The Pea Pod

The few times we have traveled and needed a portable bed for Gulliver, we have used the Pea Pod. It's a little tent with a blow-up air mattress. It folds up so small that I've packed it in my carry-on bag on the plane. It really has been quite convenient.

We used the Pea Pod on our GJ trip last month. Our hotel room had 2 double beds, so we set the Pea Pod tent up on the far side of the room so the second bed provided a bit of a barrier. The tent zips up so we don't have to worry about him crawling out, and it has multiple flaps that can either be left open or shut to keep the light out. We put Gulliver to bed both nights around 8 or 8:30pm. Mark and I carried on normal conversation and had the TV on after Gulliver went to bed. It was a small hotel room, so he certainly heard all this noise. But we figured he would feel better knowing we were right there with him.

The first night of bedtime, he went down with ease. He did not fall asleep right away, but he was very content in his sleeping quarters. We left one flap open so that we could check on him periodically. Well, he quickly discovered the open flap and enjoyed seeing daddy on the bed next to him watching TV. He laughed and tried to get his attention, but Mark just ignored him for the most part. Eventually he fell asleep.

The next night, he went down very easily again. This time, we closed up all the flaps so he would not have the distraction of watching Mark & me.

Well I simply could not resist checking on him, so once Gulliver was quiet for awhile, I found a small crack in the flap where I could peep in. Imagine my surprise when I looked in and saw a giant eyeball peeking right back at me! The little stinker had figured out the same trick and was again watching Mark & I from inside his little tent. We couldn't contain our laughter, and Gulliver thought it was pretty funny, too. He tried everything to get our attention now that we had discovered his little secret... he kicked his legs on the sides of the tent, he started rolling the tent over to the point where it was at a 45 degree angle, and he made all kinds of babbling noises. We were cracking up at his antics and he just went right along with us, never getting the least bit upset, but enjoying our little "game." Eventually, he petered out and fell sound asleep.

I don't know how much longer we'll be able to use the Pea Pod for sleeping, as Gulliver was already starting to figure out how to unzip the zippers this last trip. But it sure has come in handy.

Now anytime I see the Pea Pod, that last night in GJ comes to mind. Recalling that memory just makes me smile!  :)