Travelling with a baby can be delightful yet challenging, especially regarding their sleep in unfamiliar surroundings. Check out our “7 Tips for Helping Your Baby Sleep Soundly on Holiday” by Victoria Rose from Allaboutbabies. These tips include sticking to familiar bedtime routines, creating a comfortable sleep environment, planning activities around nap times, and being mindful of time zone changes. By following these tips, both you and your baby can enjoy a restful holiday.
7 Tips for Helping Your Baby Sleep Soundly on Holiday
Holidays are a time for rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation, but for many parents, they can also fill you with dread over how your little one will sleep. Travelling can disrupt the routine, and unfamiliar surroundings can unsettle even the best sleepers. However, with a bit of planning and some useful strategies, you can help your baby sleep peacefully while you enjoy your holiday. Here are seven tips to make sure both you and your baby get the rest you need while travelling.
1. Stick to a Familiar Bedtime Routine:
Babies thrive on routines, so try to replicate their usual bedtime routine as closely as possible, even while on holiday. Whether it’s a warm bath, a bedtime story, or a lullaby, following the same sequence of events signals to your baby that it’s time to wind down and prepare for sleep, no matter where you are. This doesn’t mean you have to stay in once they are asleep; simply place them down in their pram after their bedtime routine, then head out for dinner and drinks.
2. Create a Comfortable Sleeping Environment:
While you may not be able to recreate your baby’s nursery perfectly, you can make their sleeping environment as comfortable as possible. Bring along familiar items such as their favourite blanket or stuffed animal to provide a sense of security. Their own sleeping bag or blanket and even their own cot sheet will all help make them feel safe and secure.
3. Maintain Consistent Sleep Cues:
Babies are sensitive to environmental cues, so maintaining consistency in their sleep environment is key. Keep the room dark and quiet during bedtime and naptime, and use white noise machines or apps to mask unfamiliar sounds that might disrupt your baby’s sleep. A Snooze Shade can work well when trying to help your little one sleep while out and about too.
4. Plan Around Naptimes:
Try to plan your activities around your baby’s naptimes as much as possible. While it may be tempting to squeeze in as much sightseeing as you can, an overtired baby can quickly become cranky and difficult to soothe. Be flexible with your schedule, and allow plenty of time for naps to ensure your baby stays well-rested throughout the day. If taking a beach holiday, consider a UV tent – this provides a safe space out of the sun where your little one can play or nap.
5. Be Mindful of Time Zone Changes:
If you’re travelling to a different time zone, prepare for potential disruptions to your baby’s sleep schedule. Gradually adjust your baby’s bedtime and naptimes in the days leading up to your trip to help them acclimatise to the new time zone. Once you arrive at your destination, expose your baby to natural sunlight during the day to help regulate their internal clock and encourage restful sleep at night. I would only consider this for time differences over 3 hours.
6. Offer Comfort and Reassurance:
New environments can be unsettling for babies, so be prepared to offer extra comfort and reassurance during the night if your baby wakes up feeling disoriented. A gentle touch, soothing words, or simply being present can help your baby feel secure and calm enough to drift back to sleep.
7. Be Patient and Flexible:
Finally, remember to be patient and flexible when it comes to your baby’s sleep on holiday. Travelling can be overwhelming for both you and your baby, and it’s normal for sleep patterns to be disrupted temporarily. Allow yourself some grace and trust that with time and consistency, your baby will adjust to the new surroundings and settle into a restful sleep routine.
