Vacation with baby - advice on sleeping arrangement without a crib

[BigNumbers]

Just did this with a 4 month old in Hawaii

1) buy a travel playpen from the lock target for under 50.

2) put some playpen fitted sheets on it


We also had the pop up baby tent for the beach (their name escapes me). They were recalled because babies were suffocating along the edge.

Our little guy would get completely sweaty in the tent as even with the netting it lacks airflow. Would not recommend it for sleeping through the night.

[BigNumbers]

Yah it was a peapod we used (and still have). Great for the beach, but I worry about the suffocation issue they were recalled for all night with a 3 month old who is probably not rolling on their own.

My two cents - sounds like others have had success with just the peapod.

[nfotiu]

Get Amazon to deliver a $50 pack n play for the day you arrive would seem like the best stress free way to go:

http://www.amazon.com/Cosco-Funsport...ds=pack+n+play
or
http://www.amazon.com/Graco-Pack-Tra...ref=pd_cp_ba_1

[Bigtime]

The suggestions to use a baby supply rental place at your destination is perfect, we've done that with Maui a couple of times and it has worked great. We'd also usually just buy a cheap umbrella stroller at the local Wal-Mart/Costco for the trip.

[tete]

I echo the major suggestions - renting a pack n play in Florida or the peapod.

If you were interested in the basic Peapod, I have one at home, which we used until my daughter was 7-8 months old, I'd be happy to loan it to you if you'd like. It's super compact. PM me if you're interested, I live and work in Beltline/downtown.

[Titan]

Whatever you do ensure that the density around the bedroom core is of a sufficient level as you progress towards the outer areas of the room it is very easy to succumb to sprawl and then you are fata'ed. Perhaps stacking several playpens would allow for sufficient park areas and you will be able to walk from the inner bedroom areas. That way you won't need apologies from any of the stakeholders.

[Titan]

On a serious note, whatever you do, ensure the bedding is tight around the sleeping area. Some of the suggestions for towels and such concern me that the towels can fall into its face and suffocate the baby.

[yads]

We just brought our playpen, airlines let you bring a playpen and car seat for free. If you bring your own I suggest going through the US rather than Canada so you only have to pick up your things at the destination.

Renting is a decent idea, but if you're going to Miami, presumably you're getting in quite late. So not sure how you'd get the rental crib in the middle of the night.

[ae118]

Originally Posted by BigNumbers

Just did this with a 4 month old in Hawaii

1) buy a travel playpen from the lock target for under 50.

2) put some playpen fitted sheets on it


We also had the pop up baby tent for the beach (their name escapes me). They were recalled because babies were suffocating along the edge.

Our little guy would get completely sweaty in the tent as even with the netting it lacks airflow. Would not recommend it for sleeping through the night.

I second all of this. I'd just get a cheap playpen in Florida, and leave it there. Kushies makes fitted playpen sheets - you can pick up a couple and launder before you go.

[Buff]

You should be able to find a place that rents kids stuff, like a crib or playpen. When we went to Hawaii last year with our daughter who was 8 months, we took along our playpen. Check with your airline, if you are flying, they should have some sort of allowance for those travelling with young children. Aside from the suitcase we were able to check the playpen and car seat, and we had a small stroller that we could check at the door of the plane. No extra charge for that luggage.

We also have taken the playpen along on various other trips for each of our kids to sleep in. It folds up nicely and isn't much of a hassle to bring along. If you don't want to carry something else along, then try to rent, or buy something cheap and leave it behind.

[Minnie]

Originally Posted by yads

Renting is a decent idea, but if you're going to Miami, presumably you're getting in quite late. So not sure how you'd get the rental crib in the middle of the night.

You arrange details and payment with the rental place ahead of time, and they deliver it to your hotel so that it is there when you arrive. Some motels/hotels will hold it in the office for you or have it taken to the room and set up for you prior to check in.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

1-Goto Walmart
2-Buy Playpen (keep receipt)
3-Use carefully
4-Return Playpen

[COGENT]

My boy is 1.5 years now and we've used the playpen numerous times and it's been excellent... it was actually a really good $60 investment.

I don't recommend the bed sharing at all. We had to do it one night and for the next 3 months my wife would wake up in the middle of the night looking for him in the bed. Pretty awful actually. That's just my experience of course.

Also, travelling by air (in my experience) with an infant is awesome. They would open a new line for us all the time or just escort us to the front. We never asked for it, they just always did it in every city we were in.

[troutman]

Don't put baby in a corner.

[yads]

Originally Posted by Minnie

You arrange details and payment with the rental place ahead of time, and they deliver it to your hotel so that it is there when you arrive. Some motels/hotels will hold it in the office for you or have it taken to the room and set up for you prior to check in.

Fair enough, OP mentioned that they're renting a house, so I'm not sure how feasible it would be.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by COGENT

My boy is 1.5 years now and we've used the playpen numerous times and it's been excellent... it was actually a really good $60 investment.

I don't recommend the bed sharing at all. We had to do it one night and for the next 3 months my wife would wake up in the middle of the night looking for him in the bed. Pretty awful actually.

Also, travelling by air (in my experience) with an infant is awesome. They would open a new line for us all the time or just escort us to the front. We never asked for it, they just always did it in every city we were in.

We had the same experience. We were always put to the front of the line. The only drawback that we saw was boarding the plane first. We would rather let our kid hang out in the spacious terminal and board last. Boarding first gives you an extra 30 minutes of being cramped in a plane. Thankfully we didn't have to deal with a cranky baby and it turned out okay, but for some kids that extra wait can make a big difference.

[COGENT]

Originally Posted by Buff

We had the same experience. We were always put to the front of the line. The only drawback that we saw was boarding the plane first. We would rather let our kid hang out in the spacious terminal and board last. Boarding first gives you an extra 30 minutes of being cramped in a plane. Thankfully we didn't have to deal with a cranky baby and it turned out okay, but for some kids that extra wait can make a big difference.

Ah yes, agreed. Lucky enough my son was 4 months old when we went and it worked out that he was either sleeping or eating so it was ok for us... the 2 year old 5 rows behind us, not so much.

[Titan]

On boarding I think the key is to board first to give you time to settle and get all your crap stored and handy. However, don't buckle the kid (if buckling at all) until the very last second. Let them stand up and look around and see the people.

In another thread, I think, someone made cookies and handed them out to everyone else that boarded as a thank you for your understanding/I am sorry I brought a kid gift.

[normtwofinger]

You could just sleep with the kid in your bed. That's the simple solution. A week or two of that won't wreck him.

[GGG]

Our Peapod was Awsome.

Also they have great resale value we got 75% of what we paid 2 years later. The best part is how small it packs up.