Help! Travel PNP sleep nightmare

sarahns80 · May 2010

So last night was our 1st night ever away from home w/ DD at my IL's house. We brought the PNP which she has never slept in and the night started out great and she passed out at 8 because she didn't rake much of a nap from all the activities. She then wakes up at midnight (30 min after us going to bed) and is crying in the room next to us so I go try to rock her back to sleep like I normally do if she wakes up but every time I try to put her back down she wakes up crying because she realizes she's not in her crib I think. So this goes in for 3 HOURS!! Until finally at 3 am I just bring her into bed with me and she passes out but since I never sleep with her I'm not used to it and can't sleep till finally o put her back in the PNP at 4am and she thankfully stays asleep. Then everyone in the house wakes at 7am and starts making noise so I get 3 hours of sleep! I am freaking out because we are taking a week long trip in a few weeks!! What fm I going to do? Any tips? She has never been the best sleeper even at home and wakes up once a night most nights (but goes right back to sleep). I brought a white noise machine and night light and her lovey to make it like home but that didn't seem to matter. Do you think this broke her into the PNP and she will do better next time? I seriously am considering canceling the trip.

SparkFish · May 2010

Sorry to say, DD doesn't sleep nearly as well when we travel as at home. I usually end up letting her sleep in the bed with me, since that's the only way we get some sleep. If you think it could be the PNP that she's not used to, maybe have her sleep in it at home so that's not an issue when you travel. You might also try putting the PNP in the room with you when you travel so she doesn't get as scared by the strange place.

MrsAlliP · May 2010

Is there any possibility of renting a crib or somehow getting one for the trip? DD won't sleep in a PNP either now. Sorry! No sleep is no fun.

JENandJEH · May 2010

Some may not like this idea but we found that if we take a thicker blanket or quilt and wrap it tightly around the PNP mattress and then put a sheet over it and tuck it so that it's snug in the PNP frame, DS sleeps MUCH better. PNP mattresses are so much harder than crib mattresses and I know I have a hard time sleeping on a very firm mattress while traveling because I'm not used to something that firm.

Maybe try giving her a little more padding in the PNP and I also second maybe putting the PNP in the room with you so that if she does wake up, knowing you're in the room with her may help her to go back to sleep. DS is 2 and even though he doesn't have as much room in the PNP anymore, he still sleeps wonderfully in it on trips and at grandmas house! Good luck!

nic326 · May 2010

DS doesnt sleep well on his PnP either and he is pretty used to being in it. I think the combination of not being in their room or their bed interrupts sleep. We also use white noise as well as a blanket and/or stuffed animal from home. Maybe try having her take a couple naps in there before the trip just to try to acclimate her a bit. We also usually have the PnP in our room on trips so DS knows we are there

Mrs.Meg&Jay · May 2010

get a travel crib. that's what we did because DD doesn't sleep in a PNP... she's just too big for it.

this is what we have but our store carried it in stock:

https://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3918796

bieanca · May 2010

JENandJEH:
Some may not like this idea but we found that if we take a thicker blanket or quilt and wrap it tightly around the PNP mattress and then put a sheet over it and tuck it so that it's snug in the PNP frame, DS sleeps MUCH better. PNP mattresses are so much harder than crib mattresses and I know I have a hard time sleeping on a very firm mattress while traveling because I'm not used to something that firm.

Maybe try giving her a little more padding in the PNP and I also second maybe putting the PNP in the room with you so that if she does wake up, knowing you're in the room with her may help her to go back to sleep. DS is 2 and even though he doesn't have as much room in the PNP anymore, he still sleeps wonderfully in it on trips and at grandmas house! Good luck!

Putting the thicker blanket in the PNP is the only way that DS will sleep in there. He won't sleep all night long, but a lot longer than without the blanket in there. I really hate traveling and him sleeping in the PNP.

missfire · May 2010

If your trip is a fun vacation, don't cancel it! Maybe you can plan some downtime during the day so that if you don't get much sleep at night, you can nap while she naps during the day.

on_the_move · May 2010

DS didn't sleep well at all in the PNP over Christmas and I was so concerned about us taking another trip, but we just did and he did great! I made sure that he was in the room where he would be sleeping a bunch before he went to sleep and we made sure to keep his bedtime routine as similar as we could. I hope it turns out better for you next time!

KathrynMD · May 2010

DD tends to sleep badly the first night anytime she's in a new place - especially if she's all alone and can't see me and DH. After the first night, she is generally ok, but not as good as at home. I would plan on co-sleeping w/ her at least some portion of the night or having her in your room w/ you.

far_more_than_rubies · May 2010

Could you maybe practice a little more at home in the mean time? Nap in the PNP?

Wassygirl · May 2010

honestly, i think the fact that you rock her to sleep has a lot to do with this.

*KatieH* · May 2010

Brendan hated the pack-n-play to. But we spend a lot of time at the Jersey shore so he needed to sleep in it. We had him sleep in it for a week at home after that it wasn't an issue.

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