i need help

[sirenz]

We are going away in July and I am worried because ds will not sleep anywhere except for his own cot in his own room.

How can i get him to sleep in a porta cot? I don't want him to be fearfull and I don't want to leave him to cry himself to sleep.

I know i could put him in bed with us, which is what we will probably end up doing anyway, but soon i would like him to stay at my parents place for the night so dh and I can finally have some alone time (we haven't had a day away from ds since he was born) and i don't want it to turn in to a big deal to get him to sleep.

I have tried putting him in the porta cot in our room, in his room, at my sisters house, but he just screams as soon as I put him in there and its so heartbreaking to see him like that

please any suggestions would be great.

[boomba]

I found Ds didnt like the portacot cause it was really hard. We got a special cover thing from one of the baby stores which has a bit of padding and it worked a treat! Also mybe use the sheets he sleeps on the night before? And make sure he is totoally asleep before putting him in?

Good luck xx

[[M]umma[M]ia]

i was gonna say the sheet thing. Even use the sheet that you and DP slept in the night before?

[sunshine_sieben]

Yeah, I would add extra padding, too. They are so damn hard. I would try putting the portacot in his room and putting him in there once he's asleep.

You know what, you might even find that you'll have no problems getting him to sleep when on holidays. he'll probably be so exhausted that he'll sleep anywhere. That's how DD was when we went to Germany, anyway.

By the way, you're not the only one, I have not had a night away from DD since she was born either. And she just turned 2.

Sasa

[Lisa]

I agree with needing extra padding. My DS is 2, and we use a single bed doona on top of the port-a-cot mattress and it is covered with the fitted sheet from his cot. Since we started to put more padding on there, DS has had no issues in sleeping in it. We also started him off right next to my side of the bed.

[krysalyss]

I second the comfort thing. Also I would put him in there sometimes during the day with one of his favourite toys. Get him used to it so he doesn't feel scared or alone in there. Play games like peekaboo etc. or read him books in there. We also have a nightlight that DS has had since birth. It is invaluable when we have to go away because it is something that never changes and brings him comfort. Basically don't push him as you want him to be happy sleeping in there. It is just a matter of him getting used to it really and that happens quicker if he is happy in there.
When DS is resisting going to bed I always let him take whatever toy he is playing with eg. truck. He just has a play and is nice and relaxed and goes to sleep better (usually lol!).

[sirenz]

thank you everyone for your suggestions.

I do put extra padding in there because i did find it to be a little hard, so thats one thing i got right anyway.

I am going to set it up now in the lounge room so he can check it out and play and see that is nothing to be scared of, then i might try him in it for his day sleep.

I will definately use his sheets too, thats a good suggestion.

thanks ladies, i will let you know how I go.

[sirenz]

for anyone who is interested, i finally got zac to have a sleep in his porta cot and the way i did it was to actually get in there with him and show him it was ok to be in there. We read books, sang songs and drank some milk in there and then each day after that he had a play in there and then finally about a week later he has had 2 sleeps in there. I'm so proud of my little man and now i'm really looking forward to our holiday knowing he will be relaxed too when we all go to bed.

thanks everyone for your advice.

[sunshine_sieben]

Yay!!!
That's great news. Although I have hilarious pictures in my head of you and your DS squeezing into a tiny portacot.
Have a great holiday!
Sasa

[sirenz]

lol it was actually quite comfy (i think his is a little bigger than other porta cots), I put his little fold out sofa in there so it was really nice and padded and we had his little barnyard doona in there i could of had a nap myself i think.