Next week we are going on vacation with about 30 of my closest relatives. Which, in theory, sounds like a lot of free babysitters fun, right? Although I am beyond excited about the change of scenery and the chance to catch up, I'm a little nervous about how my Bunch will weather the trip. "Vacation" is another one of those destinations that always seems to play out better in fantasy than reality for Baby Bunchers.
With my two oldest two approaching the elementary school years, it's been awhile since we've traveled with a baby, which adds a whole 'nother dimension. The newest addition to our crew has traveled once - to Houston back in March. He did ok on the flight but managed to contract some sort of viral nonsense that caused him to spike 106 degree upon landing in Texas. One trip to urgent care, one trip to the family doctor and 6 gallons of alternating doses of Tylenol and Motrin later, and he recovered just in time for us to board the plane to head home. Needless to say, I am not chomping at the bit to see how well HE travels again, but we're gonna suck it up and give it another go.
A few weeks ago, my aunt informed me that the group had graciously decided to allow the people in my generation with kids to get first pick of bedrooms in our super-sized lodge, which sleeps 40 people and has some obscene number of bedrooms. You would think that with all those choices for sleeping configurations, there would be a room that fits my Bunch, no?
And yet, we have all these mandates that make us "difficult to place", such as:
- Big boys can sleep in the same room as each other, but not the baby because they will wake him up.
- Big boys can't sleep in a room that overlooks a balcony because they will probably bust out and jump.
- Big boys can't sleep in a room near the hot tub because they will probably bust out and go for a midnight swim.
- Baby can't be too near the main floor or the basement, because noise level will keep him awake.
- Middle boy requires either his own twin bed or a California King if he is sleeping with someone else because he does karate while he sleeps and has feet like Edward Scissorhands.
- Big boys don't have to sleep in my room necessarily, but they have to sleep with an adult because they will probably bust out.
- We can't be too close to anyone else because Baby will likely wake up at least once in the night and again at the crack of dawn.
- But don't worry - Baby can sleep in a closet or spare bathroom if needed.
I'm pretty sure that we're gonna end up in a tent in the backyard because of all our BS.
My point here is that Baby Bunchers have unique considerations when it comes to lodging because they can't risk A) their kids waking each other up, B) their kids waking other people up, C) other people waking their kids up.
As we all know, the Baby Bunching machine is a finely oiled one, and it typically doesn't allow for sleep cycles to stray off course. Sleep deprivation + Baby Bunch = nuclear meltdown. So what's the easiest way to manage your Bunch on vacation?
Stay home.
This sounds so familiar! My bunch is small (2 boys, 19 months apart), but we are very rigid about sleep because both of them melt down/tantrum/etc. without proper sleep/naps.
The thing is, they will be miserable and therefore make everyone else on vacation miserable if we don't pay attention to their sleep.
It does make us difficult visitors, though!
Posted by: yasmara | Jun 09, 2009 at 11:42 AM
Hahahahaha!!!
We travel with two pretty regularly (I think they've been on about 8-9 trips in their 1.5 and 2 years of life)....The secret is definitely definitely NOT hotel rooms. Condos. With more than one room. WITH!MORE!THAN!ONE!ROOM! You have to. For sanity. And if we could have a room for each kid, we so would, but it's not really possible most of the time!
Posted by: JessPond | Jun 09, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Where on earth are you staying with all those bedrooms? That sounds great! Not a baby buncher YET but I love your blog.
Posted by: Melanie Taylor | Jun 09, 2009 at 02:32 PM
Yes! Do tell! Where are you going? My parents were ultimate baby bunchers - they did it again and again - eight of us in total, 15 years apart, and we love to all get together with our own kids now - sleeps 40 sounds perfect!
Posted by: maggie | Jun 09, 2009 at 02:51 PM
boy can we relate to this. add to it that my husband is the world's lightest sleeper. UHG.
Posted by: MommyNamedApril | Jun 09, 2009 at 05:50 PM
Ha! This is funny, as I am currently up to my eyebrows in packing for a vacation!! I have two step kids, 5 and 8 and then my two amazing little boys are 4 months and 17 months. So, I am definately a baby buncher. Follow your website all the time. I am very apprehensive about where everyone will sleep. I am hoping for a walk in closet too! We travel a lot to visit our families, but this vacation is going to be interesting!! Good luck!
Posted by: Kelly Pool | Jun 09, 2009 at 10:48 PM
i have figured out that i was blessed with strong sleepers... i had my concerns at first, cause #1 used to be a light sleeper, but they share a room with ease now... our problem with vacations is that neither one will sleep if we are in the room.. it's like they have parent radar or something... if we aren't there, sleeping all night long... if we are, everyone is up a couple times a night... ugh
Posted by: Mama Cas | Jun 10, 2009 at 12:57 AM
Yes, Jess - I agree that more than one room has been the secret to our success in the past, too. We are done squishing into one hotel room - we require one of those suite-type places with a mini kitchen as well. It's just WAY easier...
And Maggie, we're off to Tennessee - http://www.hiddenmountain.com/river_lodge.html
I can give you full scoop on it in a few weeks!
Posted by: Cara Fox | Jun 10, 2009 at 09:49 PM
Dont' forget your white noise machine, either!
Posted by: Linda | Jun 11, 2009 at 07:15 AM
(Just turned four, almost 2 and a half, and ten months. Nobody's a great sleeper.)
We stay home. We're going to a beach house with friends in August, and I don't know what the heck we'll do.
The last time we traveled with the older two they shared a room and didn't wake/keep each other up like we thought. I think the key is to be flexible - if that's possible. Maybe someone in your family would be willing to switch rooms with you if the first scenario doesn't work. Talk about it before you settle in. Sometimes just having the option to move can be a load off your mind.
Posted by: lumpyheadsmom | Jun 11, 2009 at 10:50 AM
Blech! Yes, this year we are staying home. No one seems to understand why all 3 of our kids can't share a bedroom- the 4-year old goes to bed an hour later and gets up an hour earlier than her siblings (13 month old twins), and they still get up multiple times at night!
And frankly, it's not much of a vacation for DH and me if we have to share a bedroom with the kids.
Posted by: Ariel | Jun 19, 2009 at 12:34 AM