Sleep on Holidays (with Kids)

Sleep. Before becoming a parent I totally underestimated the importance of sleep. For both Mummy, Daddy AND children!

For some of us the idea of going on a holiday might be awesome but then the thought of trying to get the kids to settled and to sleep in a strange place might just sound like more trouble than it’s worth!

Any slight little variation in routine can throw little ones out of their sleep routines. How do you set boundaries and ensure sleep patterns are kept while on holidays? Here are some tips and ideas that will help:

1. Look into the actual bedding arrangements of where you will be staying. Will everyone have separate rooms? Having one bedroom for the adults and another for the kids will make sleeping arrangements easier to manage.
2. Do you need a portacot? Can you hire one or will you have to bring your own? What about sheets? Are there bunk beds? Will you need a sleep rail? These are things to think about and check with wherever you are planning to stay.
3. Some babies and toddlers will have trouble having a nap time in an unfamiliar environment, or while there are lots of things going on around them. If they resist a nap at least ensure they get a rest or some down/quiet time.
4. Make sure you bring along the familiar comforts from home: favourite pjs, blankie, a teddy or two, nightlight and their favourite books.
5. Be consistent: resist the urge to rush or skip the bedtime routine. If your child usually has two books before bed, make sure you read them two. Try to stick to the usual bedtime routine as closely as possible.
6. If you are travelling across time zones get the whole family into the new time zone as soon as you arrive. It might be okay to let the kids sleep in on the first morning or two, but after that wake them up at the new wake-up time so they get used to the time zone quickly.
7. If your kids are still awake at 10pm and showing no signs of going to sleep then it might be time for you to go to bed, or pretend to! For the sake of the kids getting a good night’s sleep, you might have to adjust your own schedule a little.
8. Talk about it. Sleeping in a different place with different noises and smells can seem a little daunting for a child. If they are old enough you can talk to them so they know what’s coming and prepare them for it.
9. Remember YOU are in charge; you might need to make it clear to family and friends that your kids need to be in bed at a certain time. You can explain that your child’s sleep needs take priority and quality and quantity of sleep affects their behaviour, happiness and well-being.
10. Do a walk through. If you have older kids that get up in the night to go to the bathroom make sure they know where to go. Likewise show them exactly where your bedroom is so they know where you are. 

The reality is, with so much holiday fun going on, your kids might be so exhausted each night that they fall fast asleep before their head’s even hit the pillow! If they do have trouble getting to sleep it will only take them a night or two to get used to their new surroundings and fall into routine… fingers crossed!!