Traveling With An Infant

[GA Peach]

I have a 7 month old and we often travel to visit family. Problem is, our 'lil guy ONLY likes his crib. We have one of those play yards (or play pens) and thought this would work out great. We bought a mattress to go inside it so it is softer. Put him in there and within an hour after he fell asleep, he was screaming bloody murder. The play yard has a mesh siding and he tries to poke his fingers thru it, which is one of the reasons he doesn't care for it.

He moves around constantly so when we tried to put him in the bed with us (only this one time that we were away from home - we're NOT co-sleepers), he kept us up all night. After two nights of this, I tell my husband we're never traveling with him again until he's older - which isn't realistic b/c his grandparents aren't able to travel and would never be able to see him.

Has someone else out there encountered this problem? What else is out there for infants to sleep in that's more like a crib?

[The Diabolical Biz Markie]

We use from time to time a mattress on the floor, surrounded by pillows. If you do this, you need to make sure that the room is baby-proofed--and you'll probably want to sleep somewhere in the same room yourself. But, it makes a difference when they are rolling around 6 ft from you, instead of rolling around on your head. Much easier to sleep.

[GA Peach]

Oh yeah, I forgot...is it normal for a baby to toss, turn and roll all night? Good gosh, sometimes when I watch him on the TV monitor, I wonder how he ever wakes up rested!

[The Diabolical Biz Markie]

I don't think every baby does it, but I think it it not (necessarily) a problem.
My little guy does the exact same thing, and he has no problems stemming from lack of sleep.

[openminded]

...

[Me]

Not uncommon to roll around alot while sleeping.

A couple of things I would try:
-use the same sheet he has slept on one night so the smell and feel is familiar
-when at home play some kind of whitenoise cd (ocean, static, vacuum running) and then take it along when traveling. more familiarity for sleeping
-try to put him in the play yard for naps in the days leading up to traveling
-try parents.com (associated with Parents magazine, IIRC) discussion board to get a huge amount of other suggestions

Good luck!

[Maine-iac]

If you are always traveling to the same relatives, I'd go with a crib stored at grandma's house. That's what my sister did, because our parents weren't up to traveling to see the kids either. She stashed a crib and some highchairs in my parent's attic and hauled 'em down whenever she visted until the kids outgrew them.

[42]

Chloroform? (and a crib)

[Han Solo]

Originally Posted by GA Peach

Oh yeah, I forgot...is it normal for a baby to toss, turn and roll all night? Good gosh, sometimes when I watch him on the TV monitor, I wonder how he ever wakes up rested!

Not uncommon at all. I checked on my daughter once barely an hour after I put her down and she had turned all the way around - feet at the top, head at the bottom. I've seen her turn diagonally, on her side, back, stomach, all pressed against the bars, etc...