Play Pen or Something Else..

Most citys have rental stores, or consignment shops that rent cribs, and will come in and set them up if you are staying in someones home. Call ahead to hotels, try to talk to a woman, sometimes when you book a crib what you get is a pack and play. If you buy something like a tent or a blow up bed, I would try it at home before you lug it on vacation. Try to schedule a nap time visit to a friend or family members and when he does not have his crib and it is nap time tell him you are trying something special.

How about getting a cool new character sleeping bag that he can sleep in on the cot or mattress that the hotel provides? He may think that is fun!

What about blankets and pillows on the floor between the beds (if you get a double)? Just a thought...

Maybe a sleeping bag or mat?

I don't know if he's old enough for this but the cheapest thing we found for our son (3 1/2) was a small tent. It was $18.00. It might be a hassle for you guys since you will be taking it up and down. But our son loves it! When we go to Grandpa's house that's where he sleeps. It doesn't take up much room in the car. But it may be best for your son to sleep in his pack and play since he still sleeps in a crib. He may feel more secure. When our son was 2 he was still in a crib and when we were away he would sleep in the pack and play.

Hope this helps!!
N.

Not sure if you have tried this already, but I find that the pack-n-play becomes much more comfortable with a comforter first. I usually put that on top of the frame and then lay the playpen's "mattress" with a sheet on it. Then use his blanket/toys etc. if he uses them to make him feel at home. My son naps in the playyard during the day (2x) and sleeps in the crib at night. Good Luck!

We're going to be traveling with our almost 2 yr old daughter this summer. I just bought a PeaPod Plus Travel Bed from www.travelingwithkids.com (the cheapest place I could find it.) I liked that it was like a tent and the kids could use it for the next several years both indoors and outdoors (camping, beach, etc.).

It should arrive today so I have no actual experience using it yet, but the reviews on several sites were very positive. The only negative a handful of people said was that it was a bit tricky to fold because it folds into a circle like one of those sunshades for your car. Other people said how easy it was to fold! I figure it can't be any worse than the 24 pound pack and play and this thing folds small enough to fit inside a suitcase and weighs only 9.5 pounds so that in itself made it a winner to me.

Hopefully someone else will share some other ideas with you so you can research and see what would work best for you and your son. Good Luck!

Some hotels have portable cribs. If you can, try calling ahead to some of the ones you are going to stay at or look up the areas you are going to be staying in and call to see who has what. You can usually rent these for a night or 2 for a small extra fee.

When my daughter was 2 we sold our house and moved into a 2 bedroom condo. At that time my two older boys shared the second bedroom and our daughter slept in our room. The condo had a full size bed so there was no room for her on our bed. I bought her one of those inflatable beds with a built in pillow and a blanket, a Dora the Explorer one, anyway she loved it. It was kind of like an inflatable sleeping bag. They have them in all sorts of characters and it packs up like a sleeping bag and comes with the foot pump to inflate it. Enjoy your trip!

I have twin two year olds and when we travel I request two cribs at the hotels. Call ahead, they usually have them and I don't recall them being too expensive. Hope that helps!
Jacey

Hotels have cribs or pack and plays for no charge. If you are staying with family at other times, see if they can borrow or rent a crib/pack and play from a friend or family member. There are places that rent cribs and baby/toddler stuff. I went to cape cod last year and rented a crib and baby gates. They came in and set them up and picked them up. It was great!!! Good luck. I am curious about the blow up beds too!

Toys R Us sells an inflatable bed that has a sleep bag on it. They come in Thomas, Spiderman, & Diego (for boys). I take them with us on vacation all the time as they fold up pretty small and don't take long to pump up with the manual pump.

If you do choose to go this route, I have one more suggestion. Take a towel and put it between the mattress and the sleeping bag. The material on the sleeping bag kind of squeeks when they move around.

My 2 & 4 year olds love to sleep on them!

Have a safe trip!

I have rented cribs from the hotels that we've stayed at. I would call first to reserve one because they sometimes run out fairly fast especially during spring breaks and over Holidays. Good Luck

Some hotels/motels offer cribs and small toddler beds for a few dollars or some are included for the children if you ask them. Why not call and check to see if the ones you are staying at might not have them already and that would free up the space in your vehicle for something else!

Happy Travelling.

C.