2 year old HATES sleeping at others houses, why??

[mamaandthegirls]

My nearly 2 year old seems to have some sort of anxiety about sleeping at my in laws. They have a 3 bedroom house and she gets her own room where she sleeps in a travel cot.
Last night, myself, DP and her had to stay over due to having to be up very early for an appointment when my in laws live right next to the hospital.
DD absolutes screamed bloody murder when we had to put her down for bed. We put the travel cot in mine and DP's bedroom and in my laws, we even crammed her in between us, but she was just hysterically crying and screaming!
I felt so guilty.
We put her down for bed at 7pm and the screaming did not stop until 10pm which is when she had absolutely exhausted herself and fell asleep!
It doesn't stop there - she then woke up at 3am screaming!
This is not the first time she has had to stay over at theirs, and each time during bedtime she has cried and screamed.

We live in a 2 bedroom flat so I'm wondering if DD prefers flats compared to houses?
I am due baby #2 in October and dreading my stay in the hospital because she will have to go and stay with my in laws and they will have to put up with the screaming and crying while DP stays in with me.

It seems to be some sort of anxiety about bed time or the bedrooms. She is fine there during the day and will even play upstairs in the bedrooms, no problem! Until bedtime arrives - of course.
Does anyone have any tips? Been through anything similar or can help in anyway?

Sounds as though she likes the comfort and security of her own bed, not uncommon at all and a lot of people don't like sleeping away from home. Unfortunately, she sounds as though it's hugely distressing for her, that's not something you can help her with at 2 (especially as you being there doesn't help).

Forcing her to sleep there is only going to make things worse, she needs time to grow and mature to be able to cope better. Could you inlaws stay at yours when you're in the hospital? It might make things less upsetting for your dd...and less stressful for your IL's

It must be the travel cot that she doesn't like.

Oh no how stressful for you!
Have you tried making the travel cot and stuff smell like home? Children can be sensitive to stuff like that, I always remember thinking other families' houses smelt weird.
I put a fitted sheet on the travel cot mattress that LO has been sleeping on for several nights when she uses it, also we use a natural lavender spray in her room and so it's nice to take with us elsewhere to make things smell familiar. Plus of course the usual teddies and things.

Or maybe the noises of the house are different? Could try putting on some calming music very quietly, or white noise.

Maybe let her help pick things out for the overnight, like which pjs she wants to take, which stories, which toys to make her feel more in control. I know she's only little but maybe a bit of input would her interested.

Really hope things improve! x