Sleep Tips For Travel
‘Tis the season for family get togethers, an endless supply of yummy food (my personal fave) and busy schedules filled with travelling!!
Now that I have children I look back and often envy how easy it was to bounce around to different houses, visiting different people during the holidays. Never did I think I would be planning my schedule around nap time or bedtime, and yet here we are!
Maybe you’re stressing about how you will manage naps on the go, or maybe you and your partner aren’t seeing eye to eye on the importance of maintaining a sleep schedule… I get it! It can be stressful, but I’ve compiled the top things that I urge you to focus on to make this time as stress free as possible.
Don’t want to have that conversation with your partner about your different views on how to handle sleep during the holidays?
No worries! Just send along this link for a little light reading!
Sleep Environment
The easiest way to set your child up for sleep success is to focus on their sleep environment. Think about yourself… normally you sleep in a nice cozy bed, with your favourite pillow, and maybe a fan nearby for a little noise (ok, that’s me!). Now tell me I have to sleep on an air mattress in a room I’ve never stayed in, with nothing but silence to lull me to sleep. It ain’t happening!
The same goes for our children! We can’t expect them to be wonderful, amazing, sleepers in an environment that has zero sense of comfort to them. So bring their comfort with you!
The top items I recommend bringing are:
Noise machine or fan*
*bonus points if it’s portable and can be used in the car/stroller
Special blanket or stuffy (if 12m+)
Your own pack n play
Sleep sack or swaddle
Toddler Clock (OK to Wake)
Room Sharing
Ok that’s great. You’ve got their environment set up for sleep success, but what if you have to share a room?! Deep breathes, deep breathes. It will all be okay.
Yes, there is a chance that you will wake each other unintentionally, but there are ways to minimize the chances of this happening.
Set their bed up in their own space if possible
Create a barrier between you and them (around a corner, in a closet, SlumberPod)
Use a white noise machine (or two!)*
*placement should be between you and them to block any noises that might cause wakings
Take anything you need out of the room before bedtime
Bedtime Routine
Maintaining a routine will help your child tremendously. But that’s not always possible around the holidays. One way to ensure they are winding down and getting prepped for sleep is to be consistent with your bedtime routine. Committing 10 minutes to your child’s bedtime routine will help them wind down, relax, and get those hormones prepped for sleep! Make sure to use the same routine from home - this is NOT the time to introduce some new and exciting bedtime adventure!
Tip: plan for your routine while packing. Do you usually read a couple books before bed? Pack those!
Sleep Schedule
Now for the part you really want to know about… how to handle naps!
Let me first start by saying there is no guarantee that your child will nap if your day is jam packed with fun activities and people all around them. But there are some great steps you can take to promote sleep and make it a priority.
Try and stick to their sleep schedule as much as possible. If you have to drive somewhere, plan to do that during nap time, or pack a stroller and a portable noise machine if you will be out doing walking activities.
Bring your pack n play everywhere!! I’m not joking. Going to Great Aunt Sue’s house for lunch? Bring the pack n play and try for a nap at her house! Of course family wants to spend time with your baby, but is it really quality time if they are an overtired blubbering mess for the entire afternoon…? Bonus points: you get uninterrupted adult visiting time!
If your child only takes tiny little micro naps or misses their naps completely, put them to bed early! This will help ensure that the sleep debt they have incurred does not flow over into the following days and ultimately lead to a very grumpy child.
And one of the biggest things I want you to remember is that it will not be perfect. Go into it with the idea that there may be some less than ideal moments for sleep, but you are spending time with loved ones and making memories that your children (and you too!) will cherish forever.
That’s the important stuff!
