Hotel Crib Situation

[vtdiamond]

DH has decided to join me on a trip for a conference in Chicago in May.  The babies will be 6.5 months and will be coming with us, it will be our first time flying with them so I'm a bit nervous but hopefully it will go well.

One issue I've run into is that the hotel can only provide one crib in the room, any more then that is considered a fire hazard.  I had to switch from a room with a king bed to one with 2 doubles as the max capacity for the king room was 3 ppl, but the double bed room is 4 ppl. 

The babies sleep in their own cribs now and are really great sleepers.  They move around a ton and I imagine it will only continue as they get older/bigger.  So, I would like to have them sleep in 2 separate cribs for this trip. I'm trying to think of options on how to handle this.  I was thinking we could either bring something with us, ship something ahead or buy something when we get there.

I was looking at these which seem like something we could pack and bring with us, has anyone used these?
www.amazon.com/phil-teds-Portable-Traveller-Black/dp/B009VYX4FO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427717723&sr=8-1&keywords=phil+%26+teds+traveller+crib

www.amazon.com/BABYBJORN-Travel-Crib-Light-Silver/dp/B00IM8G038/ref=pd_cp_ba_1

Or should I just get a pnp?

[aqualuv]

I haven't tried the crib you posted but we have used this: www.guavafamily.com/products/lotus-everywhere-travel-crib/. It was recommended on here and I love it. We had it shipped to our destination initially and then carried it on the plane on the way home. We've flown with it twice now. We use it at home as a play area and our son loves it.

[rikki]

I have no idea about the cribs (sorry!), but I hope I can see you.

[jeaniebueller]

I would do PNPs. You can buy one for like $40, so you could have two for far cheaper than buying either of those things. Maybe ship it to the hotel?

www.walmart.com/ip/Graco-Pack-n-Play-Playard-Ashford/14707380

And PNPs usually have decent resale value if you don't use them often.

[origami]

Can you borrow a PNP? Those products look cool, but pretty small so I doubt you'd get much use out of them if you don't travel a lot. I have twins and used my PNPs a lot at home*, but many people never use them, so I'd hate for you to buy something that expensive for no ongoing reason.

*i used mine for "alone time play" when they kept toy stealing and annoying each other, and when I was taking 1 to the car and needed #2 contained. Plus a 2nd diaper station and nap place on my first floor.

[vtdiamond]

Mar 30, 2015 7:23:01 GMT -5 rikki said:

I have no idea about the cribs (sorry!), but I hope I can see you.

I'd love to see you too!  We have family in the area so will see them one of the nights but might be able to do something the other night!

[vtdiamond]

Mar 30, 2015 7:25:02 GMT -5 origami said:

Can you borrow a PNP? Those products look cool, but pretty small so I doubt you'd get much use out of them if you don't travel a lot. I have twins and used my PNPs a lot at home*, but many people never use them, so I'd hate for you to buy something that expensive for no ongoing reason.

*i used mine for "alone time play" when they kept toy stealing and annoying each other, and when I was taking 1 to the car and needed #2 contained. Plus a 2nd diaper station and nap place on my first floor.

I'm thinking a pnp would be the most comfortable for them but was worried about it being so big and bulky that it might be tricky to travel with.

[mpc]

do you know anyone else at the conference? if there's someone you're close to, maybe you could ask them to request a crib too? then move it to your room? I know you said it's a fire hazard, but it seems that if you are considering 2 pack n plays, then that is the same hazard.

[erbear]

PNPs are heavy as crap and I wouldn't want to try to bring one on a plane or lug it around. Hotels sometimes have them - could they do a PNP and a crib? Could you co-sleep with one of the babies in the bed (that's what I would do)? Barring that, I'd get something cheap there and leave it, or try to borrow a PNP there from someone.

[origami]

Mar 30, 2015 7:29:36 GMT -5 vtdiamond said:

Mar 30, 2015 7:25:02 GMT -5 origami said:

Can you borrow a PNP? Those products look cool, but pretty small so I doubt you'd get much use out of them if you don't travel a lot. I have twins and used my PNPs a lot at home*, but many people never use them, so I'd hate for you to buy something that expensive for no ongoing reason.

*i used mine for "alone time play" when they kept toy stealing and annoying each other, and when I was taking 1 to the car and needed #2 contained. Plus a 2nd diaper station and nap place on my first floor.

I'm thinking a pnp would be the most comfortable for them but was worried about it being so big and bulky that it might be tricky to travel with.

they fold up well. Not small enough to fit in a suitcase, unfortunately, (at least in 2010 when I used them) but they're not terrible. If you're flying with twins you pretty much have no choice about getting a luggage cart anyway and in a car, PNPs don't add much room. It sucks to have to bring yet another thing but such is life with twins, right?! I've never been in an American hotel that could not fit 2 PNPs. Maybe in NYC or some city where the hotels can be really small, but you shouldn't have trouble in your average mariott. I don't give a crap about having room to walk. It's all about what makes everyone sleep.

[Deleted]

We have the Bjorn travel crib light. Expensive but we have gotten a lot of use out of it. So easy to move around, put up or take down. I used it as a PNP to take DS2 to the gym with me for a year. Fantastic.

DS2 was using it as his crib from 18 months to 22 months when he transitioned to a single bed. It will DS3s crib once he transitions out of our bed.

Also, they usually have good resale value. I'd buy one and bring it along to use as the second crib.

[SJ]

Mar 30, 2015 7:28:39 GMT -5 vtdiamond said:

Mar 30, 2015 7:23:01 GMT -5 rikki said:

I have no idea about the cribs (sorry!), but I hope I can see you.

I'd love to see you too!  We have family in the area so will see them one of the nights but might be able to do something the other night!

I want in on this!

[212]

I've tried both of those travel cribs. The Bjorn is better than the P&T, but the bag is cumbersome to travel with. I prefer the Lotus Crib by Guava Family-- packs into a backpack and my almost 3 year old still sleeps in it on vaca

[vtdiamond]

Mar 30, 2015 8:38:10 GMT -5 212 said:

I've tried both of those travel cribs. The Bjorn is better than the P&T, but the bag is cumbersome to travel with. I prefer the Lotus Crib by Guava Family-- packs into a backpack and my almost 3 year old still sleeps in it on vaca

Thank you and aqualuv for the rec, I'm tempted to get that as it looks like I can probably fit it in a large suitcase right?

[rikki]

Mar 30, 2015 7:29:36 GMT -5 vtdiamond said:

Mar 30, 2015 7:25:02 GMT -5 origami said:

Can you borrow a PNP? Those products look cool, but pretty small so I doubt you'd get much use out of them if you don't travel a lot. I have twins and used my PNPs a lot at home*, but many people never use them, so I'd hate for you to buy something that expensive for no ongoing reason.

*i used mine for "alone time play" when they kept toy stealing and annoying each other, and when I was taking 1 to the car and needed #2 contained. Plus a 2nd diaper station and nap place on my first floor.

I'm thinking a pnp would be the most comfortable for them but was worried about it being so big and bulky that it might be tricky to travel with.

I can bring a PnP to your hotel!

[212]

Mar 30, 2015 8:42:45 GMT -5 vtdiamond said:

Mar 30, 2015 8:38:10 GMT -5 212 said:

I've tried both of those travel cribs. The Bjorn is better than the P&T, but the bag is cumbersome to travel with. I prefer the Lotus Crib by Guava Family-- packs into a backpack and my almost 3 year old still sleeps in it on vaca

Thank you and aqualuv for the rec, I'm tempted to get that as it looks like I can probably fit it in a large suitcase right?

A LARGE suitcase, yes. But I wear it in my back and check it.

[shelbyann]

I've flown with a PNP before. Kind of a PITA but doable. We just bungeed it to the top of a suitcase for the walk to the baggage counter then checked it as a piece of luggage.

I've also rented a PNP while traveling - just google "baby gear rental" and the city. It's a little silly because for the cost of renting one you can just about buy a cheap one, depending on how long you're staying. We were staying in a city center though with no car so it would have been a huge hassle to find a Wal Mart or Target. The rental company delivered it to our hotel and it was waiting there when we checked in, then picked it up after we checked out.

[vtdiamond]

Mar 30, 2015 8:46:35 GMT -5 rikki said:

Mar 30, 2015 7:29:36 GMT -5 vtdiamond said:

I'm thinking a pnp would be the most comfortable for them but was worried about it being so big and bulky that it might be tricky to travel with.

I can bring a PnP to your hotel!

That would be super helpful!  Do you think you'd be able to do it with baby 2?  I'll be there the 19th-22st of May.

[rikki]

Mar 30, 2015 8:57:50 GMT -5 vtdiamond said:

Mar 30, 2015 8:46:35 GMT -5 rikki said:

I can bring a PnP to your hotel!

That would be super helpful!  Do you think you'd be able to do it with baby 2?  I'll be there the 19th-22st of May.

Yes!  If I cannot drop it off, John totally can.  It isn't a problem at all and will be much easier for you than trying to drag one along from Boston. 

[kershnic]

Flying with a pack n play sounds miserable. There's enough other crap to haul around.

We have pea pod tents that travel well but technically they're not recommended until 12m. I think we first used them around 9m.

I like the idea of getting someone else to request your second crib, and then get tents for your next trip!

Eta or the obvious awesome solution of borrowing from gbcn!

[jeaniebueller]

Borrow the one from rikki, then order the other one, have it shipped straight to the hotel and then you only have to deal with schlepping it on the flight home.

[vtdiamond]

Oooh, I may have gotten this figured out. One of my coworkers (who is actually going to the conference too), has one of the travel cribs and volunteered to let me borrow it. She says it should fit in a large suitcase!

Thanks so much for the offer rikki, now we can just have a fun GTG without you having to schlep around a pnp and newborn!

[rikki]

Mar 30, 2015 9:54:35 GMT -5 vtdiamond said:

Oooh, I may have gotten this figured out. One of my coworkers (who is actually going to the conference too), has one of the travel cribs and volunteered to let me borrow it. She says it should fit in a large suitcase!

Thanks so much for the offer rikki, now we can just have a fun GTG without you having to schlep around a pnp and newborn!

Great.  If anything changes, just let me know!  Can't wait to see you.

[egishere]

I'm surprised they are saying that. We stayed at a hotel and they happily provided 3 pnps.

I think the travel crib would work-nice of the co-worker!

[Deleted]

We have the Bjorn travel crib. It's $$$ but DS WOULD NOT sleep in a PnP. Would.not. So the money was well spent. DS is a huge kid, and he fit into it until 2.5. He was very comfy in it.

[CloudBee]

I would try and stay at another hotel, or order a cheap $50 PnP on Amazon (with Prime) and have it shipped to your attention at the hotel.

[longtimenopost]

We have the Phil and Teds. It's pretty easy to set up (though I'd bring a pencil with eraser..it's got those small buttons you have to push in to fit the pieces together and sometimes they get stuck). It's very lightweight and fits in a suitcase.