5 Sleep Tips For Holiday Travel With Kids

Believe it or not, the holidays are coming, which could mean lots of travel for your family! The end of October is practically here, Thanksgiving is around the corner and December will sneak in right after that! One of the most common questions I get around this time of year is how to keep a good sleep schedule for children with so much going on. Check out these 5 tips to keep your child sleeping well away from home so the whole family can enjoy your vacation!

1. Keep your schedule the same.

Although it will be very tempting to change your child's schedule and pack their days full of fun activities, don't do it! Just trust me! No one will be having a good time when your child is overtired and melting down. Vacations are full of seeing family you may not typically see, and doing activities that you may not be able to do typically, but within reason. Even skipping a nap or two, or pushing back bedtime by an hour can have an impact on your child's nighttime sleep and whole next day.

2. Naps On The Go Can Be OK

You want to stay on the same schedule, but you also don't want to be stuck in nap jail because of it while in a new location! The good news is, some naps on the go can happen! While you want to ensure about 80% of your child's naps are happening in the location they will be sleeping in at night, naps on the go can be effective to ensure your child does get daytime sleep and won't be overtired as bedtime approaches. For our personal stroller naps we use a SnoozeShadeto cover the stroller and create a dark/calm environment that is lightweight and breathable. Use code BABYO10 for a discount!

3. Separate Yourself From Your Child

You may have done some hard work and spent a few tough nights working with your child to have them learn the independent sleep skills to sleep through the night. Don't throw it all away over vacation by having your child in a sleep situation that undoes all that hard work! If your child typically sleeps in their own room at home, set up their own space while on vacation to mimic their home environment. Ideally having them stay in a separate room is best, but if that is not possible, a large closet or hotel bathroom can work wonders! One amazing product I have come across is the SlumberPod, which essentially acts as a large blackout tent over a pack n play. Find out more about them here! (Code BABYOANDI$20 saves!)

4. Don't Forget The Essentials!

There is so much to consider when packing (or renting) child items for vacations! Lots of parents think of the big items like strollers, car seats, and travel cribs, but what about the smaller items? Those are JUST as important as the big items, and ones your child will notice much more! This includes familiar sheets, bedtime books, blankets, loveys and/or pillows. For children under age one, sleep sacks, safe loveys and sheets are the most important. Children between one and two have the most important items as their sleep sack or blanket, lovey, and familiar sheets. For children over two, all of these are needed but also a pillow if they are using one. Don't forget your sound machine!!

5. Changing Time Zones While You Travel?

If you are taking a longer trip out of the country that involves some international travel, how to transition your child onto a new time zone can seem daunting. Depending on how different the time difference is and how long you will be away, you may or may not want to move your child onto the new time.

 Travel with a little one can seem daunting and intimidating due to the amount of items you need to pack, worrying about behaviors while traveling and figuring out sleeping arrangements. However, with a bit of careful planning everyone can enjoy the vacation of a lifetime while being just as well rested as they are at home.

Traveled before and didn't get the experience you were looking for? Dreading having to visit family over the holidays due to your child's sleep situation? Feeling anxious, overwhelmed or exhausted just thinking of traveling with a little one? Don't miss out on another family trip due to sleep! Contact me below so we can create a game plan together!