Getting babies, toddlers, and sometimes even older children to sleep well while away from home can be a struggle. And if your child doesn’t sleep well, then mama doesn’t sleep well. And we all know, if mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!
I recently learned how to ensure restful vacation nights for the whole family during an interview with Davis Ehrler, post-partum doula and creator of the 3-Day Sleep Solution workbook and educational DVD. Her program teaches parents of children aged newborn to eight years how to instill good childhood sleep habits through understanding children’s biological needs.
As the mother of three daughters, Davis knows how challenging traveling with children can be. Here are her vacation sleep tips.
Be patient
According to Davis, it will take two to three nights for your child to adjust to the new surroundings and schedule. She said, “The first couple of nights you don’t sleep well on vacation. We adults might watch TV until we fall asleep or read longer than usual, even if we don’t do that at home. And some of us will even have a glass of wine or two.” She continued, “Children are no different than we are. Parents expect too much from themselves and from children while traveling. Know that (children) need some time to adjust. Period.”
Try to squeeze in naps
If your child is still taking naps, Davis advises returning to the hotel room to put your child down midday. I asked her whether she approves of my tactics for inducing vacation naps: long car rides or stroller walks. While Davis insists on regular naps in the child’s crib or bed at home, she said, “On vacation the naps may take place in strollers and in cars and at the beach. It’s sleep, but it’s junky sleep. But you have to do what you can to make (the naps) happen.”
Arrive before bedtime
Reaching your destination before your child’s bedtime allows you to start off your vacation on the right foot. Getting a good first night of sleep is better than playing catch-up throughout your stay.
Recreate bedtime routines
Davis said, “You (might) blow their naps, but be sure get them to sleep at night.” To do that, you should stick to at-home bedtime rituals even while on vacation, such as reading stories, taking a bath, or singing lullabies. Bring along your own crib sheets so that the new environment will smell like home to a baby who relies on senses, like scent, more than an adult.
Book more than one room or divide the room in two
Davis recommends booking more than one room while traveling with children. She said, “If you can, get a suite or condo. It will always make your vacation so much better.” If you must bunk down with the kids, Davis recommends using a visual barrier by hanging a bed sheet so your children can’t see you. “If they can see you, they’re going to want mommy and daddy.”
Break some rules
You should follow strict guidelines for ensuring good sleep 80 percent of the time, according to Davis. She said, “Break the rules 20 percent of the time. Vacation should be your 20 percent.” She joked, “No one wants to eat salad every night on vacation.”
Get back on track at home
Davis said, “Have a blast on vacation! Then, have the tools to get back on track when you get home.” She warns that it will take another two to three days for the family’s schedule to return to normal after the trip, just as it took a few days of adjustment at the start of the vacation. To do that, get back into a regular nap and bedtime routine right away. She said, “Don’t bring your vacation habits home with you.”
Do you agree with Davis’s suggestions for getting children to sleep on vacation? Do you have any sleep tips you’d like to share? Please leave a comment below!
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