Sleep Tips for Traveling with a Baby
You know that feeling… It is finally time..what time is it? VACATION TIME! You have booked the flights and hotels, packed the suitcase and you’re ready to relax! You’re left with only one thing to worry about: How will this affect your child’s sleep?
Traveling with a baby can make any vacation a bit more complicated. You have to think about what baby gear to pack, how to maintain sleep schedules, the best time for activities, and more. However, taking a baby on vacation doesn’t have to be such a headache. With a little extra planning, plus some flexibility, traveling with a baby can be a relaxing experience (well, all things considered!).
Here are some of my top tips as a baby sleep consultant for what to do when taking your baby on a trip. This includes flying with a baby as well as long car rides with a baby.
My top baby travel tips:
Start off on the right foot. Make sure everyone is well rested when you start your travel – that includes your little one and any other family members making the trip!
Keep the bedtime routine as similar as possible to normal. Things that you should pack to help with this transition: a travel noise machine and something to block out the light if there are not black out curtains. When possible, plan your activities around your baby’s normal routine to keep bedtime the same as it would be at home.
Plan ahead. Check to see if your accommodations, whether it’s a hotel/Airbnb/grandparents house, have gear available for your stay. From a stroller to a crib, having gear already at your destination will make packing (and traveling!) a lot easier. If you want to travel light and your hotel or Airbnb doesn’t already have these things, there are great baby rental companies such as Baby Quip, where you can rent a stroller or crib. That way you can keep your sleep routine as normal as possible away from home.
Drive at night. If you are traveling with your baby by car, you may want to consider traveling during sleep hours (night time) to keep the routine as normal as possible. This way, when you reach your destination, your baby will be awake and rested, ready to start the day. (Even if your driver isn’t quite as ready!)
International time differences. If you’re making a longer trek and traveling internationally with a baby, you’ll have to deal with a larger time difference. This can be confusing to a baby. Usually most flights time it so you will land in your destination in the morning. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends to try to keep your little ones active and in bright lit areas so they can adjust to the time difference. This is obviously easier said than done, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself – especially if your baby was up for the whole flight.
Keep daytime nap schedules as similar as possible. Remember, if your little one shortens or skips a nap during the day, adjust their bedtime to a bit earlier to catch up on the sleep. Then the next day you should be able to resume your day as normal.
Separate your baby from toddlers. If you have more than one kid or have a toddler, you may want to consider getting an adjoining room so your toddler can sleep independently.
HAVE FUN! You are on vacation and the stress of your child’s sleep schedule should not deter you from having fun! Even if schedules get messed up during your trip, it’s okay. Don’t sacrifice your well-deserved time off! Sleep training can resume when you’re back home to a regular routine.
Even if you’re not traveling, time changes can affect your baby’s sleep schedule. Twice a year, most of us get to experience Daylight savings time, which can be a thorn in the side of many parents trying to sleep train their babies. If you’re traveling during Daylight Savings, or just battling the time change at home, here are two schools of thought on how to deal with the time change for your little one:
Adjust starting a few days ahead. For example, we are about to fall back on November 5, 2022. If your child’s bedtime is 7 pm, four days prior, move your child’s bedtime to 7:15 pm, then three days before move it to 7:30 pm, two days before 7:45 pm, one day before move it to 8pm. Then by the time DST rolls around, they have adjusted. It is important to note that a) you would have to adjust the wake-up time also b) still follow your child’s sleep cues. If they are tired, they are tired!
Do nothing- After a few days of adjusting to the new time (i.e fall back an hour or spring forward an hour), your little one will adapt. I favor this one. You do not have to worry about adjusting and anticipating an off schedule wake up.
