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Need advice: toddler sleeping at Grandmas

Anonymous

Our little 2 1/2 year old grandson has his own room at home and a crib mattress on the floor. He stays overnight at our house about once a week. So far it has been in a Pack and Play, where he also cannot get out.
We need to figure out a new sleeping arrangement for him.
We downsized to a 2-bedroom house. Now he sleeps in the guest bedroom, which has a queen sized bed, but it is quite high. I am at a loss as to how to keep a guest bedroom and accommodate him too. He will have a baby sister this fall to complicate matters. I'd appreciate ideas. Having him out of the Pack and Play also means he can get out of the room unless we gate it. It also means toddler proofing more than it is, like removing bedside lamps. Help!

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Joyce B

Veteran

Enjoy the little one and congrats on the soon to arrive grandbaby!
Sorry that I have no advice, only good wishes.

rachylou

Veteran

How big is the guest room?

Sarah

My children have slept on blow up air mattresses or little cots at grandparents houses (easily put away when we were not there). We also baby proofed the outlets and made sure anything breakable was not easily reached. I also found baby monitors useful in keeping an ear out for kids that were too old for a crib but not old to trust alone and awake.

Anonymous

I don't know how often you have adult guests at your home but you have your grandson once a week.

I don't think a cot or air mattress will be truly safe because the high bed will still be in the room.

I think I'd have to take apart the frame if there is one and leave just the box and mattress for the time being. Honestly it wouldn't faze me in the least to remove or readjust anything I thought might be dangerous.

Guests who are family will understand and maybe the child's parents can help with reassembly when a non relative comes to stay if you think it's necessary.

It's not ideal but it's for a relatively short time and if you just decide that's how it's going to be you might come up with some surprisingly interesting decor.

Thistle

Veteran

I have a 2.5 year old. There are no good answers. Be thankful he stays in the crib or pack and play. Mine started climbing out when she was 1.5 years old, as soon as she was strong enough to haul herself over the side of the crib.

It's made life challenging!

We have a toddler bed for her. The mattress on the floor works just as well, and you can store it under the queen bed. Yes, she can get out of it. Her bedroom is across from ours and we leave both doors open. A gate might work for your, but DD2 would just climb it. With the doors open, she comes into our room to get us if she wakes up in the night.

She comes to us almost every night.

I'd love to give you better answers, but this she is tough. Be thankful he isn't a climber!

elpgal

Veteran

If the floors are warm, maybe a napmat for the older kid and the PnP for his sister? But putting both in the same room may disturb his sleep.

You could do bed-rails too. I would leave the child proofing to the parents. Kids are wily and only their parents know what they will outwit!

My son never slept in his crib but never rolled off his high bed or ours.

Definitely invest in a waterproof mattress pad if they will sleep in the bed.

kerry

Veteran

There is no way to keep him contained unless he's in a crib or pack 'n play and at 2.5 he's almost too old for either. Keep the pack'n play for baby sister and put bed rails on the queen bed. If he's a serious climber and you're afraid he'll launch himself out of the bed, get a mattress on the floor. If there's room grab a toddler mattress (is he tall?) and store it under the bed.

Are you committed to keeping the queen bed? Is there room for a king? If so, could you buy two twins (one for each grand kid eventually) and push them together for other guests?

Would he think it's fun to sleep on a thermarest and in a sleeping bag when he's at grandma's?

Gigi

Veteran

I don't know what a pack 'n play is (I don't have kids), but my parents used to have air mattresses for the grandkids when they were maybe four? One had Spider-man, I think, and the other had Hello Kitty. They loved their air mattresses, and it was something fun about sleeping at Grandma's.

When I was little, I slept in a full-size bed, and one side was pushed up very close to the wall (though not all the way), and the other side had a bed rail. That was enough to keep me from falling out of the bed.

Anonymous

These are such helpful things to think about. The frame of the queen bed in the room is big and heavy solid wood. DH and I are both getting too old for much lifting. DH has several stents and is not supposed to lift over 40 pounds. My spine is like Swiss cheese.

The toddler is small for his age having been a premie. He is now still less than 30 pounds. I like the idea of moving the bed next to the wall and getting rails and a waterproof mattress cover.

Rachylou, the room is very normal for a second bedroom. It has a built in double closet, a big window and room for a small bookshelf and a rocking chair, besides the twin bed and two bedside tables. There is a hall bathroom across the hall. We have a small office and a laundry room where we could set up the pack and play for the baby sister. Probably the laundry room as it has a big counter at a good height for changing diapers, although the dog thinks of that room as hers because it is where her kennel is and her water dish and food.

Scarlet

Veteran

When we visit my mom, the two year old naps in a queen bed with a guard rail on one side. I put him close to the guard rail so there is a long way to go to get to the non-guarded side, and he has never fallen. The bed is not one of those extremely high ones though, and the floor is carpeted. If there is room on the floor in your guest room I would consider getting an air mattress for him. Waterproof mattress cover, yes, smart We bought one from Luna on Amazon that has worked out well. I have never had a problem with the kids and bedside lamps, aside from the fascination of turning it on and off, but kids are different and get into different things.

ETA: confused, is it a queen bed you have, or a twin?

ETA2: If you are concerned they will knock over the lamps, perhaps you can exchange them for wall sconces?

rachylou

Veteran

He's too big for the pack and play now and has been sleeping in the queen and climbing out? Or he's able to get out of the pack and play now? Two cribby things won't fit the room?

I like the *bed rail and waterproof mattress cover and some padding on the floor beside the bed* idea.

... this is how long my memory is... I'd climb out of my crib at that age and fall to the floor, lololol! It was as high a drop as a queen. Didn't bother me, but it worried my parents, lolol.

They also made the mistake of putting the crib near the light switch, which I'm not sure they ever became aware of. Because I certainly popped back up and turned it on and off at will. Hahaha!

Jane

Veteran

How lovely to have your grandson to stay once a week. My mum had one of these for DS...

https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/p....._190714_co

It worked for a while, and meant that my mum was slightly more relaxed about DS not falling out of bed.

DS is 14 now and adores my mum, it is mutual and I really love watching them together (except when they tease me!!!).

Anonymous

Scarlet, the room has a queen-sized bed in it for guests. Wall sconces are a great idea.
Rachylou, His parents think he is too big for the pack and play and he does not like it as he is out of the crib at home ( in preparation for baby sister), and because he was tipping it over to get out. It will be a problem, I think, if he is able to get out of the bedroom. He would probably be happy for awhile in the dog kennel or dog bed! You have a long memory! You must have had a big vocabulary as memory is supposed to be connected to it.
Jane, the link takes me to a down puffer coat. Is that what your mom put on the floor to cushion any falls? That's a doable idea for me.

rachylou

Veteran

That's so interesting about vocab and memory. Pack and play's *are* easy to tip. I'd be tempted to get one of those tiny toddler Ikea beds... just 'cuz they look like fun to me... and I could also get a plate of Swedish pancakes...lol

Jane

Veteran

Ahh, Joy, that was the wrong paste, apologies - another YLF related thread...this should work

http://www.uberkids.co.uk/Prod.....l=2&a

Barbara Diane

Veteran

There's a difference between a kid purposely climbing out, and falling out while asleep. For the later, I heard that you can put a pool noodle at the edge - under the mattress pad or?-I don't remember.

Anonymous

Thank you, Jane. That makes sense and looks like it would be easy to use.
Barbara Diane, a pool noodle! Who knew? Worth a try.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Hi Joy! I like the idea of placing the bed by the wall with a railing! In my home, we have a trundle bed -- a simple frame that stacks one twin under the under. The lower bed slides out and pops up, so we can make up two twin beds by sliding one away from the other, or connect them as a king. We don't have a guest room, but my daughter vacates her room, and we slide out the trundle when we have overnight guests. Because it's tucked into the corner of her room, it works pretty well for kids, and it's too high.

My kids are 6 months apart. When we took apart their cribs, I remember being really worried that they would leave their beds and wander about (both were active and curious), but they never, ever did. At worst, they'd come into my room, but not until morning. I was so relieved!

Runcarla

Veteran

Falling out of bed isn't the end of the world! However, if you are looking at long term accommodations and a second child who might become a regular as well, I am wondering if that closet you describe could be turned into a bunkie? If it is big enough, a clever carpenter could fit it up for 2 twin mattresses - one up, one down! Drawers under the bottom one for storage, etc. A couple hundred for a good carpenter and paint and 2 decent mattresses.

That way you could even stash the children and host the parents!

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Anonymous

Beth Ann, you have quelled my fears. The trundle bed sounds like a good solution.
RunCarla, what a great idea to create more sleeping area down the line. I think it would work

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

The pool noodle sounds like the answer, or the trundle.

My son and I coslept. When he napped, I placed him in the center of the queen-sized bed with just his covers (didn't share my grown-up duvet for his first couple years). Occasionally, I'd hear a distinct "thump! (Pause) waaaah!" That let me know he had fallen out of bed, onto the carpet. I think he crawled out, fell down and his feet went over his head. Probably did it a total of 5-10 times. Anyway, he's fine. Started pointing out letters and asking me what they were pretty early, and knew them all when my parents came to visit for his second birthday, has read 5-6 years above grade level since the first time he was tested. I suppose there could be some risk of injury, but this one didn't have any brain damage from it.

Idea for a couple years from now, when they aren't sleeping on the trundle: http://www.ctfisherman.com/ubb.....10527.html

Anonymous

Wow, that train box is great. DGS has a big fancy train table at home from his other grandparents and a great train set from his uncle in Japan. We have a Duplo train at our house.
I think we will try the bed rail first and hope that he will not try to get out of the bed, although he would be happy with a dog kennel and being "The new dog". Thank you for the ideas. I knew Fabbers would help!

AviaMariah

Veteran

Both my girls were sleeping in a twin bed without rails by 2 & 1/2. I just figured they had to learn at some point. I don't remember them ever falling out. That being said; I just saw this really great toddler blow up mattress that I was tempted to buy for when we travel. https://www.amazon.com/Kids-Tr.....;qid=15040

Right now my girls have really cute animal sleeping bags that they love to sleep in when we travel. They even ask to sleep in them at home. In fact they both slept in them last night on our bedroom floor.

This stage is so temporary that if I were you I wouldn't do anything too permanent.

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

I have a 2.75 year old, and I would just let him sleep on the queen in the middle. It's far to the edge of a queen. He can get out of a bed with no problems. If he did roll out it's not that far down; I'd put some pillows on the floor. If you're interested in investing (because he'll have a sibling in the same need, eventually) you could get removeable rails on both sides of the bed. I wouldn't actually push the bed against the wall as that is a danger of him getting wedged in. I'd prefer him to just roll off to getting stuck.

In my experience, my son will just come to our bedroom when he gets up; every kid is different. Maybe leave some toys in the room so that if he gets up he will likely stay and play rather than roam and destroy. Is the rest of your house very non-toddler friendly? If so, you could also consider a latch on the outside of the door; there are lots of options these day on amazon. Our son didn't learn to open his door himself until a couple months ago, so it was nice that he couldn't get out without us. That has gone now and he can also get out the sliding door all by himself so in theory he could be running around outside while we slept....but in reality he'd never do that. It's a fire hazard to leave the door open at night, but a fire hazard if he can't get out, I guess...just one of those things.

TBH, I think 2.5 is very old for a pack n play. I think he'd be big enough to just sleep on the queen and I wouldn't worry about it. Kids are more resiliant that we realize, I think.

Anonymous

This queen bed is pretty high. He would need a step stool to get up on it.
AviaMariah, I think that travel bed is a good temporary solution.
Thank you for your thoughts and ideas.

Debbie

Veteran

Next time I am am the mall I am going to take a picture and send it to you. It is a lounger bed for kids. I personally think he would love it. They are shaped like canoes.

AviaMariah

Veteran

These sleeping bags are similar to what my girl's have. Ours came from Costco. (Great Christmas present if nothing else!!)
https://www.samsclub.com/sams/.....0412101.ip
https://www.amazon.com/Animal-.....RUIFW?th=1

Sara L.

Veteran

My kids fell out of bed when I moved them from the crib to a twin bed. I pushed the bed against the wall and used a pool noodle on the open side. It's a really cheap and easy fix. You lay the noodle under the fitted sheet. It will keep them from rolling out while sleeping but won't keep them from getting out of bed when awake. My kids (like Beth Ann's) never came out of their room at night. Even in the morning, they would call for Mom and Dad. I'm not sure why since I never told them they had to stay in bed.

rachylou

Veteran

Ok. Do you know what my brother would do at this age, having taken over the crib? My parents would say good night; then when they'd closed the door, he'd stand back up and yell that he wants a Coca-Cola! I would have to listen to that!

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