ASK THE EXPERT: HELPING CHILDREN SLEEP WHILE ON VACATION

Many of us are in need of family vacations (even if we’re going to need vacations after our vacations). So what’s the best way to salvage sleep while traveling with kids? We turned to Kristen Jacob, a certified pediatric sleep consultant, for some advice. 

–

How important is it to stick to sleep schedules while traveling? 

It’s ok to throw schedules out the window. Traveling with a kid is already stressful, so traveling while trying to maintain a schedule can send you over the edge. 

How should you handle naps? 

Just follow your baby or toddler’s lead. Your kids’ schedule is already off. They’re likely expending a lot less energy than usual during a travel day. Let them fall in and out of sleep however they want. Don’t force anything. 

For a BABY, where should they be sleeping while on vacation? 

As long as it’s separate it doesn’t matter. It can be a bassinet, crib, or pack-and-play. Don’t overthink it. 

So what SHOULD you do when it comes to a baby and sleep? 

Keep everything else consistent. Keep the sleep sack or swaddle consistent. Bring your own sound machine. Whatever the sound is, it will be calming for your child. That is my number one travel tip: Have a concrete bedtime routine at home, and do it wherever you’re traveling to. It’s not about what time they’re going to sleep or where, it’s about the series of steps that you’re doing leading to bedtime. That gives their brain a cue that it’s time for sleep. 

How about for TODDLERS?  

If your toddler is sharing a bed with you or a sibling or sleeping in the same room as you, let them know it’s only because you’re on vacation. That it’s fun but abnormal. It’s easy to start bad habits on vacation. So if they’re bed sharing, they’ll push to do it when they get back home. It’s all about setting expectations and letting them know it’s a special treat. 

What do you do if you’re traveling to a different time zone? 

I typically consider the length of your trip. If it’s three days or less, just stick with your own time zone. Because you’ll get adjusted when it’s time to go home. If it’s a longer trip, jump on the new time zone or split the difference. Push forward or backward in increments of 15 minutes. Here’s a great chart with more information. 

So your bottom line? 

If you’re trying to maintain your perfect home schedule while on a trip, you’re likely not going to enjoy your trip. The memories you make as a family on a trip are more important than quality sleep. When you get home, you might need to be a little more strict than normal to reset.

 Here’s a link to Kristen’s blog, with more information. Happy Travels!