Will I regret this?

[Graze22]

My DS (2.5) has always been an absolutely appalling sleeper. I have tried everything, truly honestly and am at my wit's end.

We went on holiday last week and he slept on a camp bed in a room with us. The room had really heavy shutters which, when closed made the room pitch black. He still didn't sleep that well (but because I was in the room right next to him was very easy to settle back down). The main thing was that if he hadn't slept well in the night he slept longer in the morning. He clearly needed the sleep IYSWIM. He's always been an early riser even after a bad night (e.g. flight back vv delayed so wasn't asleep until about 10pm but still woke up at 6.30) but with the 'blackout' he wasn't.

So I'm wondering. At the moment he has fairly light curtains in his room. Shall I give in to black out blinds in the hope they help him sleep better? Or am I making a terrible rod for my own back and he'll become one of those people who has to sleep in pitch black? We go for weekends away staying with people etc a lot and often sleep in my DF's attic where there are no curtains. I don't want to shoot myself in the foot by getting him used to black out blinds so then he is totally incapable of sleeping in anything but pitch black.

I had always been of the opinion that you've got to get babies used to sleeping in all conditions blah blah. My DBIL is the most appalling sleeper and has to have everything just so, pitch black, no noise whatsoever (he even used to have his girlfriend sleep on the floor!). I on the other hand have always been a great sleeper (pre kids, now not so much!) and darkness, noise, uncomfortable beds etc weren't even on my radar as an issue. So I've always been a bit worried about 'creating a monster' IYSWIM by creating 'perfect' sleep conditions.

BUT on the flipside are some people just naturally terrible sleepers and are never going to be able to be easy sleepers?

HELP!

I think it seems more like a choice between rods! Rubbish sleeping or blackouts. Why not give them a try and see? Most children I know need it to be dark to go to sleep after a bed time routine at night. I know what you mean about making a rod though - friends of ours have a very elaborate bedtime system but they all get some sleep.
I also think that some people are just better sleepers than others-I'm rubbish but fortunately DS seems to be taking after his dad-but you may aswell give it a go if your DS sleeps badly.

Gro company do Gro-anywhere blackout blinds for when you stay away from home-I think they're quite expensive though.

you're right. Damned if I do, damned if I don't really. I definitely couldn't take blackout blinds with me. Certain members of my family already think I am drastically unrelaxed because I do things like not co sleep and have regular meals rather than grazing on crisps throughout the day.

Sod them! Some people need their own beds and some babies need a routine!!-and we ALL need regular meals. When you say things like"at my wits end" it may be worth giving anything a go. My DS slept incredibly well (he's only 51/2months) until about a month ago when he started to wake earlier and earlier. Blackout blinds helped a bit.

You can buy travel blackout blinds for when you stay somewhere else.

So he's a really bad sleeper, and you are not sure about bringing in something that makes him sleep a bit better, because it may not be available all the time? It'd be a no brainer for me. I would manage without the blackout blinds when away if they helped him sleep better for the vast majority of the time when he's at home. And as ThisFence says, you can get travel ones.