Need tips for travel sleep for a 1 year old!?

toddler travel bed with sides image

GirlNextDo

My son is 15 mo and we will be taking a small weekend trip in a couple of weeks. He still sleeps in his crib and that is the only place he likes to sleep. We have a pac n play but I have heard that those are not safe for a toddler to sleep in. Does anyone have any travel bedding tips??? Thanks

Answer
Part of the reason people say the pack and plays are not safe for a baby to sleep in, is because everybody thinks they need to 'pad' the bottom with a heavy blanket or something. No babies are supposed to sleep with a big blanket, same rules with a crib. No heavy blankets, minimal toys/bedding, etc. It should be empty except for him, and maybe a light blanket. Other than that they are perfectly safe when used correctly. Make sure the sides are locked and its set up correctly, Make sure the mat that came with it is in the bottom and of course don't let him sleep on the bassinet or changing insert. hes prolly too big for those anyway. Have fun on your trip. Im sure he'll get pretty worn out on your trip he'll prolly fall asleep anywhere, but if your real worried about him not being able to sleep in it, then have a few test nights, or let him nap in it during the day.

Anybody practicing child led weaning with breastfeeding?

Mommacita7

If so, would you mind sharing your experience and what led you to choose this method? What have been your greatest struggles with breastfeeding? Were you ever tempted to give up? How long did it take before you felt an intense bond with your child through breastfeeding? Did you ever use a pump and bottle? Did you use a pacifier as well? Even if your not practicing child led weaning, please share your breastfeeding experiences!

Answer
I decided from the start to let my son choose when to stop breastfeeding. My mum did this with my brother and he stopped voluntarily at 13months; I have a friend who did the same thing and her son stopped at 18months. My son is still very keen on breastfeeding and is now 35months! I read somewhere that a lot of breastfeeding toddlers elect to stop around 42months, so if we go past that stage I think I will try and encourage him to stop, but for now we're very happy as we are.

The main problem we have had was with my son's father - at first he thought that we should only be doing it ten minutes on each side and on some kind of schedule. He's given up arguing about it now!

There were a few other problems in the early days. When my son was just a few weeks old the health visitor told me he wasn't gaining weight and I wasn't feeding him enough. She also told me I needed to leave him on each breast longer to make sure he got to the hindmilk, which is more nutritious. It turned out to be her scales that were wrong (for goodness sake!) but we had a horrible couple of weeks when I was trying to feed the poor little guy every waking moment.

I also had blocked milk ducts on a few occasions in the first few months (putting cabbage leaves in your bra really does help, no idea why! Or have a warm bath then breastfeed while massaging the blocked area), and once I had a milk blister, which was sore! When it was softened after feeding I yanked it off with tweezers. Gads!! Never thought about giving up though, and definitely no dummies, I just hate the idea of them.

We stopped feeding when we are out at about 12months. Now he just has milk in bed in the morning, when he gets home from nursery and at bedtime (we co-sleep). The exception is when we are traveling. Having endured one flight where he was strapped in a seat and screamed the whole time, I now have him on my lap and feed him and he sleeps. We have travelled successfully on the sleeper train like that too - as long as he has his "udders" he is content to lie down and sleep pretty much anywhere. I will miss that facility when he stops!

Yes I did try expressing - I was never very good at it. I used to pump milk for when my son's dad was looking after him, although he would usually forget to take it anyway. When my son started nursery at 9months I tried to provide a little milk in a bottle to comfort him, but I soon found he was just as happy with strawberry Ovaltine! I've never been able to get him to drink baby formula and he's still not at all keen on cow's milk unless it is flavoured.

I think we bonded straight away - we were stuck by ourselves in hospital for five days after a crash section. He has always looked very special to me when he's feeding. It's nice now that he can talk to find out what he thinks about it all. He is kind to his toys by offering them some milk - I have breastfed great queues of teddy bears, Mickey Mouse, and even Transformers! Wouldn't have missed it for the world :-)

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Is it ok to wait on the toddler bed transition?

toddler travel bed with sides image

Q. My son had to move to a toddler bed right when he was turning 2 because he was jumping out of the crib. It was rough though. Lots of screaming and crying and sleeping on the floor and running to our bedroom, etc. My daughter turned 2 a couple months ago and is still doing well in her crib. Would it be bad if we waited till she was 3 or so to avoid or postpone the drama? Have you ever done that?

Answer
Here's an alternate solution that worked well for us. Our daughter has never slept in a crib. We started our daughter off in a bassinet, and then upgraded her to a travel-lite pack n' play until she got too big for it; about 9 months. At that point we moved her to a full size mattress-- how? By using a BED TENT.

You can buy them on Amazon or other major websites many different styles. Our daughter had the "Secret Princess Castle" made to fit a full sized bed for about $40, but they sold for as little as $20 for twins. The main requirement, if you want to use it as a crib is to get one with zippers, or else sew them on after you buy them (we bought three zippers at Johanne's fabric and did this by hand in about and hour, even though our sewing skills are minimal). Velcro won't cut it if your child is anything like ours.

Our daughter threw a fit the first night (though no more than when we put her in her pack n' play, but by the end of the week was comfortable sleeping in the tent. We didn't use a bed frame until she was older (just set the mattress on the floor), so we could choose to unzip it after she fell asleep so she could choose when she got up after her naps. When we felt it was time, we put the mattress on a box spring, then a frame. For a while, we left only one side zipped at night (the side closest to her head, so she wouldn't roll out).

By the time she was old enough to figure out how to open the zippers, she was totally comfortable with both the tent, the idea of a big bed, and being able to not roll off the bed onto the floor. The transition was gradual, and the idea was completely safe (no bars to slip or slide between and no possibility of her falling). A couple of friends asked me about the following, so I'll add this 1) it was very well vented with large sections of mosquito-netting type material for the top and sides, 2) the tent was able to accomodate a plastic sheet for accidents (we used a very thin shower curtain), and regular sized bed sheets 3) It was overall very cost effective for us as we were able to use it for a complete transition, as the mattress is adult sized, so there was no need to buy multiple pieces of furniture, bedsheets, etc.

What kind of Car Seats are allowed to be used on the Plane?

Phenomenal

I have a forward facing Car Seat for a toddler, does anyone know if I can use it on the plane and where do I have to sit order to use it. Also does anyone know if they sell straps or something to wear the car seat on my back like a book bag or anything to make it convenient to carry it around.

Answer
Car seats are a very good thing to use for air travel! They help to ensure the safety of your child and make the trip easier for both of you. You can use the car seat in any portion of the plane, except for an exit row (for safety reasons).

In order to be certified for use on an airplane, the car seat has to met the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Check the labels on the side of your car restraint for a sticker (words will be printed in red) for verification that your seat is safe for airplane use.

Booster seats are not allowed or approved for air travel.

Many airlines offer half-price tickets so parents can be guaranteed that their child can travel in a CRS device. You should call your airline to ask for a discount and/or ask what the airline's policy is for using empty seats.


Target, Babies R US, and other retailers sell many varieties of things to hold car seats in to make transportation of them easier on the parents. Prices range from $20 on up to almost $100. Make sure that you get one you are comfortable with and that will last.


I've been flying internationally and domestically with my children since they were 2 months (now 7&5). Here are some tips and advice that have always worked for me and I hope will help you:

1.) You will need to have all your child's documents in order. It is a good idea to keep a copy of his/her notarized birth certificate with you. Verify what travel documents you will need in advance to make sure you have everything.

2.) For take-offs and landings, the best thing you can do to help with the ear popping, is give your child a something to drink (milk, water, juice- it doesn't matter) or a pacifier.

New regulations allow you to take beverages (including water) from home as long as they are less than 3oz, -OR- beverages (including water) of any size that you have purchased from inside the security area onto planes. You can also bring a limited amount of baby food and non-perishable items such as cheerios, dried fruit, goldfish, just add water packets, etc, onto the plane with you. http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm#10

Save your money when it comes to buying water though because the Flight Attendants will provide you with hot or cold water (or any other drink) free at any time that you request, no matter how many times you request it.

Another trick is that if your child is not taking to the pacifier or wanting to drink, gently rub his/her neck from the chin down to the chest several times - this will cause a swallowing motion which will help with the ears popping.

3.) Make sure to pack plenty of things to entertain your child, such as a few books or toys, a portable DVD player with at least one movie, and one or two comfort things such as a favorite blankie or stuffed animal.

You might also consider going to the store and letting your child pick out his/her own carry on bag and a few inexpensive toys that will be used only once on the plane. Be sure to pick out a few toys without your child seeing so that he/she has an extra surprise when he/she opens his/her carry on.

4.) Be sure to pack 2-3 changes of clothes for your child. You will need this in case he/she gets sick, spills something on him/herself, or in case your luggage gets lost.

5.) Keep your diaper bag well stocked with plenty of diapers, wipes, ointments and other essential things. Baby nail clippers and scissors are not allowed though. Just remember the new regulating liquids, gels, and such and pack accordingly. You can usually find travel size baby products in stores and they are wonderful for plane use.

If your child is still in diapers, you should be respectful of other passengers and always change your child's diaper in the restroom. They do have diaper bed changers in there, although they can be a little small.

6.) Keep your doctors name and number with you. Also get the name and number of a doctor where you are visiting in case an emergency should come up.

It is a good idea to have a check-up with your doctor before leaving to make sure your child is healthy enough to fly. If he/she has even a slight cold, the pressure in his/her ears during take-off and landing (even if you do the precaution methods) could leave his/her ears aching for days after the flight.

Most doctors recommend that if anyone is sick (such as being stuffed up or already having an earache), not to take the flight because of the potential damage to the ears. I know my husband and other pilots do not work if they are sick because of this danger.

7.) Bring any medications that you might need for your child should he/she get sick or that he takes regularly. Remember that if they are not prescription medications, the 3oz rule applies to them and they must be kept in a clear plastic bag.

Do NOT give your child medicine with the hopes of it making him/her sleep. This is not only cruel, but dangerous as well.

8.) Last but not least, if help is offered to you, take it.

If I can be of any more help or assistance, please feel free to contact me.

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