It's the holiday season, and that means spending time with your family, catching up with friends, and if you're lucky - some travel. But what happens when your holiday turns sour with sleep trouble rearing it's head? Here are the 7 tips to bring your children sleep and save your sanity!
DON’T MAKE IT A ROUTINE MISSING NAP TIMES
Some babies and toddlers find it difficult to settle down for naps when they’re in an unfamiliar place. The odd missed nap is okay, but don’t make it a habit as this can follow you home as well! Make sure you give your child some one on one time away from everyone before nap time, as this can help them feel secure in foreign places. Try and keep this to 30 minutes either side of the regular nap time.
IS TOO MUCH EXCITEMENT KEEPING YOUR TODDLER UP?
Sometimes, children struggle to go to sleep because they don’t want to miss out on the fun. Pre-warn your toddler they will be going to bed. Let them mentally start winding down. 15-30min is perfect. Make sure you stick to it and follow through on your promise. Try and keep as close to the normal sleep routine as you can. – kids will become anxious if you read one story instead of the normal two. If your child is anxious in strange places make sure you pack their favourite pj’s, sheets, or stuffed animal. Familiarity is king. Also, a pink noise machine for blocking out background noise is a great thing to have in this situation.
WHAT TO DO IF BUBS WANTS TO SLEEP IN YOUR BED.
Try to convince them to stay in their own bed. You don’t want to create bad habits that you will need to break after the holiday is over. A good compromise is to move furniture around to get their bed closer to yours, but if the only solution is co-sleeping, make sure they understand it’s a one off and don’t make it the norm because it will follow you home.
WHY ARE THEY WAKING UP EARLY EVEN WHEN THEY GO TO SLEEP LATE?
This can be a sign of over tiredness. Watch for the biological cues your child is becoming sleepy, and if you see this get them to nap (or tucked into bed) at the earliest possible opportunity to combat this. If you’re travelling, try not to push the itinerary too hard. Try and schedule activities or travel around the normal sleep routines as best you can. Avoid pushing your child from mere fatigue to the point of totally wired during the day or expect tantrums. (yawning and rubbing eyes, staring into space, losing interest in activities they usually loves). , before they get too wound up to be able to fall asleep quickly or easily.WHY IS MY CHILD ALL OF A SUDDEN WAKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT?
If your child wakes distressed, don’t be afraid to spend some time to comfort them. Things are different and they just want to know you are there. A red LED light can help make them feel safe and secure but also to stimulate melatonin and make them tired, easing them back to sleep.YOU’RE IN A DIFFERENT TIME ZONE AND IT’S ALL GONE PEAR SHAPED.
Get in front of any potential issues by being firm and stick to the old routine in the new time zone. It usually doesn’t take kids too long to adjust, so keeping the usual routine as much as possible is key. New places and activities will make them more tired than normal so that will help. Additionally, a red LED light can help get them back on track quicker.
YOUR HOLIDAYS ARE OVER AND SLEEP IS AWFUL
Be a little patient, returning to normal sleep may take some time, but persistence and routine will get things back on track far quicker. Talking about the holidays and how they’ve finished will help toddlers understand the trip has ended and you are back to normal routines. Glow Dreaming is the perfect device to take with you on your holiday, to ensure you get the best possible sleep. Enjoy the holidays!