https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 04:19:11 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-almost-4-year-old-refuses-to-sleep-in-camper#post-2892875 Tue, 30 Jul 2019 16:55:12 +0000 birdofafeather 2892875@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my kids just plain won't go to sleep until well after dark when we're camping. it's useless for us to try. so we just put them in jammies, stay up way late and then all go to bed at the same time. so there is nothing else to do but sleep and then the kids don't feel like they're missing out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-almost-4-year-old-refuses-to-sleep-in-camper#post-2892690 Mon, 29 Jul 2019 13:10:34 +0000 Ms. RV 2892690@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@peaches1038: It is silly how driving works with DD. Usually, she won't fall asleep but sometimes she passes out after five minutes!</p> <p>@hellobeeboston: Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-almost-4-year-old-refuses-to-sleep-in-camper#post-2892657 Mon, 29 Jul 2019 10:17:55 +0000 hellobeeboston 2892657@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>wow awesome camper! sorry to hear about the sleeping - you got some good suggestions above... this makes me a little nervous, we're renting a 30ft RV for the first time in a few weeks and I hope my boys do OK sleeping in it!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-almost-4-year-old-refuses-to-sleep-in-camper#post-2892616 Mon, 29 Jul 2019 00:22:30 +0000 peaches1038 2892616@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We tent camp a lot and I legit drive my almost 4 year old around until he falls asleep and then transfer him to his sleeping bag. He plays hard all day but will also stay awake forever in the tent. We get him all ready for bed and do a “night ride” and he’s out in like 10 min or less. I get him in the car around 7/730 and DH stays at the site with the campfire and finishes cleaning up from dinner </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-almost-4-year-old-refuses-to-sleep-in-camper#post-2892601 Sun, 28 Jul 2019 20:49:01 +0000 Ms. RV 2892601@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lilyofthewest: Great idea!!! She has her well visit in three weeks, so I will ask about it then. She has a heart defect so I am always overly cautious about giving her anything, but I am definitely going to ask her ped. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-almost-4-year-old-refuses-to-sleep-in-camper#post-2892600 Sun, 28 Jul 2019 20:44:42 +0000 SweetCaroline 2892600@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ms. RV: I did forget to mention that one night DD was a particular pain. Finally, she pulled her sleeping bag out onto the floor and passed out there. DH eventually moved her to her bed :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-almost-4-year-old-refuses-to-sleep-in-camper#post-2892598 Sun, 28 Jul 2019 20:29:22 +0000 Ms. RV 2892598@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@charm55: Thanks!!</p> <p>@SweetCaroline: We have tried all of that except the audio book. That is genius. We can play it over the built in speakers so there is nothing to fiddle with. Or even just relaxing music. With regards to direction, that is part of the problem I think. She sleeps in a toddler bed at home then gets a big bed at camp. One of the ways she amuses herself is rotating positions every few minutes. That is why I am wondering if we might have success with a toddler cot because it will keep her confined. </p> <p>We met a family at the playground with a girl just a few days younger than DD. They said she slept amazing, albeit inside a box that their tent came in. So jealous. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-almost-4-year-old-refuses-to-sleep-in-camper#post-2892597 Sun, 28 Jul 2019 20:15:12 +0000 lilyofthewest 2892597@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe melatonin? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-almost-4-year-old-refuses-to-sleep-in-camper#post-2892594 Sun, 28 Jul 2019 19:36:42 +0000 SweetCaroline 2892594@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh man! That totally stinks. We have a camper with a very similar floor plan (Jayco--the bathroom and the bunks are flip flopped from yours). Some differences/things that help us:</p> <p>1) Those are some gorgeous windows, I can see why she wants to look out them! Is the curtain you tried a black-out curtain?<br /> 2) We have the same sound machine in the camper that we do at home (sounds like you have that covered).<br /> 3) Glow sticks (or I found a more eco-friendly battery operated "glow stick"/flashlight hybrid)--DD enjoys it, but who knows, it might make your situation worse, more to fiddle with.<br /> 4) Baby dolls from home.<br /> 5) Is she going to bed too late? Sounds like you've experimented with that too.<br /> 6) What does wind down time look like? We shower, jammas, Daniel Tiger, snack then bed. I hate that we're watching a show while camping but if it helps our sanity and her go to bed quicker...whatever.<br /> 7) What about an audio book? DD listened to Mercy Watson while falling asleep tonight.<br /> 8) Have you tried crawling in the bunk with her? We sometimes resort to that, as much as I prefer not to.<br /> 9) Which direction does she lay? DD lays with her head in first, feet by the edge. Would drive me nuts but she loves her little cave. I wonder if hanging a curtain on the outer edge (with command hooks) would be at all helpful to make her a little cubby/cave.</p> <p>Sorry for the novel. Much you've already tried. This is exactly how DD acts while at hotels, which is exactly why we bought a camper so the novelty of the new place was not there. Gosh I hope something works soon for you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-almost-4-year-old-refuses-to-sleep-in-camper#post-2892585 Sun, 28 Jul 2019 18:55:32 +0000 Ms. RV 2892585@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bees_knees: She just lays there awake (plaus with her feet, looks out the window, sings, plays with her lovey). It is quite impressive that she can go 3+ hours in bed and not give up and just let herself fall asleep. I would sleep out of boredom!</p> <p>We do have white noise going to drown out other noises. We could try having her sleep in the bedroom.. it is worth a shot!! She is a pretty heavy sleeper once falls asleep so we could even move her to her bed once she is asleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-almost-4-year-old-refuses-to-sleep-in-camper#post-2892584 Sun, 28 Jul 2019 18:53:13 +0000 charm55 2892584@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No advice, but wow - that’s a beautiful trailer !! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-almost-4-year-old-refuses-to-sleep-in-camper#post-2892582 Sun, 28 Jul 2019 17:31:47 +0000 bees_knees 2892582@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How is she “refusing”? Tantruming, just not laying down, frequent wakings? </p> <p>Do you think she’s overtired? Have you tried a white noise machine to drown out any other sleepers (if she’s used to sleeping in a room alone?) Could she sleep in the bedroom so it feels more cocoon-ish? I don’t know, just throwing things out there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-almost-4-year-old-refuses-to-sleep-in-camper#post-2892570 Sun, 28 Jul 2019 13:14:31 +0000 Ms. RV 2892570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Help please. We go camping every other weekend (same campsite) and the past two times DD (4 in two weeks) outright refuses to sleep.</p> <p>Here is our camper for reference:<br /> <a href="https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=HDxLBuDr7Ly" rel="nofollow">https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=HDxLBuDr7Ly</a></p> <p>She sleeps on the lower bunk, DS sleeps in a PNP where the booth table is, I sleep along the back of the dinette, and OH sleeps in the bedroom. </p> <p>Here are things we have tried that did not show improvement:<br /> - Window film on the windows so she can't look out<br /> - Curtain so it is more private<br /> - Sleeping bag so it is more fun to sleep<br /> - Letting her fall asleep before, after, and at same time as DS<br /> - Bedsharing</p> <p>Next trip (Friday) I am going to try her toddler cot in the kitchen (so across from DS). We keep the propane off so no danger in her being close to the stove.</p> <p>I am willing to hear any other ideas. Everyone is miserable when we play hard all weekend and then she (and therefore everyone else but DS) doesn't sleep. </p>