Quote Originally Posted by Spixie33 View Post
I have a couple of 2.5 year olds who will turn 3 in the spring. Currently they each have their own playard to sleep in and each sleeps in a separate room.
I am worried that playards are probably not going to be practical once they turn 3 in a few months. I don't want to be heaving a 3 year old in and out of a playard. I also don't want to lose the 1.5-2 hours nap/quiet time to recharge my batteries, clean up from lunch and then prepare afternoon snack.

I am looking at getting some of the fold up rest mats from Wintergreen's website but I am worried how to transition these kids.

I have no sleep issues with child #1 but child #2 has major issues already as it is. Child#2 needs the room super dark, a sound machine to sleep, a special toy and half the time will just lay in the play yard talking to himself and the toy and not sleeping at all. I am worried that during nap on a mat child #2 will just start to play and climb things in the room. (It is my son's bedroom that I use for child #2s nap place so there is a dresser, some toys, etc in there too)
The parents have told me that they have Child #2 sleep on a mattress on the floor since he climbs out of his crib and knocks over the playpen at home. They said that most of the time child #2 plays during nap time and will not stay on the mattress until he poops himself out with playing. I am scared that happens here.

I do not want child #2 open dresser drawers in case they fall on his feet or playing and getting noisier and disturbing kids in the other rooms who are napping etc.
we have a 4 bedroom house but none of the 4 bedrooms is just an empty room without dressers or beds that child #2 might try to climb and fall from.

This morning I was thinking of getting one of those gated circles which is like a baby gate playpen and putting Child #2 in there to sleep on a rest mat but then i feel like I am caging him...lol
Leave child #2 in the playpen. It is the safest solution. My 3 year olds still sleep in theirs and they wouldn't have it any other way. They feel safe and secure. I put down thick comfortors on the bottom so it is very comfy for them