We're excited for summer road trips, but bringing our kids along is a whole different story. Here to ease our worries about travelling with our tots is the Sleep Doula (aka Tracey Ruiz), our favourite sleep aid...
We're going away for the first time, and I'm worried about my child's sleep schedule. What can I do to keep it on track while on the road?
There are two factors that many parents worry can affect a child’s sleep: sickness and, of course, travel. With the summer upon us, here are some helpful tips to keep your baby on track in the sleep department while away from home:
- Bring along some familiar things from their sleep environment at home. For example, a sleep sack, noise machine, or a special ‘lovey’ that your child may be attached to. I personally found it helpful to carry the same items whenever I travelled so that my child became more and more familiar and comfortable with travelling.
- Try to follow the same nightly routine that you have at home. If you don't act like something is different, they're more likely to stay consistent in their habits.
- Do a trial run at a place where you know you can follow through. Doing a trial run at Grandma's is easier to deal with than at a hotel where you may be concerned about the transition affecting other guests.
- If your destination has a time zone difference of three hours or less, keep on your regular schedule. After a few days, your child should naturally adjust. If your destination takes you over the three-hour time difference, make sure you use the sunlight to your advantage to reset their clocks. You should also eat at local times, and get as much fresh air and exercise as a family as you can.
- Remember to enjoy your holiday, but do take your child’s nap schedule into consideration. Try to make sure you are doing activities at naptime that are conducive to sleep. For example, if there is going to be a drive during the day you should try to schedule it during naptime.
- Most importantly, be consistent. If you want your child to be on a schedule, you need to be as well. If you choose to bring them into your bed during your travels, don't be surprised if they want to stay there after you return home.
If by chance things do become totally out of whack during your vacation time, get back on track as soon as you return home.
Tracey Ruiz a.k.a. The Sleep Doula, is Canada’s preeminent consultant on helping your babies, toddlers and children sleep. Working in the trenches with thousands of families over the last nine years, Tracey has seen it all. For more information, visit www.sleepdoula.com.
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