Hi moms, I just returned from a vacation in which my whole family drove 15 hours each way and stayed in the same hotel rooms. I realized that my 2-1/2 year old is not the slightest bit considerate of other people who are sleeping, and I'm not sure how to convince her to be quiet and respectful. I know that a parent cannot force a child to sleep, but can provide an environment that is conducive to sleep, and at home we are set up in a way that makes everyone's sleep come easily. But traveling? Man, we had a tough time! She was singing songs in the car, talking incessantly to herself in the dark hotel room, smacking her lips thoughtfully, telling me how much she loves me, not responding to our attempts to explain that it's time to be quiet!
I have this problem with my 4 year old son.I try timeout, taking things away, even a small pop(I am against serious spankings) and nothing works. It is like the work revolves around him no matter where we are. He won't stop playing and it is even harder to explain others space.
I am sorry but your daughter just sounds very cute to me. I know it's hard to sleep but then the babbling is so cute! Enjoy it before she learns to speak! It's also her way to keep herself company and maybe lull herself to sleep. My daughter sometimes babbles to herself in bed and I force myself to stay awake just so I can listen.
Sorry, I am not being any help. I don't think she is being inconsiderate, just being a baby. She will learn as she grows.
I honestly THINK her talking so much was just her way of self soothing.. As for doing it it bedtime i have learned just to let my 5 year old to talk herself out.. Do your best to ignore her in the strange new enviroment. It will get better as she gets older. try to stay in similar hotel rooms if you can... Also bring her pack-n-play she is familiar with to sleep in.. Plus a lovey or two. She is doingher best:)
I would never share a room with my 2 yr old and others; I think I'd make a point to be on another floor, actually to remove some of the excitement. At her age she cannot really understand being respectful and considerate. You are expecting too much I think and making it more difficult for yourself.
I am sure it was just very exciting for your DD. Everything you described sounded nice for toddler travel, actually. It could have been screaming and tantruming. Travel can be very stimulating. I am sure it was exhausting for you and you felt stressed by it, but really you need to adjust your expectations. All you can do, I think, is try to keep the routine as close to home as possible-books or whatever you do, a blanket or doll from home, etc. We stay in hotels with some frequency and the other thing I also do is I wait for DD to give me some tiredness cues (vs sticking to a time) bc sometimes it is quite different when we are traveling (tho I force the issue if it gets too late). I keep the tv off always and dim the lights and start being as mellow as possible long before I want sleep to commence and I hope for the best. I also make sure she has had a lot of running around time during the day. There is only so much you can do.
Singing in the car? Turn on kids music and go with it. If that is the worst of the car behavior you should be happy you have such a good traveler. That is a very long road trip for little kids. I know I would be absolutely stir crazy so being strapped into a car seat for that whole time would be really tough I imagine for someone who has the need to be running around all the time.
K.:
Kudos for taking the family vacation and driving 15 hours!!
My children are teenagers now, but I can remember when...
Hindsight is 20/20. Toddlers don't understand logic, and they have no clue about being considerate about anyone or anything. She was "just doing her job." I'm jealous that it sounds as if she was happy most of the time. That was never my experience. Think of it as a MasterCard commercial...time together as a family...priceless!
It's OK to vere from the routine. And, now it's OK to get back to normal.
Happy New Year!
J.
She's not old enough to really be considerate - you can have rules, but this is too young to teach real "respect" - they just haven't reached the development stage when they can internalize this. For example, you can teach a child this age about the "no hitting" rule but you can't really expect her/him to feel true empathy. A lot of preschool teachers actually have mixed feelings about making kids say they are sorry - first of all, they AREN'T sorry because they can't feel it yet. Secondly, they think "sorry" makes it all better, and of course it doesn't.
I think you were under very difficult circumstances and actually that she did really well. An incredibly long drive in a car seat, a lot of new people and new surroundings, and a disruption in her routine - wow! At home you have an environment that is conducive to sleep, as you said. On the trip, you didn't! So she talked to herself (to entertain or calm herself) and told you she loves you (to comfort and reassure herself) - sounds like she did great! In the future you can either skip the trip or get a suite with separate rooms/sections for the kids and the adults. It's more money but if you didn't enjoy this trip, you'll know for the future.
PS Hope you enjoy your Prius as much as I enjoy mine!
