FWP: getting my child to sleep in a pnp

Eastie156 · March 2014

Is there a trick?! For 17 months, Ethan has refused to sleep in a pnp. It totally sucks when we travel anywhere, because he doesn't sleep. Which means we don't sleep.

We've tried doubling up blankets under the pnp, for more padding, but it doesn't work. It's always the same. He falls asleep and just between midnight and 1, he's awake. He's done it on all the vacations we've been on in the last year (3) and at my moms house, friends houses, etc. I there's. Crib, he'll sleep, but a pnp, it's almost guaranteed he won't. We always hold out hope, but it never happens.

Thoughts or suggestions?

MississippiCatfish · March 2014

My kid is like this EVERY time we go to my parents! Up for hours in the night. But when we were in California 3x, each time for 4-6 weeks, it was no problem. The only difference was that in CA, he had his own room. And it wasn't even an adjustment factor, because he slept great from day one there, and doesn't get used to it at my parents for week long trips. So, if he's used to sleeping alone and that's a difference when you travel, I would try putting him in own room if possible. Otherwise, I have no advice.

Flamingemu · March 2014

Is the PnP in a room where he can see you? L won't sleep if she can see us, no matter what she is in. Have you tried putting him in the PnP in his own room?

AKB090609 · March 2014

We let DD 'practice' in her own room before we went on vacation, we also made her sleep space as similar to home as possible (noise machine, light projector, blankets and lovey). We did have to put her pnp in the bathroom because she couldn't sleep, if we were next to her.

ellebee2 · March 2014

Flamingemu said:

Is the PnP in a room where he can see you? L won't sleep if she can see us, no matter what she is in. Have you tried putting him in the PnP in his own room?

This is us. Exactly. She will not sleep if she can see us. Makes travelling a bit of a pain, and usually more $$ because we have to get a suite. I once let her nap in a PNP in the hotel bathroom (MOTY?) and if DH or I had to use the bathroom we went to the hotel lobby. Not ideal, but do what works right?

AlinnJo · March 2014

Quinn is the same way. Her sleep sucks when we are on vacation. I usually end up putting her in our bed when she wakes up. Sorry no real advice, but I feel your pain!

Flamingemu · March 2014

AlinnJo said:

Quinn is the same way. Her sleep sucks when we are on vacation. I usually end up putting her in our bed when she wakes up. Sorry no real advice, but I feel your pain!

I can't do that. L will not sleep in our bed to save my life. I don't know how I got a kid that has to sleep on her own after all the besharing in the beginning of life, but the bugger will not relax with us. She just wants to play.

opaque1997 · March 2014

We had this issue and we finally forked over the money for a bjorn travel crib - the mattress is more like nuvafoam and the sides don't crinkle as much as the normal pnp - we then used it in her room and took it everywhere - it helped.. some.. we also found her in a seperate room - helped a lot.. but ultimately around 4/5am she's in bed with me / us

redneckmomma25 · March 2014

Flamingemu said:

AlinnJo said:

Quinn is the same way. Her sleep sucks when we are on vacation. I usually end up putting her in our bed when she wakes up. Sorry no real advice, but I feel your pain!

I can't do that. L will not sleep in our bed to save my life. I don't know how I got a kid that has to sleep on her own after all the besharing in the beginning of life, but the bugger will not relax with us. She just wants to play.

G is the same. I am so worried about vacations this summer.

opaque1997 · March 2014

We decided to not take vacations - instead we will take time off from work - keep her in daycare most days and enjoy some actual time "off" - we will take a few nights away (with Em) but not more then 2-3 - Vacations for us sadly have become way more work then they are worth

Pokedot · March 2014

B can't see us and has to have his environment pretty similar to home (blanket, pillow, monkey).

We practiced a few times with naps before we ever put him in a PNP. Can you try that? Leading up use it for a couple of naps and a bedtime or 2?

Pokedot · March 2014

redneckmomma25 said:

AlinnJo said:

Quinn is the same way. Her sleep sucks when we are on vacation. I usually end up putting her in our bed when she wakes up. Sorry no real advice, but I feel your pain!

I can't do that. L will not sleep in our bed to save my life. I don't know how I got a kid that has to sleep on her own after all the besharing in the beginning of life, but the bugger will not relax with us. She just wants to play.
G is the same. I am so worried about vacations this summer.

Start her early in the PNP otherwise she's not going to sleep. Like everything else it's a gradual process. Earlier you start better off you are.

Hyaline · March 2014

For us, this has everything to do with the fact that we're sleeping away from home and nothing to do with what she's sleeping in. She's been in cribs, PNPs, basinets--if she's not at home, she wakes and is inconsolable. Exactly as you describe--she goes down ok and then wakes MOTN and will NOT go back down. No advice, just commiseration that it sucks, and that friends have told me their kids turned a corner on this between ages 2 and 3. I've accepted it just something I'll have to deal with at this stage, and, honestly, I plan to travel less, which bums me out.

AlinnJo · March 2014

It took 2 nights for Quinn to learn to actually sleep in our bed on vacation. 2 nights of a lot of wake ups and wanting to play. After that, each night got better and she actually slept. We even had a crib. Our problem was she was in our room and would wake up and say mama. Mama. Mama. Mama. Mama. Until I would pick her up. It just takes awhile to adjust to sleeping when she's not in her usual crib. It sucks. But I will NOT let that keep me from going on vacation! And I'm sure it'll get better......right?

Eastie156 · March 2014

We've tried putting him in the bathroom or a big closet-never works. I think we need a thicker mattress, but we tend to use whatever the hotel has in terms of a pnp or crib. When we went to Bermuda in Nov, we lucked out because they had actual cribs with real mattresses. We don't usually travel with the pnp, only if it's to my moms, just because of the sheer amount of "stuff" we already have to bring with us-for instance this trip we had two checked suitcases, a carryon bag, a stroller and a car seat for the plane and we were loaded down. I can't imagine carrying anything else!

Eastie156 · March 2014

AlinnJo said:
Quinn is the same way. Her sleep sucks when we are on vacation. I usually end up putting her in our bed when she wakes up. Sorry no real advice, but I feel your pain!

It suuucks! We don't get any sleep and it never ends up feeling like a vacation because we are so tired. E sleeps awful in our bed. I'm better off on the couch when he's in our bed b/c I just don't sleep

Eastie156 · March 2014

Pokedot said:
B can't see us and has to have his environment pretty similar to home (blanket, pillow, monkey).
We practiced a few times with naps before we ever put him in a PNP. Can you try that? Leading up use it for a couple of naps and a bedtime or 2?

I think we are pretty consistent with the bedtime routine while traveling, we being his blankie and stuffed animals too. We could try practicing, that's a good idea.

Eastie156 · March 2014

opaque1997 said:
We had this issue and we finally forked over the money for a bjorn travel crib - the mattress is more like nuvafoam and the sides don't crinkle as much as the normal pnp - we then used it in her room and took it everywhere - it helped.. some.. we also found her in a seperate room - helped a lot.. but ultimately around 4/5am she's in bed with me / us

I'm wondering if we invest in a crib like this if it would help. Or if we just stick it out and deal with it until he grows out of a pnp. I can't imagine not taking a vacation though. Even getting out of our cold climate for a week helps

Eastie156 · March 2014

harti09 said:
Have you tired an actual mattress for it? My kids sleep like crap in them unless there's a mattress.

But how would we fly and take a real mattress?

Mom2Mack1 · March 2014

Both of my kids sucked at sleeping in a pnp. I tried everything, and it hasn't really helped. I do try to put DS in his own room. He is very restless when traveling, and if he is sleeping wakes easily if we're in the room. I'm dreading vacations this summer. Hang in there. Once DD started sleeping in a bed vacations got much easier. She even sleeps through her brother crying right next to her head.

melody921 · March 2014

What if you skip the PNP and move to something like the peapod or a nap mat? Would he stay put?

noloveintennis · March 2014

https://www.amazon.com/AeroBed-sleep-tight-inflatble-beds/dp/B00006IV33 we got this for AJ. Granted he sleeps in a toddler bed, so I don't know how it would work for you. You could always put it in a corner or something.

Flamingemu · March 2014

cheeseandrice said:

daycare.

)

Eastie156 · March 2014

cheeseandrice said:

daycare.

That's totes it. Thanks. It's a mystery then why my niece sleeps in one. She's got a nanny...hmmm...

Eastie156 · March 2014

cheeseandrice said:

daycare.

cheeseandrice said:

Flamingemu said:

cheeseandrice said:

daycare.

)

Seriously! She's napped in a PnP since 10w. SInce we moved here a few months ago,, she's napped on teh floor in a sleeping bag. It's insane. They say "nap time" and the kids all go lay down. no fuss. MAGIC I TELL YOU.

Ethan never napped in a pnp, because we lived in a loft, so there wasn't space for one. He slept and napped in his crib. This could be the issue. Oh well, sucking it up and dealing with lack of sleep until he is in a reg bed while on vacation.

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