Napping Away From Home

Many families travel for vacations and family events. Taking trips with children has many variables, but one that many parents worry about is their little one’s nap schedule while on vacation. You certainly don’t want to resort to staying home and give up all of those potential memories to be made. Instead, devise a plan ahead of time – and then be open to going with the flow once you arrive at your destination. You can always get back on track when you get home.

Sleeping While Traveling

Here are a few questions to consider before leaving for vacation:

• Does your child sleep well in the car? If he does, then you should plan your travel time so that he can nap for part of the car, train or plane ride. Or, some families decide to travel late at night so that their child sleeps for the majority of the trip. However, if your child does not usually sleep well in the car then don’t fool yourself into thinking that this trip will be different. In that case, travel right after he wakes up, dress him comfortably, and plan to either keep him entertained if he won’t sleep.
• Can you break your journey into segments with stops along the way? The longer that your child is in that car seat, the more likely she is to become upset and struggle to fall asleep when you need her to. Planning a few breaks can give her the exercise and exploring she needs to be able to nap later. If you are travelling on an airplane or a train, you can plan to use the aisles for walks occasionally.
• Be sure to read this blog post, too – Planning Car Trips with a Baby – for a long list of ideas & tips.

Violet

Sleeping in an Unfamiliar Place

Once again, preparation is so important when it comes to getting your child to nap in an unfamiliar place. You will not be able to use the exact routines that work for you at home, but try to follow much of your usual routine to create a similar sleep environment for your child.

If your little one sleeps in a crib at home, bring along a portable folding crib. You can even let your child sleep in that portable crib at home ahead of time so that it becomes familiar. Pack your child’s usual blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, white noise, lullaby music, and night lights.

If your little one sleeps with you, create a safe sleeping place for your child in the new location. Check out the room where you will be sleeping and rearrange as needed. Check to see if you can push the bed against the wall or replace heavy bedding to make things safer. (Always move things back the way that they were before you leave.) If you are staying at a hotel, many are understanding and accommodating. And they may even help with these type of arrangements.

Daily cues are another important factor when it comes to daily naps, and these are the things that often change while on vacation. Try to serve meals of familiar foods at regular times, expose your child to normal daylight in the morning and dimly lit activities at night, avoid the pre-bed wrestling matches or ice cream treats. All of these small things can help keep naptime and bedtime more regular and restful.

If you are traveling out of your time zone, you will need to be patient and aware of this transition. It is a good idea to switch to the new time zone once you arrive at your destination because powerful biological cues also shift, such as the timing of meals & naps. Make sure that your child stays well-fed and well-hydrated and avoid letting them nap longer than they typically do. Don’t over-schedule your first few days if at all possible.

It’s important to be flexible! If your child naps well in a stroller or on a beach blanket then let that happen! When away from home always do what works best for everyone.

No matter what you do, it will take a few days to adjust to a new rhythm so it is important to be sensitive and flexible with these changes.

Read The No-Cry Nap Solution for more ideas & inspiration.