Advice for going away overnight

[Guest guest]

Our 18 month old is not officially diagnosed, but in the process of going

through the steps. She does horribly away from home, especially overnight. She

wants her own room and her own crib and gets very over stimulated around large

groups of people and noise.

With Christmas coming, we are having a bit of a family debate and I want advice

from moms that know.

My mother in law keeps saying we need to take her away more often and get her

used to it....however the last time we went to a family function, everyone ended

up in tears cause our daughter could not handle it at all. I have never seen

her this upset, she makes herself so upset, she gags herself when crying to the

point of throwing up, and then shuts down and regresses for awhile after.

I realize we can't keep her at home all the time, and we don't. We take her out

during the day, but at night come back home.

At 18 months old, how should I handle this? Do I force her even though it seems

to make her worse, not better?

So far therapists, have said that we shouldn't keep her at home, but to take

baby steps, working up to overnight trips. She is very sensitive to noise, and

cannot handle crowds. I am new to this, and seem to be the " bad guy " who

doesn't want to spend Christmas with our in laws due to the fact our little girl

may very well have a fit!

Advice pleeeeezz......