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During this time of year, many parents anticipate stress and sleep struggles with their little ones due to holiday plans. However, it's important to remember that the holidays can still be enjoyable while ensuring your baby gets the rest they need. Here are some tips to help you navigate the holidays while promoting a well-rested baby:
Navigating the Holiday Season
Start with a strong sleep foundation
Having a strong sleep foundation is key when it comes to getting through this season. When you have this, your routine can become flexible where needed. If you're currently experiencing sleep difficulties with your baby, it's important to address them before heading into the holiday season. Starting to work on improving your baby's sleep is never too late, and I have the resources available such as sleep plans or guides that can give you the guidance and support you need.
By focusing on improving your baby's sleep, you'll be better equipped to handle the challenges that may arise during the holiday season. Rested and well-rested babies are more likely to cope with disruptions to their routine and enjoy the festivities with a greater sense of ease.
Start your day strong
By focusing on securing a solid nap early in the day (the first nap preferably) you provide your baby with the opportunity to get the rest they need. Even if the rest of the day doesn't go as planned, prioritising that first nap can help with the night ahead.
Replicate their sleep environment
When going on a family vacation or spending a day or night at someone else's home, it can be helpful to replicate your baby's sleep environment as much as possible. Bringing familiar items and creating a comfortable sleeping space can contribute to better sleep while away from home. Here are some items to consider bringing: ◦ Sound Machine ◦ Sleeping bag ◦ Portable black-out blinds ◦ Comforter (if they have one) ◦ Lots of dummies ◦ Used Sheets with Familiar Scent: Bringing along used sheets that have your baby's scent can create a sense of familiarity and comfort. The familiar smell may help them feel more at ease in the new sleep environment.
Avoid overtiredness
To prevent your baby from becoming overtired and cranky during the holidays, it's important to aim for a full wake window and be mindful of their sleepy cues. The holiday season can be overstimulating, causing your baby to display sleepy cues earlier than usual. However, it can also have the opposite effect, keeping them awake for longer periods of time.
Earlier bedtime
If you had an eventful day, aim for an earlier bedtime. A bedtime as early as 6pm is ideal, anything earlier they may treat it like a nap and wake soon after. A bedtime as early as 6pm is the best way we can avoid an overtired baby and we gradually build our way up to that drowsy window of 7-8pm.
Why is 7-8 pm a drowsy window?
Melatonin in the body peaks around 7pm and begins to lessen around 8pm. In most cases, if your baby goes to bed between these times, it will be easier for them to go to sleep, get them sleeping longer and ideally achieve the right amount of restorative sleep overnight.
Plans clash with bedtime
We can make it work! Here are three scenarios of how your plans can clash with bedtime:
Scenario 1: Cutting it close
In a scenario where you need to leave before their bedtime routine begins and they become drowsy on the commute home. The first thing to remember is that car-to-cot transfer can either work or plummet, so here's what to do: ◦ Keep them fully engaged
◦ Talk or sing to them ◦ Give them a toy to play with ◦ Roll down the windows ◦ If you have older kids sitting in the back, try to get them to interact and distract It's okay to push the wake window a bit to accommodate more time to come home and start their bedtime routine.
Scenario 1: Just after bedtime
You're not staying out too late, but you lapse the time you usually start their routine. Try and do the routine where you are. If you have access to a bath, ask in advance if you can use it for their routine, otherwise, a wipe-down with a cloth will suffice. After their bathing/wipe down: ◦ Change nappy
◦ PJ's on
◦ Bottle/Breastfeed ◦ Then start your journey home What if they fall asleep in the car and you've done the routine in advance? I would suggest setting the environment before you leave the house, that way you can let them sleep and they'll be only a bit distracted when you take them out of the car mid-sleep. When you got home: ◦ Enter their room and ensure it remains dark
◦ Sleeping bag on ◦ Put them down in their cot Make sure you put them down awake in their cot. We want your baby conscious of their surrounding, this will avoid your baby to be confused. Avoiding this will allow your baby to drift between sleep cycles in the night with ease.
Scenario 3: Will be out all night
Set everything up when you arrive, don't leave it last minute. The last thing you want to be doing when your baby is ready to go to sleep is preparing their sleep environment. It's important to lower your expectations if this is the scenario. They may have a harder time falling asleep and staying asleep when they aren't in their usual sleep environment, but we can try and mimic it by bringing it ALL! ◦ Sound Machine ◦ Baby monitor ◦ Portable black-out blinds
◦ Porta cot
◦ Sleeping bag ◦ Comforter ◦ Dummies ◦ Book ◦ Bottle ◦ PLUS anything extra you usually implement during their bedtime routine.
Lower expectations
It's important to remember that you can be flexible with your baby's routine and not always stick to strict rules. However, sudden changes can disrupt their sleep and mood. It's normal for your baby to struggle a bit when they feel out of their routine. It's reasonable to expect that they may not sleep through the night or immediately adjust back to their old routine.
It can take up to 3 days for your baby to adjust!
As mentioned earlier, if your baby has a solid sleep foundation, difficult situations are easier to overcome.
Naps on-the-go
If you have a busy schedule with multiple day plans, I recommend reading this blog about naps on-the-go. This blog can provide you with helpful tips and strategies to navigate day naps more easily, even when you're away from home.
Flying for the holidays
If you're planning to fly during the holiday season or are considering booking a flight with your children, I recommend reading this blog flying tips to help with travelling with children by plan. If you're well prepared and you follow some tips that I have written in this blog, I guarantee it won't be as terrible as you think it would be.
Extra cuddles
As an adult, this time of year can feel stressful and overstimulating. These feelings can be amplified for your little one. The best remedy truly is cuddles. During family events, babies can be passed around and be in the hands of lots of people. This can make your baby feel touched out. Consider shifting away from the chaos to a quiet room and have some one-on-one time.
You might find that they can be more attached to you than what they usually are and that's because you're their safe place and you can make them feel more grounded.
Enjoy yourself!
My biggest advice is to try to make great memories and accept that your little one may still struggle, despite doing everything you can to make it all easier. When the holidays are over dive back into their routine. Be consistent and be patient while they try and fall back into their usual structure.
Do you need help?
Having a strong sleep foundation is crucial for navigating the holidays, I mean you can definitely wing it, but why not set yourself up for success? If you're seeking guidance and support, I have a range of tools and resources available to assist you. These include a downloadable sleep guide and optional sleep plans.
Written by Alexandra Selekos I'm the founder of Babee Dreams, a certified sleep consultant and a mum of three. My approach is based on studies, training through The Sleep Consulting Academy, successful outcomes experienced by those who have used my methods and the instincts of a mother. My approach will help your baby achieve their best sleep, whilst always feeling reassured, loved and never neglected.