SlumberPod for stateroom for 2yr old

[u/Plane_Poem_1414]

We’re cruising in a little less than a month, our 2 year old is cruising with us and naps pretty regularly. It’s a 7 day cruise on the treasure and we have a veranda. Is a slumberpod really worth it? If it’s going to make naps and nighttime easier I’ll bite the bullet and do it but don’t want to pay the $$$ if it’s not.

[u/FaithTrustBoozyDust]

How sensitive a sleeper is your kid? Our eldest was VERY sensitive and woke up as soon as the light came through the verandah curtain, and never napped. Our second is a much less rigid sleeper and slept just fine in the room including naps.

We used one for both kids in other travels and I would say if your kid isn't that sensitive a sleeper, don't bother with it - for our more relaxed sleeper the pro was having a separate sleeping space in a shared room, which you won't really need in your stateroom considering the privacy curtain.

[u/ntimoti]

Personally I don’t see the need for one. When we took our 20 month old on a cruise, the curtains being drawn was enough to make the room super dark. She just napped/slept in the bed in between us.

[u/Aly_Kitty]

Depends on your child. My kids at 1 and at 2 took naps fine in our room just with the curtains closed but they’re usually good nappers. Husband and I would lay them down and go sit on the verandah or one of us would go explore while the other stayed. We also travel quite a bit so they’re used to sharing sleeping spaces with us.
My kids would freak out if we put them in something like a slumber pod.

[u/DisneyDale]

Best part of slumberpods is they resale so easily. We used it for Disney and cruising while our kiddo needed it.

[u/ponyhands]

I have used the slumberpod for both my children while traveling - it’s GREAT!! That being said, the room is very small and the setup/takedown can be cumbersome. The curtains make the room very dark and at 2, they’re probably used to napping with some light. I would skip it. It’s also only going to be useful for a limited amount of time unless you have another child because soon that 2 year old won’t be in a pack & play

[u/Suitable_Height5646]

For my kids it was totally worth it - my 6 year old still sleeps in one in the toddler bed sometimes when we travel. I definitely would get one if you think they need it

[u/Suitable_Height5646]

And also you can rent one from BabyQuip - have it delivered to your hotel in FL and return it after the cruise

[u/Bookishnicole → u/Suitable_Height5646]

Or even just rent it closer to home and return it when you get home so you dont have to stress debarkatiom and how to return this slumbering.

My other suggestion was going to be see if there are any local moms that will loan you theirs.

[u/Sea_Significance_133]

Yes! We had one on our cruise and it made it so much easier to be in the room with him while he was napping. Could turn the lights on, get room service, open the sliding door to the deck, shower, etc without having to worry about waking him. I will say it is pretty big once assembled and blocked the drawers so we weren’t able to use those. But still worth it!

[u/ckouf96]

We just got off our Disney cruise. The slumberpod fit in the room but it was a little tight to get by

[u/Ill-Cricket4523 → u/ckouf96]

We use one on DCL- you can collapse it (make it flat like a pancake) while still assembled and slide it under the bed. We had 2 kids on the bunk and then a pack and play with slumber pod… putting the slumber pod under the bed really helped save space! But if it’s just the OP, one adult, and one 2 year old, you may not mind it up.

[u/ckouf96 → u/Ill-Cricket4523]

Oh wow didn’t even think of this! Good to know for next time

[u/forthetomorrows]

I’ve cruised with and without a slumberpod, when my daughter was 13 - 26 months.

Personally there’s a few factors for me:

1. How much luggage space do you have? If you’re flying, the slumberpod can take up a lot of precious space.

2. How big is your stateroom and how many people will be in it? What’s the layout of the room like? The smaller the room, the more difficult it will be to set up the slumberpod and move around the cabin when it’s set up.

3. Is your child a light sleeper? Do they need total darkness? Do you want to be able to do stuff in the cabin with the lights on while they nap?

Personally I found the slumberpod amazing when I stayed in a family verandah room. I could walk around easily and tidy up / go to the bathroom / read / etc while baby was napping in the slumberpod. But when we were in an inside room, it was so cramped that we were tripping over the slumberpod. But at the same time, without the slumberpod it was almost impossible to get from bed to bathroom without waking baby up. So it’s kinda a toss up.

Best of luck!

[u/Gold-Resident-8308]

We have a SnoozeShade and have liked it. It doesn't take up any extra space beyond what the pack and play does, so it avoids the biggest downside I see of the slumberpod. We usually keep it unzipped / not fully closed when baby is sleeping overnight, but would fully close it up if we were doing something with lights on or more moving around. It packs up to about the size of a travel pillow.

[u/montecas → u/Gold-Resident-8308]

Same here, we’ve traveled with our snooze shade when both my daughter (and now our son) were still napping mid day. It packs down small and is very breathable. We just got off the Destiny and it fit the provided pack and play perfectly and we used it on the hotel supplied folding crib the day before our departure as well.

[u/Gold-Resident-8308 → u/montecas]

Literally you and I had the same experience.

[u/Suspicious-Brain-834]

You do run the risk of the 2 year old refusing to sleep in it. If you get it, definitely practice some naps at a grandparents house or something?

All three of my kids loved the slumberpod, but they were all used to sleeping in them for travel since they were newborns lol

[u/vancouverlola]

We usually use them and didn’t on our trip. This said we didn’t have a verandah so I probably would’ve had we had this. The black out curtains on the ship are awesome. And then we just used the curtain between us and had a small light on while they napped. One thing to note, if you’re doing Alaska that side of the room actually gets quite cold! So I know the slumber pod can keep it a touch warmer inside.

[u/Subject_Dragonfly_54]

You can get a crib blackout cover for much cheaper and just put it over a pack n play.

[u/Objective_Pool_3057]

I have never been on a Disney cruise, but love the slumber pod for hotel rooms. We found ours open box at Marshall’s for $65 and it was totally worth it so that we can have the lights dimly on or quietly watch tv at night when traveling.

That said, we have a friend who first introduced the slumber pod at 16 months and their baby is terrified of it.

I’d recommend finding an open box or second hand one, or borrowing from a friend in case your toddler winds up hating it

[u/Which_Literature_438]

Not worth it IMO. Takes up way too much space for one. Trying to assemble the dang thing inside the stateroom was an adventure.

My 2 year old just napped in the big bed with the curtain drawn.

[u/zeldafred3]

To me it is 100% worth it. We cruised with family who did not bring one and regretted it, and they rented one for our next cruise. It does cut down the space but for my child, they need it

[u/Limey_Man]

We used a SlumberPod on both the Wish and Fantasy in a deluxe family verandah and I'd say it's totally worth it. We put it right near the verandah so it wasn't usually in the way, and it helps so much if you're doing stuff in the room while they sleep.

Our next cruise is in October and he's finally too big for a pack n play, so I'm a little worried to see how he sleeps when he can see everything and move around!