Sleep tips to make travel a little easier

It can take a while for children to feel relaxed in a new bedroom and bed and this can make going on vacation a bit of a challenge.

Here are some ideas on ways you can make it just a little easier for your child and you when you are staying away from home.

• Take the bottom sheet off of your child’s crib/bed and take it with you. Put it on the crib/bed at your destination. Take your child’s pillow with you if you can. If you are unable you can just take the pillowcase.
•  Take the jammies your child was wearing the night before you left with you. We want to try and make the crib/bed as much like home as possible. Taking all of the bedding from home will make the bed smell the same as home. You may also want to take some stuffed animals from home, even if your child isn’t attached to anything in particular, having familiar things around will help your child feel more secure and able to relax just a little easier.
•  Try and keep your routine the same. It’s hard when dealing with different time zones, but try and keep your routines as familiar as possible. Your child again will feel more secure and able to relax and unwind just a little easier.
• Give your child a little extra help at bedtime. They are going to bed in a new environment and even though you are trying to make things as familiar as possible your child may wake up during the night and wonder where they are! Go to them and reassure them that everything is okay and they are safe and you are near.
• When you get back home you want to work straight away on getting back to your previous routines. The longer you leave it once you’re back home the longer it will take to get on track. If you’re away for anything up to two week expect it to take two or three days to get back on track. The longer you are away, the longer it will take you to get back!