The lights are switched off, yet your child is not asleep. At this point, your seven-year-old suddenly asks: Do reindeer get tired?
Many parents hear unexpected questions like this in the days leading up to Christmas. The holiday season is weeks away and for kids that means parties, travel, treats and a countdown that nobody can ignore.
Here are seven ways you can keep your child’s excitement and sleep in balance during the holidays.
1. Stay on Home Time
When traveling across time zones, families can try to follow their usual home schedule. Children may need three to five days to adjust to a new time zone, so a week-long trip can feel short by the time they settle into the new routine.
Parents can stick to their child’s usual 8 p.m. bedtime, even when the local clock shows 6 p.m.
2. Pack the Sleep Space
While hotels can provide cribs or play yards on request, they are hard to find during the holidays. Parents should therefore carry their own essential items to create the same environment as the one in their child’s bedroom. Blackout portable shades, a sound machine and your child’s usual blanket would do just fine.
Ensure that there is room for the family members to sleep, even though your toddler can share their bed with other children. Co-sleeping on your holiday may end up becoming a habit when you get back home.
3. Keep the Routine
Missing a nap for a fun day out seems harmless, but your kid’s body may not know that today is a special day. Some children can manage a late night now and then, but most cannot, especially after two or three days in a row.
A consistent bedtime routine can help ensure proper sleep for infants and young children. The same bathing routine, reading in bed and saying goodnight can bring about consistency.
4. Pack Snacks and Choose Better Meals
Everybody knows from experience that there is little variety of nutritious food on the road. Parents can pack some healthy food such as fruit, crackers, cheese and yogurt.
Kids tend to get cranky once they are hungry. And when you have limited choices, always go for a healthy meal.
5. Find a Babysitter
This might not suit everyone, but it can be right for your child. In case you are planning to have a dinner party or a day full of activities, a babysitter can help keep the kids on track while the parents do other things.
6. Hold Your Family Boundaries
Family members offer suggestions because they love the person. Some family members may not agree with having dinner at 5:30 or leaving a party early. The parents can be accommodating when necessary, but the kids must have enough rest.
Parents can politely explain their schedule to guests.
7. Reset When You Get Home
Habits change when people go on vacation. Bedtime delays, waking up at night or a sudden need for a parent to be in the room.
Try to get back to the routine as soon as everyone is back home. If a sleep plan worked before the trip and failed during it, start over from the beginning. With patience, your kids’ sleep will get back to normal.
