Tips to keep kids sleep on track during the holidays

Last Updated on April 16, 2024

The holidays are a busy time, there are several events, family traditions, and Christmas plans that can cause disruption to our kid’s sleep.

Here are some tips to keep kids sleep on track during the holidays, so you can be as prepared as possible for any sleep changes that may occur.

Be flexible

The holidays need to be enjoyable for everyone, including you, and part of your enjoyment will be doing things that can only be done during naps or bedtime.

Being flexible about missing a nap, or having a later bedtime, means that you can attend a late dinner, or have a day out, as it’s okay if an occasional nap is missed, or your kid goes to bed a bit later one night, as long as you get their sleep back on track the next day.

Have some quiet time

In the lead up to a busy day, or busy few days, make time for quiet time at home.

Having quiet time will give your kid the energy they need to handle the busier days a little better.

Use car trips for naps

One of the ways I keep my kid’s sleep on track during the holidays is by using car trips to my advantage.

I do this by leaving for my destination 30 minutes before my kid is due for his nap, which means he’ll fall asleep during the drive.

This means I get a peaceful drive, he’s not grumpy when we reach our destination, and he hasn’t missed a nap.

Don’t say yes to everything

During the holidays mum burnout can happen when we over commit ourselves, so a good way to avoid this is to only say yes to the things that you absolutely want to do.

This also means that you can choose to do things that work around your kids sleep schedule, so their sleep isn’t impacted.

Use a babysitter

Hiring a babysitter is a win win situation, as you get to enjoy something that you want to do kid free, and your kid’s sleep isn’t affected because the babysitter can put them to bed.

Have the right sleeping supplies

If you’re staying in a hotel with kids, or staying with family or friends over the holidays, make sure you bring any sleep items that your kid needs to help them sleep, and that replicate your home’s sleeping environment as well as possible.

This may include:

• Black out blinds
• Portable cots
• Portable bed rails
• Comforters
• Sleeping bags
• Music machines
• Dummies

If using a portable cot, get your kid to nap in it at home a few times beforehand, so they get used to it.

Plan guest arrival times

If you’re having guests at your house, ask them to arrive after your kid’s nap.

This way their nap won’t be skipped, making them less likely to be irritable while your guests are over.

Maintain wake up times

During the holidays wake your kids up at the same time as they always wake up, even if they’ve missed their nap the day before, or went to bed later the night before.

Doing this will help them nap later on in the day, and get back to the bedtime they had before they went to bed later.

Long haul flights

If you’re doing a long haul flight with kids over the holidays, try to book a flight that has the longest part of the flight during their usual bedtime.

This means your kid can sleep for a big chunk of the flight.

Get back on track after the holidays

After the holidays, or as early as you can, get your kids to nap and go to bed at their pre holiday times.

It may take a little while for your kids to get back to their normal timings, but they eventually will.

How do you handle holiday sleep changes?