Hello Ladies:
I have some concerns about a trip that we're taking to stoneyford this weekend. My inlaws recently bought a new motor home and they want to do a "dry run" so-to-speak, they offered to take us to stoneyford this weekend since it's a great place to go dirtbike ridding (which we are totally hooked on).. now, to my question. She is a crazy sleeper! she rolls and tumbles every where.. so, we are debating on either taking her playpen (mind you, we will be sleeping in the motor home) or just taking some extra thick blanquets and pillows and setting her on the floor. The floor is safe, it's got carpet and it's completely blocked off so she wont roll off down stairs or anything like that. Any suggestions?... any comments would be greatly appreciated
Well, being that it was her first actual camping experience... it couldn't have been much worse!!!! LOL... it was a nightmare!!! We first stayed friday night at our inlaws' home. she has a crib and everything there..she refused to use it, she did not want to be any where near it. We tried the cry it out method which usually works with in 10 minutes or so... nope.. HOURS WENT BY!!! we finally stuck her in bed with us and she tossed and turned.. and NEVER SLEPT!!! which inturn means we never slept. Now to the camping part.. the day was great, she was super excited, ran around-no problem. At night-at the insistance of my mother in law- we just put her down on the floor under her table with ONE blanket. Mind you, stonyford gets freezing cold at night.. yeah.. well.... she finally fell asleep around 9pm and by 11pm she woke up with horrible tummy ache. Mylecon fixed that- by midnight she woke up again.. screaming.. but now because she was FREEZING!!! i couldn't add any more blanquets.. they were all in a locked room.. so, i became her heating blanket.. sitting on a chair all night with her while she tossed and turned on me. Every time I tried to set her down and lay with her she'd kick and scream.. It all ended with every one sleeping but me. Exciting. I do appreciate all of the advice I received from you amazing mommies. Thank you for taking the time to respond as you always so wonderfully do. I have been doing research on inflatable beds so that this wont happen again (since every one slept so wonderfully, they want to make this a reocurrent event!!! god save me.)
Hi B., You can always just take one of those bed guards that keep kids from falling out of bed. A play pen will be way too big for a camper.
Sincerely,
D.
When we've gone RVing with our little guy, we used a guard rail on one of the beds. If she has a bed that she can use, that might be handy (unless you think she'd climb over and fall to the floor). Otherwise, the floor is probably your best bet - keep in mind that it will probably get chilly at night and RV floors are cold, so you'll want to have a nice, thick pad underneath her as well as warm blankets over her.
I think you will be fine either way. We are hooked on dirt biking also. You will have a great time.
Hi B.-
Our son will soon be two, and his first camping trip was at 10 weeks old! That was easy. However, this last summer, he was 14 months old and also a crazy sleeper. We bought the PeaPod Plus by Kidco tent a few months before our trip. It was wonderful! And it's worth the extra $$ to buy the 'plus' version as it's bigger. It fit into his crib, so we put it in there a few days before we left to get him comfortable. We still use it all the time for sleep-overs/naps with the grandparents. I know that you are camping this weekend, so it might not be possible for you to have by then, but for the future...
Have a great time!
I took the pac 'n play with us (we go in tents though) it was great for cooking and napping during the day when you need a clean place to set them down for a while. He loved it just played next to us. Also next to the fire when we would want to sit down and then he would be able to get close to the fire with out being able to get to close. We would just have him in our tent with us at night like the monkey in the middle.:)
Is she used to sleeping in her playpen? Then I would take that. It is their comfort area, something they are used to so will sleep better in that away from home.
F.
Hi B.,
The table top and pole come out where the kitchen table is in our motorhome and we have put a pack n play in there. Granted, it's a smaller pack n play. If you've got the same set up w/ the table, see if your pack and play will fit there. Good luck and happy camping!
Oh what an exciting and mobile age. I wanted to share with you our camping experience. We have taken our son, who is now almost 7 camping since he was 2 weeks old (WOW - that was brave - looking back, but that trip was only to Lodi Lake over night with our camping club). Anyway, depending on the age and mobility, we had in in his porta-pen, but we also had him in a bunk with a portable side rail. It went the length of the bunk and was very comfortable and safe. No matter what - your first time, you'll be sleeping with one eye open.
Enjoy!
L. W.
It sounds like the floor with pillows will work out just fine. I like taking my pack and play when camping so that I have a controlled space. I used it when I had him cleaned for a meal and did not want him sitting in the dirt. I also had toys that were only for the play pen so that they were not covered in dirt and going in his mouth.
I say go for it! I do encourage you to bring the play pen wether he/she sleeps in it or not. It can be used outside as well or during certain times of the day if needed for a nap or what have you. We went camping when ours was 3 months old and he had a blast! Used our play pen right in our tent! Have fun! Hope they are a "Happy Camper!" ;0)
Hi B.,
When we went RVing with the baby with my inlaws, we actually put blankets in the bottom of the bathtub. If they have one, it doesn't take up extra room and she won't roll around where someone might step on her.
D.
Take the playpen. Even though you might be able to make the floor work, do you really want to have to spend all weekend in tight quarters with your in-laws trying to get your lovely little girl to sleep? If you have that one area taken care of, you will be able to relax a little more.
I think you should take the playpen. My son would never sleep on the floor at that age. He would be so excited in a new environment and new freedom out of his crib that he would be up all night trying to tickle us or climbing everywhere. Also, another mom pointed out the additional uses for the playpen - I'm guessing Grandma will watch Baby while you guys go biking so a playpen will give her a way to take a little break from running after Baby. Grandma may not be used to being on her toes anymore!
We have a tent trailer and I have always brought our pack n play with us. It is important to me so that I know she is not getting into anything while the adults are still outside awake. We just either put it where the kitchen table turns into a bed or on one of the other beds and it has always worked out great.
Definitely put her on the floor. We lived in an RV from the time our daughter was 6 months old till just before her first birthday. She'll be comfortable on the floor, &, in the cramped space of an RV that pack-n-play is bigger than you think!
B.,
Take the play pin and ear plugs for the grandparents. Keep your baby well fed and exercised so she will sleep good at night.
My sister and her husband take their grandchildren often in the motor home. They have tv screen in three places so the kids can watch movies when they are driving.
Have a great time!
Blessings.....
I would make a bed for her on the floor. My 3 year old has been camping in a cab-over since he was 1 month old. He started out in a box on the bench seat, then slept in bed with us for a while, but tossed and turned too much so we put him in a sleeping bag on the floor. He slept on the converted table bed for awhile, but I hated having to transform the table back and forth. He is now big enough to sleep on the bunk above the table.
