Preserving Sleep During the Holidays
The holiday season is a very exciting time for families, especially their little ones. It's a time for visiting and getting together with family and friends. It's also a time for parties and late nights. You can still enjoy all of the festivities and keep your child's sleep protected. Here are some tips to preserve your little one's sleep during the holiday season.
1. Be the host! Offering to host a get together is the easiest way to keep a sleep schedule on track. Your child will still be able to nap in their own bed at their normal time and feel comfortable. It is also easy to do your night time routine while guests are still present. Once you put your children down to bed, you are free to continue with your get together. This way you won't feel like you have to leave the party early to get your kids home to bed on time.
2. Travel during naps and/or bedtime. If you need to travel to visit family or friends, try to schedule it around nap time so your little one can sleep in the car on the way to your destination. This will also work for the ride home. Do a modified night time routine at your destination. Dress your kids in their pajamas and put them in the car. Once you get home, transfer them quickly and quietly into their own beds.
3. Make an overnight stay easy. If you are visiting family out of town and need to sleep there, set up a safe place for your child to sleep. Pack things from home that will make your child comfortable. If you use a white noise machine and blackout curtains at home, set them up in the room where your child will be temporarily staying. Keep your routine and schedule the same. This will set your child up for sleep, and they will feel at ease with falling asleep in new surroundings.
4. Don't be afraid to excuse yourself from the party! You know that an overtired child will result in crankiness and meltdowns. Tell the host that you need to leave even if the get together is still going strong. It's much better to leave the party while your child is still in good spirits instead of waiting until they have reached the dreaded overtired state.
Remember, a well-rested child will be able to readjust easily even if there is a night here and there where their bedtime is a little bit later than normal. If you do not make a habit of it, your child should be able to jump right back into their normal sleep schedule and routine quickly. Keep in mind these tips and you will not have to worry about your little one's sleep this holiday season. Happy Holidays!
