4 Holiday Sleep Survival Tips
Confession time – to date, the lowest point of my parenting and sleep journey was the Christmas of 2014. After putting my girls to bed, Addison (about to turn 2 years old at the time) woke crying within an hour of going to sleep. It had been an exhausting few days. I was sitting at the empty dinner table with my parents and my husband went upstairs to help Addison get back to sleep. I remember working very hard to swallow that knot in my throat and to hold back the tears when my parents told me how tired and stressed I looked. They were worried about me. I was worried about me. I was exhausted and overwhelmed with two children under the age of two…. and one of them just wouldn’t sleep.
That was the turning moment in my parenting and sleep journey – I decided to take control of my kid’s schedules around the holidays (okay, let’s be honest, every. day. of. the. year.). Now whenever we visit family or friends, I am very clear with everyone before the trip about when my kids need to sleep. This has meant that the timing of some family events have been tweaked or my kids are asleep and miss the party. Yes, travel days can be messy and yes, we “cheat” on naps or bedtime sometimes, but I have it all planned out and the goal is to not cheat enough to throw my kids off or let them get overtired. I cannot tell you how much more I’ve enjoyed the holidays that followed that Christmas of complete overwhelm.
As Christmas approaches, I can’t help but reflect on that feeling I had at the Christmas dinner table a few years ago. In an effort to do my little part to help ensure that the most wonderful time of the year is in fact wonderful for you and your family, I’m sharing my holiday sleep survival tips.
Strategize the Timing of Your Travels
If you’re driving, try to coordinate the drive to happen before, between or after naps. Keeping restorative naps in a crib or bed can really save your hiney during the holiday season. If it’s a long drive that will go through naptime, try to time it so the drive starts 20-30 minutes before the morning nap, or, if you’re down to just one nap, have the passenger parent make sure your little one stays awake until you’re within about 15-20 minutes of their typical nap time – that way you can keep your child on their normal schedule.
If you’re flying, you don’t have much control over timing. Take a deep breath, try not to stress too much about naps, and, if you can, go for an extra early bedtime when you arrive. If your trip involves a time change, check out my post about time change traveling.
Recreate Your Child’s Sleep Environment
If your child will be sleeping somewhere other than in their own bed and room, don’t forget to pack the sleep items that will allow you to recreate their comfortable and familiar sleep environment. I’m talking about the lovey
Plan Ahead and Have a Plan
Whether you’re traveling to family or they are coming to you, have a plan around when your child will nap and when they will go to bed. Need to skip a nap to attend the Christmas caroling show your family has attended together since you were 5 years old? No problem. I just don’t recommend making that the night you let your little one stay up an hour past their regular bedtime.
If you’re going to cheat on a nap or a bedtime, think through when your little one can make up for that missed sleep. If they skip a nap, try to build in the ability for them to go down to bed 30 minutes early that night. If you let them stay up later than normal one night, make sure they get their nap at the right time the next day.
Plan on a Recovery Period
You can plan travel and the timing of sleep perfectly and it’s likely your kids will end up at least a little overtired by the end of this holiday season. So, you’ll do the best you can and try not to stress too much if things get a little wonky. Just remember to get sleep right back on track after you return home or, if you are home, as soon as everyone leaves and you’re fully back in the schedule driver seat. Think early bedtimes and super consistent naps for a few days. Don’t let a lax schedule drag out too long and you should be back on track by New Years.
I wish you and your family all the best this holiday season and lots of fun, laughter and sleep in the new year!