![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Nora's separation anxiety has been causing us all some angst, to say the least, but where I'm starting to get very anxious is in terms of our upcoming visit to Vermont after Christmas. [side note for Kristina: we'll be driving up the 26th and driving home the 30th, in case you're around.]
I'm really concerned about how this whole sleep thing is going to work out while we're up there. She's already not wanting to be in her own very familiar room so I can't imagine how in the world I'm ever going to get her to sleep in a strange place. And even if I stay with her a while during naps or initially at bedtime, and if she would actually sleep like that, I still have to worry about her deciding to explore while I'm sleeping at night.
See, we no longer have containment. Even though she's in a bed now, I had been thinking about using the pack 'n' play for one last trip. Oh, except that when my mom watched her last week, she immediately climbed right out without any trouble at all. My mom was right outside the door and didn't even hear her do it. She only knew Nora was out because she was at the door. So that is pretty much not going to work.
We bought a nice nap mat for travel purposes, especially since we're planning to fly to Florida in April for a wedding. We figured we could put some blankets, etc. under it for extra padding. And she's used to it now since she's been using it on the nights that she sleeps on the floor lately. But obviously that does not keep her from roaming around.
I wouldn't even go the route of getting some bed rails that we'll need sooner or later to use on one of the beds at John's aunt's place. She has no fear of climbing down from a bed, no matter how high up it is, and theirs are very, very high. I have to jump up to climb on them. And they have wood floors throughout the whole house so were she to fall, it would be a long trip and a hard landing. Until she's older, that seems out.
I can't even totally trust that she'd stay in the room. It's an old house with simple latches that 1) don't always latch well, and 2) would be super easy for her to figure out.
There has been discussion about having her sleep in this tiny little alcove-ish area adjoining the room we will likely be in, but I am completely against that. It's seriously the size of a closet and since she's already going to be afraid, I'd rather not have her freak out that she's also in an enclosed space. Plus this does not solve the door latch issues anyway.
So I'm not sure where that leaves us. I have a bad gut feeling about all this, and am strongly leaning towards a hotel where I know I can keep her a little more contained and safe. John is against that and we certainly don't need to be spending the extra money.
We're thinking of one last ditch effort here. John brought up the little tent that Andy bought for Nora from the Springville auction this summer and set it up in the living room. She likes it. We're hoping she'll play with it a little and then maybe we'll try to fit it into her room and then maybe even get her to nap in it here and there and then maybe can use that as an option for her to sleep in... We'll see how it goes.
One other side note. We bought Nora a Gloworm yesterday in the hopes that it might make her feel better, though I don't think the fear is related to the dark. In any case, she liked it during the day, but wasn't having any of it at bedtime. Then she liked it again this morning. Go figure.
I'm really concerned about how this whole sleep thing is going to work out while we're up there. She's already not wanting to be in her own very familiar room so I can't imagine how in the world I'm ever going to get her to sleep in a strange place. And even if I stay with her a while during naps or initially at bedtime, and if she would actually sleep like that, I still have to worry about her deciding to explore while I'm sleeping at night.
See, we no longer have containment. Even though she's in a bed now, I had been thinking about using the pack 'n' play for one last trip. Oh, except that when my mom watched her last week, she immediately climbed right out without any trouble at all. My mom was right outside the door and didn't even hear her do it. She only knew Nora was out because she was at the door. So that is pretty much not going to work.
We bought a nice nap mat for travel purposes, especially since we're planning to fly to Florida in April for a wedding. We figured we could put some blankets, etc. under it for extra padding. And she's used to it now since she's been using it on the nights that she sleeps on the floor lately. But obviously that does not keep her from roaming around.
I wouldn't even go the route of getting some bed rails that we'll need sooner or later to use on one of the beds at John's aunt's place. She has no fear of climbing down from a bed, no matter how high up it is, and theirs are very, very high. I have to jump up to climb on them. And they have wood floors throughout the whole house so were she to fall, it would be a long trip and a hard landing. Until she's older, that seems out.
I can't even totally trust that she'd stay in the room. It's an old house with simple latches that 1) don't always latch well, and 2) would be super easy for her to figure out.
There has been discussion about having her sleep in this tiny little alcove-ish area adjoining the room we will likely be in, but I am completely against that. It's seriously the size of a closet and since she's already going to be afraid, I'd rather not have her freak out that she's also in an enclosed space. Plus this does not solve the door latch issues anyway.
So I'm not sure where that leaves us. I have a bad gut feeling about all this, and am strongly leaning towards a hotel where I know I can keep her a little more contained and safe. John is against that and we certainly don't need to be spending the extra money.
We're thinking of one last ditch effort here. John brought up the little tent that Andy bought for Nora from the Springville auction this summer and set it up in the living room. She likes it. We're hoping she'll play with it a little and then maybe we'll try to fit it into her room and then maybe even get her to nap in it here and there and then maybe can use that as an option for her to sleep in... We'll see how it goes.
One other side note. We bought Nora a Gloworm yesterday in the hopes that it might make her feel better, though I don't think the fear is related to the dark. In any case, she liked it during the day, but wasn't having any of it at bedtime. Then she liked it again this morning. Go figure.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-12-03 04:44 pm (UTC)From:We are hoping to do Schraderfest in Florida - Disney actually. Any possibility you'd be there around Easter or birthday time? It's something Wendy is looking into to get Amanda there one last time before she thinks she's too old to do things with her mom.
no subject
Date: 2008-12-03 08:25 pm (UTC)From:I wish we could just skip Vermont this year, but I know John would not even consider that option. And I suppose I do want to go a little bit because Nora's cousin Marshall will be there and they haven't met yet.
And you can tell Andy that even if he doesn't save the day, she is loving the tent while we have it taking up half the living room.
no subject
Date: 2008-12-04 01:34 am (UTC)From:Any way you can just put the mattress on the floor, so it wouldn't be so high up?
Oh, and just let me know how you want to meet up. Are you still interested in the bed? John thinks it breaks down pretty small. I will double check, and measure, if you are still interested. And we could either drive and meet you to exchange it, or you could stop in here. Either is okay with us.
no subject
Date: 2008-12-04 03:02 pm (UTC)From:In any case, the easiest thing for us would probably be catching up with you sometime on our way up, unless you're at all interested in a trip up to Montpelier sometime while we're there. Let me know what you think.
no subject
Date: 2008-12-14 03:11 am (UTC)From:What time do you think you will be heading through on the 26th? Are you thinking of meeting at the mall again? I'm not sure I could commit to driving to Montpelier, given how I've been feeling.
no subject
Date: 2008-12-14 05:15 pm (UTC)From:By the way, I like that picture of you. Did you get your hair cut or is it tucked behind?