Don’t Lose Sleep Over Holiday Travel!

With the holidays fast approaching, we can all expect to lose a little sleep from traveling.  If you are like me, and cherish your family’s sleep, just knowing that doesn’t make it any easier!

Here are a few tips that will really help your little one (and you) get the rest you both need:

• There is no better time than now to start implementing strong sleep associations and routines.  Your little one might surprise you if you have fostered a strong sleeper before you left and sleep great while you’re traveling.  If you are not one of these lucky parents, and your child’s world is turned upside down while visiting family, know if you left with a great sleeper, when you return your great sleeper is only one or two nights away from back to normal.

• Just like you love to take your favorite pillow on vacation, pack as much of your child’s sleep associations with you.  Plan on taking the noise machine, swaddle, lovey, pacifier, bedtime books, and music.  Whatever is part of your child’s bedtime routine and can fit in a suitcase, take!

• Plan your plane trip around naptime.  Babies very rarely take naps on planes and if they do, they don’t get an adequate one.  If you can get an early morning flight and have a well-rested baby, your flight will run much smoother.

• When you arrive at your destination, scope out the best place for baby, their own room preferably.  If that cannot happen, set up the baby’s bed where they can’t see you or hang a sheet to create a boundary.

• When all else fails, just “keep the peace”!  Be prepared for less sleep, but if no one is sleeping well, find a way to get a little shut-eye.  Just leave whatever new sleep associations learned by baby on vacation.  Once home, it’s back to business!  Remember, if you left with a great sleeper, you are only a night or two away from peaceful nights again.

I hope these tips help you and your little ones have a well-rested and enjoyable season!

Happy Holidays!

Do you practice any routines when traveling to help your child maintain their sleep schedule?

Please Share!

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Melissa is an RN with twelve-year’s experience in the Neonatal ICU and now specializes in helping families sleep.  After her first daughter was born, Melissa became increasingly interested in children’s sleep studies and wanted to pursue a different avenue in nursing.  She founded Newborn Nightingales in 2012, offering private in-home sleep/schedule consultations as well as professional night nursing by experienced RNs.  Melissa prides herself in helping parents establish a nurturing, caring, and calm environment, as well as empowering parents with the knowledge and information they need for parenthood. http://www.newbornnightingales.com