (even though I keep asking them not to)!  It's not even a good form of entertainment (they shouldn't be staring at screens so much) and back when we were little they didn't do it so I'm not sure why they all insist on entertaining her this way now, especially since she's always happy playing with dolls or something else.  

msmrisk

There is a twin bed at my parents-in-laws house. DS naps there. When he stays (not very often), he sleeps with Grandma in the big bed & Papa goes on the couch lol.