Travel is going to look different this summer but a lot of us are still taking trips. Whether it’s a week at the beach or a few days with family across town, this year, more than ever, you don’t want your trip ruined by tired and cranky children!
The fear of kids not sleeping keeps lots of parents from even attempting a trip with young kids and babies but it does not have to be that way! At Sleep Baby Sleep Consulting, we love encouraging parents to travel with their kids and help ease their fears about sleep while they are gone.
There are lots of things you can do to help your children sleep well on vacation.
Here are our top 3:
Stay consistent with meal and nap schedules as much as you can. This means not letting infants skip any feeds and making sure that naps don’t totally go out the window just because you’re on the go. Remember, hungry or overtired kids won’t be able to sleep at night! Even older kids need time to rest and recharge. Nourishing meals are key so children aren’t waking up at 5 am ready for breakfast. It’s a whole lot more fun to travel with happy kids than exhausted whiny ones! So make their eating and napping routines a priority so their bodies are ready to sleep at night.
Get their room ready for good sleep. At home, your child’s sleeping space is set up perfectly for them. While you are packing, include any sleep items from home like sound machines, loveys and comfort items, even a crib sheet for babies so their bed smells familiar. Make sure they have their own, safe space to sleep, and try to keep the room as dark as possible. Hotels usually have great blackout curtains but vacation homes tend to have lots of bright windows. Think about bringing a dark sheet or blanket that you can tack up to keep your kids from getting up with the sun.
Don’t start new habits that you don’t want to keep up! If your baby or child can sleep independently at home, they can do it on vacation too. It may take them a night or two to adjust but, consistency is comforting for kids and you will all be rewarded with good sleep!
If trips are going to be less frequent right now, that is all the more reason to make sure your kids are sleeping well so you all can enjoy it! If you want even more ways to make sure your children can be rested during your trip, Sleep Baby has released a Handbook for Travel with Kids and it is available here for only $12. This e-book contains nearly 40 pages of tips and resources to help your trip go smoothly! We’d love to help you feel confident about travel with your family and get the most enjoyment out of your trip!
Bio
Elizabeth King is a professional sleep consultant and the Founder and CEO of Sleep Baby Sleep Consulting. She and her team of consultants love working with families to help give them and their little ones the gift of a peaceful night’s sleep and long naps. We are passionate about sleep and believe that every baby can sleep well. We work with you to develop a plan that accomplishes this while fitting with your family’s needs and desires.
Elizabeth lives in Charlotte, NC with her husband and three boys ages 6, 4, and 2. When she’s not talking with parents about sleep she is outside playing with them and trying to use up as much of their energy as possible. She also loves sitting down with a good book and cheering on the Clemson Tigers.
