Ahh – the holiday season. No matter how or what your family may celebrate, there’s no doubt about it this is such a magical time! A time well-spent with family and friends…and undoubtedly, a few late nights. It’s all SO much fun for you and the little ones at the moment, but what about navigating your baby’s sleep after the holidays?
This week on the blog, I’m going to talk about:
Why does my baby’s sleep go to crap over the holidays?
How can I reestablish a consistent sleep routine?
What can I do about “baby jet lag?”
My baby’s sleep situation isn’t getting better…now what?
Have a seat with your hot cocoa and sugar cookies (calories don’t count in December, right?!?), and let’s jump right in!
Why does my baby’s sleep go to crap over the holidays?
For many families, the holidays are a super busy, even overwhelming time. Think about it…traveling, late-night gatherings with loved ones, and an entire family (sometimes even extended family) oohing and awing over your little baby. And you aren’t the only one experiencing it all. Your baby is taking it all in too!
That being said, overtiredness is going to be the biggest potential issue. Let’s say you have one big, late night with your little one. It happens…overtiredness might get the best of your little one, but it’s going to be ok! You may get an extra night waking, but I’d recommend just feeding them and putting them right back down.
The next morning…
You can let them sleep in (if they will) or take a little longer of a nap. I wouldn’t let them sleep more than 30 extra minutes per nap as we want them to catch up on the missed sleep, but we also don’t want their sleep routine to be completely thrown off. If your little one has already been through the sleep learning process, their sleep will be so much easier to get back on track.
If you’re more worried about sleep because your little one is still a newborn, have no fear! In the interest of wanting to help you enjoy the magic of the holidays AND motherhood, I have a blog post with my top tips. I know that having a newborn during the holidays can mean a lot of mixed emotions, some added stress, and some wondering about how to navigate certain things. Click here to check out my blog post dedicated to “5 Ways To Thrive During the Holidays With a Newborn.”
Click here to read more about the 5 ways to thrive during the holidays when you have a newborn on Instagram.
Travel is one of the biggest culprits of bad baby sleep during the holiday season. Whether you’re reading this blog post on your way to or from your destination…here are 5 sleep tips for holiday travel:
1. Bring All Your Usual Sleep Aids
White noise machines, blackout curtains, etc. to optimize their sleep environment.
2. Try Timing Your Travel Around a Sleep Schedule That Works for Them
For example, if they will sleep in a car, then consider traveling over nap time or right at bedtime.
3. Consider Using Children’s Melatonin
For when You’re in a pinch! Always consult with your pediatrician before doing so.
4. Optimize Their Sleep Space
Try to give your little one their own sleep space that is cool, dark, and quiet if possible.
5. Do What You Can and Don’t Stress
Enjoy your holiday and don’t worry if sleep goes a little off track. Know that you can work on getting independent sleep habits back on track when you are home…but more on that soon!
I dive deeper into each of these 5 tips in my “5 Tips to Ensure Your Baby Sleeps While Traveling” blog.
Click here to read more about sleep tips for holiday travel on Instagram.
How can I reestablish a consistent sleep routine?
Getting your baby back to their regular, consistent sleep routine is one of the best things you can do to get your baby’s sleep back on track after the holidays. We want there to be a consistent chain of events that are calming and that signal to your little one that it is time for bed.
Not sure what makes a “good” bedtime routine? A “good” bedtime routine is a routine that works for YOU. The elements and length of the routine are not as important as whether or not it is consistent.
Depending on the age of your baby, some elements you may want to include are:
- Bottle or nursing
- Bath time
- Relaxing massage with baby lotion
- Story and/or prayer
- Song
Once your life goes back to normal on the holidays, repeat the elements of their bedtime routine in the same order each night so your little one knows and remembers what to expect. It’ll help them get back into the groove of their sleep!
If your little one is a toddler, grab my Toddler Bedtime Visual Schedule! Toddlers THRIVE off of predictability, consistency, being engaged, and positive connections with their caregivers (you!) It is 100% customizable to the components of YOUR bedtime routine. All you need to do is print it out and cut/paste the pictures that apply to your toddler’s bedtime routine.
Click here to learn more about what makes a “good” bedtime routine on Instagram.
What can I do about “baby jet lag?”
If your trip involved any time change (on the way to and from), sleep may have been interrupted. Here’s something you’ll want to consider: how much do YOU care about adjusting?
My general recommendation is…if it’s only an hour difference and you’ve only been gone for a week or less, stay on your normal schedule. If it’s a 2+ hour time difference or the trip has been longer than a week, you’ll want to adjust back to their original time.
Personally, when traveling West to East, I like leaving early in the morning so that my kids are exhausted and ready for bedtime when we arrive home. In contrast, when traveling from East to West, I do the opposite. Plan on a week or so to re-calibrate when you get home. I talk more about the timing and give examples in my “5 Tips To Ensure Your Baby Sleeps While Traveling” blog.
My baby’s sleep situation isn’t getting better…now what?
The best thing you can do to get your baby’s sleep back on track is to do everything you can to get them back on their individual sleep plan. And be patient! Depending on how much your holiday season affected your baby’s sleep, it can take a week or so to get back to normal. If you want or need expert support with your baby’s sleep after the holidays, grab a consultation! Here are three reasons why having a sleep expert in your corner is the best:
1. Each Baby Is Unique
The thing that sets us apart is that we understand that your baby is unique and that there are unique circumstances surrounding why your baby isn’t sleeping. We have worked with THOUSANDS of babies so we have the experience to create individualized strategies for your baby.
2. Your Mental Health Matters
You’ve heard me say this before; what our children need most from us is to be well. And a big piece of this is getting the sleep that you need! Being a great mom doesn’t mean you have to totally self-sacrifice.
3. Sometimes you just need support.
There are a million and one reasons why this mom gig is HARD and we get that! We want nothing more than to support you, hold your hand, and walk you through getting your baby the sleep they need in a way that works best for you and your family. And did you know that consultations are HSA and FSA eligible?!? Click here to book a call with a consultant!
Recap of Navigating Your Baby’s Sleep After the Holidays
Navigating your baby’s sleep during the holidays is hard enough…and then there’s the getting BACK to your baby’s regular sleep plan that can also be tough! The good news it that with time, things will get back to normal with some time, patience, and consistency. And if it doesn’t, we are always here to help!
Whether your little one is a newborn (0-4 Months Content Library), 4-24 months (4-24 Months Content Library), or a toddler (2-5 Years Content Library), we have the resources you need to get your family the sleep you all deserve!
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