Surviving (and enjoying) the holidays with sleep intact

It’s the most wonderful time of the year for sure….however this time of the year does bring with it a whole lot of general anxiety and what we are going to tackle here specifically is anxiety about our children’s sleep.  So sip those holiday cups from Starbucks and see below for some tips to help.

The goal is to be able to enjoy the season and these kiddos without completely throwing off their sleep or sacrificing all the fun.

Prioritize your choices

It’s 100% ok not to do it all.  In fact, it’s likely that you will be better off if you don’t! Choose parties, events and family gatherings that pack the most punch and feel really good about cutting down on the rest.  Maybe some events are best served if just one parent attends? Others may make sense to have a babysitter in order to protect your child’s sleep and avoid a complete meltdown.   I typically like to have my entire family in attendance but recognize that not all events are always necessary or best for all.

Protect night sleep as much as possible and be flexible with naps (but avoid skipping altogether)

If you know me, you know how I feel about consistency.  Consistency is key to your child’s sleep success.  It’s always a good thing to keep your kids going to bed at the same time as well as waking up at the same time each morning.  If it’s not realistic to get kids to sleep at their regular bedtime, aim for bedtime to be within one hour of the normal time.  If your child still naps, it’s okay to shift the nap time around in order to attend events and make it work for your family.  For example if the holiday meal is right at nap time: If you have a toddler who takes 1 nap, wake them 30 minutes sooner that morning.  If your child is a baby who takes multiple naps, wake them up 30 minutes earlier from their previous nap.  This way, they are ready for the nap that happens during the holiday meal a little sooner than normal! If you have a toddler on 1 nap (this option doesn’t really work with babies as they can’t skip naps easily) and you need to skip the nap, let them max out their morning sleep and then opt for a quick bedtime routine and early bedtime.  The next day, stick to their normal schedule.

Use the 80/20 rule

I am such a believer in this rule! I try and stay on schedule about 80% of the time and not worry about the remainder.  Yes of course we know that consistently following a sleep schedule the majority of the time and establishing a good bedtime routine will positively impact your child’s sleep.  Aiming for a good schedule 80% of the time seems realistic to me.  When you travel, it’s important to maintain as much of your child’s normal routine as possible, but it’s also important that you enjoy yourselves!

Don’t forget the sound machine (and the lovey and the nightlight)!

Aka bring home with you.  Your baby needs her white noise machine, her lovey, her sleepsack and her nightlight at a minimum.  We all know the phrase “travel light” does not apply to traveling with small children.   Bringing these things from home with you allows you to recreate the feeling of being home and sleeping in their own space anyplace you are.  Having these items allows you to create a safe and relaxing place that is also familiar.  If you are traveling and sharing the same room as your children, I highly recommend a portable room divider or a slumberpod. I’ve found that preventing your child from actually seeing you in the room can significantly improve sleep. 

Plan for a sleep recapture

If you’ve found major sleep has been lost, take a break from all of the holiday stuff for a few days.  Allow your little one longer stretches of recovery sleep for about 24 hours or so to help your child catch up on some extra rest.  Try and squeeze some of this recovery sleep in for yourself as well! I love a good nap :)

If I can help you at any point during this holiday reason or afterwards-- please reach out!