| | |

Keeping Infant and Toddler Sleep on Track During Holiday Travel

The holiday season is so fun, especially with kids. I’ll always remember each of my children’s first Christmases. Little ones make the holidays extra special. However, keeping your little one’s sleep routine on track can also bring significant challenges. Between travel to grandma’s, new environments, and all the excitement, it’s easy for sleep schedules to get derailed. Here are some practical tips to help your little one rest well during holiday travel.

Managing Overstimulation

Holidays are full of stimulating experiences: twinkling lights, unfamiliar faces, and lots of noise. While these are part of the fun, they can be overwhelming for young ones and disrupt their ability to settle down for sleep.

  • Plan for Quiet Time: Build downtime into your day to give your child a chance to reset. Retreat to a quiet room for stories, cuddles, or low-key play. Quiet time is especially helpful, about 20 minutes before nap time.
  • Bring Familiar Items: Pack their favorite lovey, blanket, or even a portable white noise machine to create a sense of familiarity in an unfamiliar environment.
  • Watch for Sleep Cues: Pay close attention to signs of tiredness, such as rubbing eyes, yawning, getting fussy, staring into space, and do your best to get them in bed quickly.

Preventing Overtiredness

An overtired child can have a harder time falling asleep and staying asleep. During holiday travel, staying ahead of sleep needs is essential, even if schedules are slightly off.

  • Stick to a Flexible Routine: While exact nap and bedtime schedules may not always be possible, try to maintain a loose structure. If your toddler typically naps after lunch, aim to provide an opportunity for rest around the same time.
  • Offer Extra Sleep Opportunities: If a long day is unavoidable, consider squeezing in a car nap or a stroller snooze to prevent overtiredness.
  • Adjust for Time Zones Gradually: If traveling across time zones, shift your child’s schedule by 15-30 minutes each day leading up to the trip to help ease the transition.

Avoiding Cosleeping Pitfalls

The temptation to cosleep during travel can be strong, especially if your little one struggles to sleep in a new place or if you’re afraid of disturbing other family members during the night. However, if cosleeping isn’t part of your usual routine, it’s best to avoid starting it during travel.

  • Bring a Familiar Sleep Space: A portable crib or travel bassinet can provide your child a safe and consistent sleeping area.
  • Stick to Your Usual Practices: If your child typically falls asleep in their own space, maintain that habit. This helps avoid introducing new associations that may be hard to break later.
  • Stay Calm and Consistent: If your baby or toddler resists sleep, gently reassure them while sticking to your normal bedtime routine. They’ll adjust more quickly with your calm guidance.

Enjoy the Holidays While Prioritizing Sleep

Remember, the holidays are about making memories with your family. If sleep doesn’t go perfectly during your travels, it’s okay. Focus on creating a balance that allows you to enjoy the festivities while giving your child the rest they need. With some planning and flexibility, you can navigate holiday travel while keeping your infant or toddler’s sleep on track. And if things completely go off the rails, I’m here to help!

Similar Posts

  • | | |

    Spring Forward

    Spring Daylight Savings Schedule for Babies and Toddlers My 13-year-old asked me why we adjust our clocks for daylight savings. I explained the whole thing about Ben Franklin and farmers, planting and harvesting, and she looked at me as only a 13-year-old can and said, “We aren’t farmers. Why do we still do this?” It’s a…

  • | |

    Managing sleep regressions

    Sleep Regression: What It Is and How to Handle It “Sleep regression” might be two of a parent’s least favorite words. And honestly? I think they’re a bit overused. As a sleep consultant, I often hear parents ask about sleep regressions because they want to understand why their baby, who was once a solid sleeper,…

  • Early Morning Wakings

    No parent wants to start their day before 6 am and so if your toddler is popping into your room before the sun comes up you may just be ready to throw in the towel. Early morning wakings are unfortunately a fairly common problem. Fortunately,

     I have a few tips on how to combat these early morning wakings and cut down on the number of hours we all spend awake. 

    Some kids are just early risers. If you or your spouse naturally tend to wake up early then odds are there is a biological component to your child’s early mornings. It doesn’t mean you have to suffer but it does mean you may need to adjust your expectations a bit and embrace an earlier start to the day.

  • |

    Nap Transitions: How and When to Drop a Nap

    Naps are in constant flux, depending on your little one’s age, developmental leaps, sleep environment, and day-to-day. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t sleep well. When my kids were little dropping a nap was always kind of bittersweet. Sometimes fewer naps meant more freedom during the day to go out and about. Sometimes it just meant I was entertaining them for more hours during the day.

  • | |

    out of the swaddle

    When to Stop Swaddling When you brought your newborn home you discovered pretty quickly (through some trial and error) how your baby liked to be swaddled for sleep. Some type of swaddle was probably a lifesaver. But as your baby grows and starts showing signs of rolling, it’s time to let the swaddle go and transition to…