With the summer travel season upon us, my Bunch has been on the move quite a bit lately. For one reason or another, on at least half a dozen occasions over the past few months we have found ourselves bunking with one or more of our children in a hotel room, rental house, relative's home, etc. This past weekend, we found ourselves (yet again) crammed into a hotel room together. Yes, that's right - all five of us. If we're staying somewhere for a few nights, we spring for the extended-stay/suite-type places. But for a quick overnight on a drive to somewhere, we're trying to minimize cash layout on the drive there so we can save money to do the fun stuff once we get there.
The Bigs have mercifully reached the age where they can sleep A) in any bed or on a pallet on the floor and B) in the same room with each other, both of which make things a LOT easier. Although they get pretty cranked when "on vacation" (which they define as sleeping anywhere except home, no matter the location or reason), they're definitely old enough to understand that when lights are down and Mom and Dad use a firm "go to bed" tone, it's time to go to bed.
Baby, on the other hand, is still too young to get it and he is difficult in a hotel room. So difficult, in fact, that I am straining to remember how we managed to cram into a hotel room with TWO babies. Oh yeah, we didn't. We were pretty much on a two-year travel moratorium during our prime Baby Bunching years, but we did have a few occasions where we all had to bunk together and here's what I remember (and still look for, when making reservations) as keys to success when traveling with baby(ies).
1) Pack N Play is critical. Either call ahead and make sure the hotel has one or bring your own, no matter what it takes. You may be able to get away with letting one Baby (or Toddler) snuggle in your bed, but you will not get even half a wink of sleep if the entire family is there.
2) Get two beds. That way, if the PackNPlay thing doesn't pan out and baby is scared of sleeping in an unfamiliar environment alone, you can at least split the difference with your hubby and divvy up between two beds instead of cramming the entire family into one huge one.
3) Get creative with asking for alternative room layouts. One of the biggest problems I have getting my babies settled is that they settle easier and sleep better in rooms by themselves. Short of getting two hotel rooms (which seems a giant waste if 50% of your family is under the age of 2 and doesn't appreciate the extra space), a hotel stay means that they will not be able to have their own rooms. But there are a couple of things you can do to mitigate this. Although it sounds gross, hotel rooms frequently have bathrooms large enough to fit PackNPlays and that is the first place I look for the possibility of creating a "separate" space. Typically, scoring a room that is handicap-accessible significantly increases your chances of a larger room, so ask for it and if they have enough, they may give you one. Another possible "bedroom" is an over sized closet. At the very least, see if you can get a "suite," which isn't always the exorbitantly-priced, multiple room affair - sometimes it's just a half wall separating the sleeping area from a small "living area" - for not much more money.
4) Bring the creature comforts. Even if the hotel has a PackNPlay, bring your own crib sheets, blankets and favorite stuffed animals. Few hotels have sheets that fit the crib - they just double-wrap the mattress in regular sheets, so having your own bedding on hand will increase your wee one's comfort level. Don't forget the white noise machine if your baby needs one - it may be annoying for you to fall asleep to the sound of a waterfall, but at least you will get SOME sleep if your little one sleeps instead of cries all night.
5) Max out the amenities. If there's a pool, use it. Get the babes good and tired in the hopes that they will just crash from exhaustion, not caring when or where they sleep.
6) Just plan on going to bed early. My husband finds it hard to wind down at night without reading or watching TV. That's unfortunate for him, because my Bunch finds it hard to wind down if he is reading or watching TV. If you can score a room with an outdoor balcony, you might be able to slip out and talk quietly or read for a bit. Otherwise, just call it a day when your Bunch does - heaven knows you'll need need the rest to be up for whatever they throw your way tomorrow (or in the middle of the night).
These are my best tips, but we STILL struggle with this, and most of the time check out having slept minimally. If you've figured out how to make family-style bunking work, DO TELL!
We have had to travel waaaaay too much with our twin boys, and just a bit with our new 'plus one' but we're minimalist about it. The security of falling asleep with your parents around (our nighttime prayer routine is long and imminently travelable!) plus the benefit of hotel pool exaustion are our best weapons. Never go to a hotel without a pool. If you go to a hotel with a toddler-friendly pool, keep the number in your cell phone.
Free breakfasts are the secnd most important resource. Go in shifts, eat really well, have the kids in a breakfast-daze until noon. Besides, you know you'll need the five cups of coffee you'll drink while they eat their waffles.
Posted by: jean grow | Jul 20, 2010 at 11:04 AM
It occurred to me that the "eating breakfast in shifts" might need to be explained:
Every baby buncher has had those horrible moments with relatives (or without them!) when you find yourself with an unruly bunch having a badly-timed eating experience at a restaurant. This is exactly why hotel breakfasts are the bomb. You can go with one kid, eat a quality meal (I'm talking about hotels that at the very least have a fresh-waffle maker or scrambled eggs) and concentrate on discussing the trip with your toddler, or on the news while you hold the infant. Meanwhile, Mr. Wonderfull can take his 45 minute shower, iron his shirt (really, who NEEDS an ironed shirt?) maybe even watch the news, and do that minimalist thing he does where at least the other kid has no chance to stick his/her finger in an electrical outlet. Then you switch. Or in our case, I get another 2 cups of coffee down while watching the second child eat. You can re-use the same sticky table the first kid messed up, and feel that much less guilty about what mess you can't help but leave behind. (I'm always cleaning the floor and wiping the table, but there is always some kind of mess you can't fix without cleaners or something.) Being a baby-bunching mom, you're probably already dressed for the day, or (like me) have a spare shirt in the car to change into. This way Dad can come out with his kid and have a fast breakfast himself, while you duck back into the room to stack the bags outside, or double-check the day-bag and change the baby's onsie from the breakfast mess.
Posted by: jean grow | Jul 20, 2010 at 11:23 AM
Another good way to do this is, if you know you're going to be bunching everyone in the same room for awhile, get used to it before you go. Put at least 2 of your kids in the same room--preferably the lightest sleepers, so that they get used to sleeping with other people around. My husband and I decided to have our girls, 20 months apart, always share a room. And the result? They can fall asleep together, anywhere. It's beautiful.
Posted by: Michelle | Jul 20, 2010 at 01:31 PM
I just stayed in a hotel room w/ my 2 kiddos (14 months and not quite 3) and it was not fun! I made a seperate area for baby in the corner w/ a sheet draped over a lamp and a chair so she couldn't see the beds and that worked out really well. She did great, it was my big one that was the issue! He kept waking up and then waking her up! soo frustrating! I wrote a little blog about it the other day. http://dariusandkelly.blogspot.com/2010/07/wilken-family-reunion.html
I keep thinking I should move them into the same bedroom so we dont have to deal with that anymore (like at every holiday when we travel to see family, but I dont know how I would deal w/ naptime...)
Posted by: kelly | Jul 20, 2010 at 02:33 PM
I suggest that you try to keep up some of your morning/evening traditions when traveling. For example, my husband eats breakfast with my older daughter and plans the day (this could be done down in the hotel dining room), while I shower and feed the baby. Plus, when we're staying in one location more than one night we look for rooms with a kitchenette and small fridge or even rent a condo/timeshare with a full kitchen and laundry.
Posted by: Monica | Jul 20, 2010 at 06:50 PM
I definitely second the 'stay at a hotel with a pool', as well as breakfast buffet. These were some of the best things at our hotel on our last trip with a 21 month old and 6 week old.
I would also add, it is nice if you are in a hotel not close to any city amenities, if it has a restaurant or coffee shop in the lobby and internet access. That way you can come down in the evening with one kid and relax while one of you is prepping another kid for bed.
Definitely try and get a suite if you can afford it, or a room with a balcony. I also found it annoying when the kids went to bed, that we both had to be really quiet as we were all in the same room.
Also - hotel drawers that come out, can become makeshift bassinets when the hotel messes up and cant give you the pack and play you ordered ahead of time (arrgh!!). NOTE: if you DONT want your baby to sleep in a drawer like ours did, bring a back up pack and play or co-sleeper with you.
Posted by: AZ | Jul 24, 2010 at 05:56 AM