It’s nearly Christmas! But are you going to be travelling over the festive period? Here’s some tips and tricks to help keep your baby or toddlers sleep as consistent as possible while they’re away from home.
1. Keep Things Familiar
Little ones thrive on consistency, so try to replicate their usual bedtime routine as closely as possible. Bring familiar items like their favourite teddy, blanket, or bedtime story book. This familiarity can help signal that it’s time to sleep, even in a new environment. For very little ones you could even bring the same bedsheet they have slept on in the nights leading up to your trip away. This is a good way of helping babies feel safe and at home whilst not in their usual sleep space.
If you usually use white noise and blackout blinds, make sure to keep this the same while away. You can get great portable white noise machines as well as stick-on blackout blinds to take anywhere with you!
2. Introduce the Travel Cot Early
If your little one is going to be sleeping in a travel cot during your time away, try and get a few nights in the travel cot before your trip so that it’s not a new, unfamiliar place for baby when it comes to your trip. As I’ve already mentioned, little ones like consistency and don’t like surprises, so chances are they won’t have a great night’s sleep in a completely new space! You could let them nap in it at home to familiarize them with it.
When using the travel cot, make sure to continue to follow safe sleep guidance. Travel cot bases can be very hard and uncomfortable, so if you are using a mattress in your travel cot it should be firm, flat and with a waterproof sheet or cover. Remember not to position the travel cot in front of a radiator or heat source.
3. Use Naps to Your Advantage
If you’re driving or taking public transport, try and time your departure with your little one’s nap. This can take some of the stress out of travel if baby is napping for part of the journey. However, remember that babies shouldn’t sleep in a carseat for long periods, so if you’re making a long journey, make regular stops so baby isn’t in their car seat for too long in one stretch. Make sure baby is in light clothing to allow the car seat straps to be safely tied and avoid overheating.
You can also plan your festivities around naps to allow you to enjoy it whichever way you choose. Whether that’s planning your meal while little one is napping so that you can eat in peace, or making sure baby is well rested before Christmas dinner so everyone is on good form!
4. Don’t Stress!
While it’s good to keep familiarities when baby will be in a different environment, its also important to remember that you can be flexible during the holidays and you don’t need to stress if your normal routine is slightly off. A few days out of routine around Christmas is normal and you can easily get back into a routine afterwards. The key things to remember are to avoid overtiredness by making sure your little one still gets the naps they need, and don’t be afraid to provide extra support where needed. It’s normal for sleep to change slightly when in a different place and babies and toddlers will often need a little more comfort than usual.
5. Practice Safe Sleep
No matter where you are, always adhere to safe sleep guidelines. Lay your baby on their back to sleep, use a firm mattress, and keep the sleep space free from pillows, blankets, and toys, especially for under 1s.
If possible, bring a room thermometer so you can monitor the temperature of the room to ensure it’s not too hot or cold. The ideal room temperature is between 16 and 20 degrees C.
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