Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My baby slept in a pack and play on vacation (and in a crib at home) long past the time she could climb out. Just get them tired and put 'em down.

The issue isn’t just bedtime though, what about if they wake up early and try climbing out then?

What are you worried would happen? They are in a room with a parent or an monitor and a closed door right?

A crib, I’d worry about a fall, but a pack and play that’s not an issue.

Maybe its a one off situation. My DS who is in the 99th percentile was able to climb out of his pack n play and climb back in (I watched on the monitor when he was having a hissy fit about his blanket). He has never done it again even though he obviously knows how.

For future reference, we've used this inflatable bed from ages 2-5 or so: https://www.amazon.com/hiccapop-Inflatable-Toddler-Portable-Mattress/dp/B01LWQMM4V?th=1

Anonymous wrote:My baby slept in a pack and play on vacation (and in a crib at home) long past the time she could climb out. Just get them tired and put 'em down.

The issue isn’t just bedtime though, what about if they wake up early and try climbing out then?

My baby slept in a pack and play on vacation (and in a crib at home) long past the time she could climb out. Just get them tired and put 'em down.

Assuming you're on vacation for more than two more nights, go on Amazon right now and get this delivered to wherever you are:

https://www.amazon.com/Joovy-Featuring-Protection-Ultra-Fine-Self-Inflating/dp/B07MRPDF2C

It's a game changer. My almost 4 year old is still happily in it, and since the zipper is on the outside, he's contained. Highly recommend.

The panic of this moment winds up being funny in retrospect when your kid acclimates to a bed faster than you expect them to and it turns out it's actually safer and better for them to have more freedom of movement -- they can come get you if they need you (instead of relying on calling out), it makes potty training easier, and it starts to build some independence around both bedtime and wake up time that I've found help with sleep longterm.

When I had my baby, a friend gave me the advice of "keep them in the crib as long as possible" and I get why this is the goal for many, but having gone through it, I think the reverse is true. Move them out of the crib and into a be as soon as they seem ready, and if they can climb out of the crib they are ready. Then teach them the safety and responsibility of sleeping in a bed. Sooooo much better than extended crib use because now you're free.

Anonymous wrote:Don’t start co sleeping- just put the mattress on the floor!

Eh, kids acclimate to different rules on vacation. We've never co-slept at home except for a few months when they were infants when they slept in a co-sleeper next to the bed. But we often co-sleep on vacation in order to make hotel rooms and various stages of development work. So much easier to co-sleep in a hotel with two queens than to figure out the combination of cribs and cots necessary to avoid it. We've also co-slept two adults and one small child in a king size bed, or two kids in a full size, etc.

Co-sleeping on vacation can be a special treat for the kids, allow for extra bonding time with nighttime snuggles and morning chat ins bed, and also helps your kids become flexible travelers who can easily share rooms and deal with changes in routine and habits, something that will serve them well in adulthood when they will travel on their own and with friends, live with roommates, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should rent a crib from a baby rental place. All beaches have them.

A baby who can climb out of a pack and play isn't safe in a crib.

I have 3 kids who were all in regular beds by 2 because they were climbers and I would agree with this. Once they learn to climb it’s game over. Instead of trying to make a crib work safely, focus on getting them comfortable using a bed. It can take a few nights but they catch on faster than you might think. On vacation, I’d go with the mattress in tge floor option