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Artslvr and others who've used Peapod Travel Bed

clarajclaraj
in D.C. Area Babies

Hi!

So I bought the Peapod travel bed for DD (she's 21 months old) and we're going out of town in a week and a half. How did you get your DD used to sleeping in it? I figure I'll set it up this weekend and maybe we can do naps in it? I just dont' want her to think it's a place to play. Any advice is appreciated!

Thanks!

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Re: Artslvr and others who've used Peapod Travel Bed

  • ArtslvrArtslvr

    Yeah, it's the fact that it's like a little fort that made DD #1 want to treat it like a toy.  We showed it to her and talked with her about why we bought it - that it was for our big adventure (whatever trip you're going on) and big girls use it for sleeping, not playing. 

    We had her nap in it a few times, during which of course we would hear her in there sort of playing around and we had to go in her room and say "go to sleep, this is for sleeping, not playing."  

    We bought her a special small travel sized pillow to go in it and we allowed her favorite doll to go in there with her.  We told her the pillow was special for the bed, and only for dreaming, not playing.  We also went over all the reasons it's OK to zip herself out of it and get out - for potty, if she needs to throw up, if the building is on fire (same stuff we use as reasons to not get out of her big girl bed).

    You know, all that stuff you do to transition a kid.  Mainly we use the approach of making it sound like a really BIG deal, and talk about how big girls know how to use it, and isn't it special, etc.  I'd say after two or three naps in it she got the hint that it was for sleeping, not playing.

    It's honestly one of the best purchases we've made for the kids, those things are like gold - no need to schlep a PNP, no need to have a cot at relatives' houses, no need for anyone to own a crib at the destination, etc.

    Wife, Musician, Fed, WW-er, and Mom of three little kids - not necessarily in that order.
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  • tomandcourttomandcourt
    imageArtslvr:

    Yeah, it's the fact that it's like a little fort that made DD #1 want to treat it like a toy.  We showed it to her and talked with her about why we bought it - that it was for our big adventure (whatever trip you're going on) and big girls use it for sleeping, not playing. 

    We had her nap in it a few times, during which of course we would hear her in there sort of playing around and we had to go in her room and say "go to sleep, this is for sleeping, not playing."  

    We bought her a special small travel sized pillow to go in it and we allowed her favorite doll to go in there with her.  We told her the pillow was special for the bed, and only for dreaming, not playing.  We also went over all the reasons it's OK to zip herself out of it and get out - for potty, if she needs to throw up, if the building is on fire (same stuff we use as reasons to not get out of her big girl bed).

    You know, all that stuff you do to transition a kid.  Mainly we use the approach of making it sound like a really BIG deal, and talk about how big girls know how to use it, and isn't it special, etc.  I'd say after two or three naps in it she got the hint that it was for sleeping, not playing.

    It's honestly one of the best purchases we've made for the kids, those things are like gold - no need to schlep a PNP, no need to have a cot at relatives' houses, no need for anyone to own a crib at the destination, etc.

    Artslvr - how well does it work with younger kids? We're thinking of getting DS one for a trip we're making next month (he'll be 11 months). I don't know how well he'll be able to grasp the concept, although he's usually great in his PnP.

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  • MrsTiaraMrsTiara
    We did naps in it for the week before travel.  BabyCrown would still put a bunch of his toys & books in it to play during the day, but he would nap just fine regardless.  It helps that he's in a bed, so I just put it on the bed for him to sleep in.  The only issue I had with it is that he wanted ALL of his stuffed animals in it with him, and a heavy blanket, so he was waking up from naps soaked in sweat.  But he'd still take his full nap, so, whatever works.
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  • emackemack
    My DD was about 13 months when we first used ours and she did really well. I was worried, but I found that when I tried it for naps first she played, but when it was bedtime and she was tired, it worked a lot better. She'd had her routine and knew that it was time to go to bed. She didn't always like being zipped up in it which has been the only things to make it tricky. For us it has been a lifesaver when we've gone a trip on which we can't take the PnP.
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  • ArtslvrArtslvr

    Tomandcourt:

    We didn't have the Peapods when DD #1 was an infant, but DD #2 has been using one since she was 5 or 6 months old.  So it's no different for infants, IMO.  It's just a little mattress, like the bottom of a PNP.  The only difference of course is there are walls and "ceiling" like a tent, but that didn't seem to bother DD #2 as a baby.  I like that infants can't figure out how to zip their way out, even now at 17 months, it keeps DD #2 contained until we want to get her out because she hasn't figured out how to unzip it.

    Wife, Musician, Fed, WW-er, and Mom of three little kids - not necessarily in that order.
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