Why does sleep so often derail during the holidays?
We can usually narrow it down to three reasons, but did you know it is possible to have a happy and relaxed holiday season with sleep!
Keep reading to find out the top three reasons sleep derails and my recommendations.
1) Travel. Travel days can mess with anyone’s sleep. It is often sleep that is broken, not as restorative and not at the right times! It can be hard to recover from a travel day for a baby or toddler but it is possible.
Travelling by car: I recommend driving during nap times. If possible get 1 good nap in a day (in a crib), then hit the road.If you are returning the same day, pack up all of your essentials for bedtime (do a quick bedtime routine wherever you are, put on pj’s, read story..etc.) then drive back when you child is ready for bed. If they wake upon transfer at home, do a few steps of their bedtime routine and put them back down for the night. They may need a bit extra support to settle, that is okay.
Travelling by plane: I always recommend leaving in the morning with a well rested child! With a baby, travel days are survival mode. Do what you can to get them to sleep on the plane if they are due for a nap. If you are traveling with a toddler, bring lots of exciting distractions for the trip! Snacks, books, colouring, stickers, audiobooks.
* Plan for an early bedtime when you arrive at your destination*
Sleep Recommendation on Travel Days: Be prepared for a bumpy night (because of the imbalance in daytime sleep), discuss how you will respond to night wakings and a potentially early morning. STAY CONSISTENT with your response.
2) Pressure From Friends and Family. They are simply so excited to see you and your little one. They want to soak up every minute they can. Although, unintentional it can put a real pressure on parents. Oftentimes, we don’t want to “disappoint” anyone and we feel like we have to put our routines and structure aside for other people. If this doesn’t work for you, keep reading.
Recommendation: Set realistic expectations with your friends and family. Give them a heads up around what gatherings you will be attending and when you will be leaving. Discuss what time your baby needs to have a nap or go to bed. This way there is no disappointment when you say, “it’s time for us to put our little one to bed!” Follow an 80/20 rule. For more information around this, check out my holiday sleep guide in my free resource library!
3) Room sharing. Whether you are heading to stay with family, in a hotel room or having family stay with you- it is common to room share over the holidays. When roomsharing it is common for us to intervene more quickly then we would at home. It can become a slippery slope or reintroducing old sleep associations in an attempt to “fix” our little one’s sleep.
Recommendation: If your child sleeps in their own space at home, I always recommend trying to give them their own space when travelling. This could be converting the bathroom or closet into a safe sleep space, or simply hanging a sheet from the ceiling to provide a visual barrier between you and your child. Again, stay consistent with your response overnight and in the morning.
Remember it is normal for sleep to back track a bit over the holidays or during vacation. Should you need some guidance to help get back on track, book a free discovery call today to discuss how I could support you!