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The Ultimate Guide to Sleep on Holiday

Alana Macdonald
Dec 13, 20213 min read

Updated: Jan 2, 2023

Imagine soaking up the New Zealand sun, swimming in our beautiful beaches, enjoying time with friends and family while maintaining good sleep for the family! How good does that sound? Do you have a great routine going, sleep is better than ever and your scared it’s all going to go out the window when you take your family on holiday? Relax! It doesn’t have to. Below are a list of travel tips to help you manage and enjoy your time away from home.

Pre Travel

  1. Pack all the familiar sleep associations you can – white noise machine (+ charger), sleep sack, cuddly toys, sleep trainer clock, dummies & baby monitor (+ charger).

  2. Make a plan to black out the room on arrival! Some suggestions are portable black out blinds, tinfoil and water, a dark blanket, rubbish bags and masking tape. A dark environment is really going to help your little one settle off to sleep.

  3. Think about when you are going to travel (car or flight) Book flights over nap times if possible. Aim to travel in the car 30 minutes prior to a scheduled nap. This means your child is likely fall to sleep over a normal nap window.

  4. Consider the possibility of doing a car journey after dinner! Maybe you have normal dinner at home, do your bedtime routine and pop them into the car instead of bed.

  5. Pack a sheet or blanket off you child’s cot to put on the cot they will be sleeping in. Familiar smells can help them to relax in their new environment.

  6. Talk to toddlers and pre schoolers about what’s happening & where they are going to be sleeping. Keep the chat positive and exciting.

  7. Pack lots of travel friendly activities and snacks for the journey

On the day or travel

  1. Relax! Routine is likely to go completely out the window today and that is ok. Go easy on yourself and your little one.

  2. Don't forget to take their comforter in the car/plane .

Travel with baby and toddler NZ
comfort toy New Zealand
Travel with baby and toddler NZ

3. Remember motion sleep is not as restorative as stationary sleep so your child is likely to be tired on arrival. Solution; early bedtime (30-60 minutes earlier than normal)


When you arrive at your destination

  1. Set up the room. Make up the cot, black out the windows, find a power point to plug in white noise and baby monitor. Good environment = good sleep. If you're only going to take one piece of advice, please take this piece!

  2. If you are room sharing but your child is used to sleeping in their own space try and replicate this. You can put up a “make shift” divider – even if it’s just a washing rack with a towel. Use something so they don’t wake up and get distracted or excited by your presence. Is there a walk in wardrobe, or ensuite where a porta cot could fit?

  3. Give your little one some time to familiarise themselves with their new environment. Spend time hanging out in the room where they will sleep.

  4. Bedtime routine, bedtime routine, bedtime routine – keep it the same! On night 1 have a nice long wind down of 15 minutes or more in the room, relaxing, reading stories and cuddling.

Travel and baby sleep NZ

5. You might find you need to sit with your child while they fall to sleep in their new environment in the beginning.


During the holiday

  1. If you can throw yourself straight into your normal nap routine on Day 1 great! If you have the option to stay close to your normal routine & take your child's sleep associations, sleep should not be too disrupted.

  2. If you plan on being out and about offer naps on the go; in the front pack, pram or car.

  3. Try and get naps happening between 9am and 3pm, to avoid interfering with night sleep.

  4. Maintain an early bedtime. Remember you are in a new environment, it is going to be more stimulating than home. A couple of late nights never hurt anyone– just don’t expect a sleep in as a result!

Once back home

  1. Return to your normal nap schedule as soon as you get home

  2. If things got really off track during the holiday it is likely to take a week of consistent routine to return to normal

  3. If your child was a good sleeper prior to your holiday they will return to their good habits in no time!

These are a few things that have worked for me and my family over the past few years. I hope you find it helpful. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Wishing everyone a wonderful 2023.

Travel baby sleep NZ

Alana x


Baby Sleep Consultant NZ. Making Baby and Toddler Sleep Easy.


 
 
 

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