Grandparents Coming to Visit

I have a twleve year old and a nine year old, we traveled all over the world(in short spurts). We have had family visit as well. I would suggest, you and your husband take the guest/nursery, and your in-laws take the master. IF you are uncomfortable with that, use the pack-in-play for him to sleep in. My son, was also about this age when we traveled or had visitors. The pack in play was his cue for travel or company. We placed extra cushioning in the bottom by cutting down the "egg crate" foam mattress liner to fit(I think we used a full). Use measurements. Make it fun for him, and he will always learn to be a good traveler and host. Do not stress this, but I give you kudo's for being concerned. Nothing is more important than family to a child, try and keep a stress free, pleasant environemtnt, keep in your mind-they won't be visiting long, and then you will be able to go back to your routine. It will all work out in the end. Enjoy the time together, relax, have conversation, and do the minimal housework, let them babysit a few nights-so you and your husband can have some free time. Leave early on your date and maybe return to put your son to sleep. So grandma and grandpa can have him while he is awake, and can tire him out-so when you return you can put him right to bed. The more alone time, in short spurts, you can give grandma and grandpa with him, then the next time, they will be able to sleep in his room. Just take "baby steps" and enjoy the process. When in-laws see you trust them and value them, (I am assuming you have a very good relationship), then the dynamic between the "adults" changes and refocuses on the "real children" in the relationship! Its a process and will take years, but it is worth it-for all involved, and the next generation!

What you might consider doing is buying an air mattress. Then have your in-laws stay in your bedroom and you and your husband can sleep on the air mattress in the living room. In my opinion, I would do anything to "protect" the baby's sleep pattern and schedule. If not, when your in-laws leave it may take you awhile to the baby back into his schedule. If your in-laws aren't staying for a long period of time, sleeping on an air mattress should be okay. I H. this helps.

Let the grandparents have your room and leave your son in his room in his crib. If you sofa has a sofa bed you and your hubby should sleep there. If you don't have a sofa bed, I recommend borrowing or buying an air mattress for you and your husband.

You definitely do not want to risk messing up a good thing like a baby sleeping more than 2 hours at a time overnight.

I'd give Gram & Gramp the master bedroom and either sleep on a mat in the living room or whatever. Leave the baby in his crib and stay out of his room. No matter how quiet you are, snoring, etc. may wake him up during the night. His routine is going to be askew with visitors anyway, so I'd just suck it up and sleep in the living room for a few days.

Enjoy your visit with the in-laws, make them comfortable and know that your son is sleeping well and you don't have to go through the drama of reconditioning him to his crib/room.

D.

R. - It's so nice of your in-laws to pay you a visit but sometimes these visits can reek havoc on your routine. My advice would be to explain the importance of your son sleeping alone in his bedroom to keep him on a routine. Offer them your bedroom and you and your husband sleep on the sofa. It might not be very comfortable for you but it will be worth it to keep your son on a routine.~Good Luck~

R., do not put anyone in your baby's room. they will totally set your schedule upside down, the snoring, the coughing, the movement, everything will be disturbing to your son's sleep and rest. instead offer them your room, and explain why. they should understand it
good luck
vlora

I can totally relate. My in-laws came in September from Poland and stayed 3 weeks. We kept our son in his crib, and we slept on a mattress in his room on the floor. I will admit not as comfortable as I would like, but I'd rather my in-laws be nice and cushy in the bed, as well as my little guy sleeping through the night as much as possible. Maybe you can try that!!

** and what did you do to get him to sleep through the night so long! my 9 month old is suddenly pulling this every 2 hour routine and I a am EXHAUSTED!

I found that when we traveled or went to visit people my daughter had trouble sleeping in unfamiliar surroundings but once we got back home she went right back to her normal routine. Although every child is different I would assume you could bring him into your room for a bit and then put him back in his own once your visitors leave and he would adjust back to normal.