sharing a room with toddler on holiday

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Dh and I have not felt brave enough to go on holiday with ds (15 months) since he was born because we can't face sharing a room with him for a week. Ds has only slept through the night a few times and I don't think he's that sound a sleeper. We've now booked a holiday at the end of the month and I need some reassurance that we'll survive the nights. Ds goes to bed at 7 (which will be 9pm where we're going) so we can have dinner with him then put him to bed. But what about the time between his bed time and ours? We have a balcony we can camp on. What do others do?

Once in a very swanky hotel in London the walk-in-wardrobe was so big DH and I both sat in there and read the paper

Not sure that helps you though, sorry

It helps to know we're not alone. All my friends go off happily camping or in camper vans (why???) and never seem to have any problems with blissfully sleeping babies.

We now tend to book a suite but I appreciate that is not an option for everyone. Previously when all staying in the one hotel room we put toddler to bed in the en suite bathroom (in a cot naturally - not the bath!)and shut the door. Then we could watch tv quietly or read a book whilst enjoying the contents of the mini bar.....

We keep dd up until 'we' want to go to bed, that way she's so tired she falls asleep easily back in the room. And a benefit of this is we all have an afternoon siesta also - dd doesn't normally nap but does on holidays with late nights.

Alternatively take a buggy with you, eat dinner together, and then go for an evening stroll - your ds may fall asleep in buggy, and then you can both enjoy a quiet drink somewhere with him parked next to you.

We once put Ds in a small cot in a large walk-in cupboard (no door but it was round a corner so out of the way)- I was a bit embarassed but was subsequently told that lots of parents staying in the hotel did the same thing.

TBH we have had suites and shared a room with ds on different occasions and the suite option was by far the best. He sleeps pretty lightly (though nowadays this is much better) so it was bit of a problem with him in the room.

Some babies have no problem with it but I know that ds has a separate room he naps well and sleeps well. All our holidays where is is in the same room result in him going to bed later and later and waking earlier and earlier - so I'm afraid I'm not much help - sorry - We still enjoyed the holidays though

We got one of these travel cots. You can zip it up completely and so with a sheet over the top, DD can't see us if she wakes up.
When we've shared a room, we cover DD with her sheet, then watch TV or DVDs on the laptop with headphones, so the sound doesn't disturb her.
HTH!

We took walkie talkies with a baby listening feature and went back to the bar after lights out for our 18mo. She slept right through for 14 nights in a row, something we dont often get at home. She shared with older brothers as well as us, 5+4yo, who settled about half hour after her, threatened with no kids club if they woke her up!!

Many thanks for these suggestions. I'm not sure how much space there'll be but we'll try to get as much separation as possible and keep our fingers crossed. I think setting up our own bar on the balcony will be our best bet - we'll probably end up sleeping out there ourselves.

And the zip up, mozzie-banning travel cot looks great. The ideal though would be a sound and light-proof container with built in air con.

Just to update those who responded so helpfully. We're just back and the holiday was an absolute success. Ds loved all of it, slept through every night and dh and I spent many a happy hour on our balcony swigging wine by the bucket and managed all of MaloryFascinatorTowers' suggestions except 'reading books'. It is very liberating to know ds can sleep through while we carry on as normal around him. We can go anywhere now.

A nice story glad you enjoyed yourself and sound empowered - an inspiration to those of us about to go on our hols for two weeks with the same worries!