How to get baby to settle in portacot?

[Mum2boy]

We are going away for 5 days, and I am a little worried when I think about the last time we went away...

Cooper absolutely hated the portacot and wouldn't settle himself when I put him to bed, so would have to rock him to sleep, and woke quite a few times in the night very distressed.

As you can imagine, this was very stressful for me also, and I am really looking forward to a holiday, but I am worried about this again. I have borrowed another cot, hoping that he won't be as distressed in this one

Can anyone advise me on how I can get him used to it? Should I put him in it before we go away, put some toys in it, hop in the darn thing myself to show him it is OK!!?

I would LOVE to be able to have him sleep with me, but he won't sleep when he is in my bed - he just thinks it is playtime.

[visitor1]

Id try the toys.....then he knows its safe...and also try sleeping him in it now for a few nights. Put things in with him that are familiar and then once he is asleep tke them out eg fav teddy or truck etc.

Chelsea is fine when we stay at family houses... but when we r in strange environments like motels she wont sleep to well unless she has her fav things.

[Olive]

i'd put him in every day for a least one sleep beofre you go!!

[Mum2boy]

Thanks everyone...put him in it tonight and he went to slept better than he has in days...no crying or anything!!

I think that the fact that I transfered the same bed sheets from his cot that smells familiar, and that he had his 'cuddle shirt' (a shirt of mine), made him feel safe and secure. Also before dinner time, I put him in it and we played with his toys, perhaps made a difference.

Lets hope this continues when we go on holidays!

[Olive]

i did the same last time we used the porta cot and took the sheets off her bed away with us!!