Travel Is Better With Sleep!
April 20, 2023
Like all activities; you enjoy traveling more when the whole family is getting the rest they need.
When you’re planning an adventure with your child, an important thing to consider is how your travel plans are going to affect your child’s healthy sleep habits. I’ve got some tips to help ensure they get the rest they need to be happy, healthy, and alert during your trip, which is bound to make your vacation more enjoyable for everyone!
Tip 1: Avoid over-scheduling
For everyone’s sake – it’s better to slow down the pace and make sure you schedule regular naps and early bedtimes, just like you would at home. Travel is overstimulating for children in general, and if you’re planning many outings each day, you can imagine that your little one may become agitated and overtired quite easily. If your child takes multiple naps each day, aim for one of them to be a quality nap at home. The other naps can be on the go in a car or stroller.
Tip 2: Be consistent with naps and bedtime
Inconsistency often leads to over-tiredness, and it may be even more difficult to get back on schedule when you arrive home. Most days, try to keep your child’s body clock on track with their normal sleep times. When naps are missed or early wake-ups occur to catch the plane (as is inevitable) that’s OKAY! It happens, and you can do your best to make sure there is an early bedtime for several days following missed sleep. This will help to get back on track and avoid general over-tiredness.
Tip 3: Be patient as your child acclimatizes to the new environment
It’s normal for babies and toddlers to test rules around sleep when they’re somewhere new. The best way to handle this is to react the same way you would at home.
In situations in which you must share a room with your child, it can be hard to give them the space they need to calm down and soothe themselves to sleep, consider leaving the room (in a hotel, this may mean hiding in the bathroom or out in the hall) until they are asleep and sneaking back in so that your presence isn’t a distraction and/or disruption to their normally independent process.
Tip 4. Remember to pack comforts from home
This is a given, and one of the reasons we establish “lovies” in the first place. You will want to remember their sleep sack, bedding from home, and two or three of your favorite bedtime books as these comfort objects help children calm and feel cozy and connected, even when they are somewhere new.
Tip 5. If you’re not a co-sleeping family, don’t start now
If you and your child struggle to sleep well when sharing a bed, don’t start while traveling. This often leads to confusion and lack of sleep which can put a huge damper on your excursion. Remember, it only takes a few nights for your child to learn new sleep habits, and this can be very confusing for kiddos who used to co-sleep and might want to return to that situation. Most hotels have cribs you can use to set up a cozy sleep corner for your child so that their independent sleep routine remains familiar even in a new space.
Tip 6. Don’t worry too much
It’s common for sleep to go sideways when traveling, so just know that your amazing sleeper is going to test boundaries on trips and take a few days to re-adjust when you get home. Stick to your routine and remind them of why your family has healthy sleep habits.
Remember that one of the great benefits of having a healthy independent sleeper is that the whole family has the energy to plan and implement fun trips and adventures!
If your concerned about your little one’s sleep while traveling, a 30-min Consultation might be supportive for you! Book your call using the link below.
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