47 Tips To Get Your Baby To Sleep If You’re On Vacation

Are you planning a vacation with your little one but worried about how you’re going to get them to sleep in an unfamiliar environment?

I know that getting your baby to sleep while on vacation can be a real challenge.

Whether you’re staying in a hotel, a friend’s house, or an Airbnb, the change in scenery and routine can disrupt even the most sleep-savvy babies.

But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! In this post, I’m going to share 21 tips to help you get your baby to sleep while you’re on vacation.

So, grab a cup of coffee, take a deep breath, and let’s dive in!

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Getting Baby To Sleep On Vacation

Before Your Trip:

1. Stick to a consistent sleep schedule in the days leading up to your vacation.
2. Choose accommodations that offer a separate sleeping space for your baby.
3. Bring your baby’s familiar crib or portable crib if possible.
4. Pack your baby’s favorite blankets, loveys, and sleep toys.
5. Consider using blackout curtains or travel-sized blackout blinds.
6. Bring a white noise machine or use a white noise app on your phone.
7. Keep your baby’s bedtime routine as close to the usual one as possible.

During Travel:

8. Plan your travel times around your baby’s sleep schedule.
9. Dress your baby in comfortable, breathable layers for the journey.
10. Feed your baby during takeoff and landing to help with ear pressure changes.
11. Use a baby carrier for naps on the go.
12. Bring a portable crib or play yard for use at your destination.

At Your Destination:

13. Create a safe sleeping environment for your baby.
14. Set up the crib or sleeping space away from high-traffic areas.
15. Maintain a consistent sleep routine, including the same bedtime and naptime rituals.
16. Be mindful of time zone changes and adjust your baby’s schedule gradually.
17. Keep the room at a comfortable temperature.
18. Use a baby monitor to keep an eye on your baby while they sleep.
19. Avoid overstimulation before bedtime.
20. Ensure your baby gets enough daytime sleep to prevent overtiredness at night.
21. Consider room-sharing if you feel more comfortable with your baby nearby.
22. Use a white noise machine or app to drown out unfamiliar sounds.
23. Dim the lights in the room to signal that it’s bedtime.
24. Keep bedtime as calm and soothing as possible.
25. Try a gentle massage or warm bath before bedtime.
26. Offer a comfort feed or pacifier if your baby is used to it.
27. Maintain your usual bedtime routine, even on vacation.

Feeding and Comfort:

28. Continue to breastfeed or bottle-feed on demand.
29. Bring enough formula or breast milk for the duration of your trip.
30. Stay hydrated and well-nourished to ensure a healthy milk supply.
31. Be prepared for changes in your baby’s appetite due to travel stress.
32. Keep comfort items like a favorite blanket or stuffed animal handy.

Adjusting to New Surroundings:

33. Spend time in your vacation rental or hotel room during the day to help your baby acclimate.
34. Allow your baby to explore the new environment under supervision.
35. Maintain a consistent wake-up time to anchor your baby’s schedule.
36. Offer plenty of outdoor time and fresh air during the day.
37. Keep noise levels down in the evening.

Naps:

38. Create a dark, quiet space for daytime naps.
39. Use the same sleep cues for naps as you do for bedtime.
40. Stick to a flexible nap schedule, adjusting for your baby’s needs.
41. Be prepared to nap on the go if needed, using a stroller or carrier.

Safety:

42. Babyproof your accommodations to ensure a safe sleeping environment.
43. Use a travel crib or playpen with mesh sides.
44. Remove any hazards from the sleeping area, such as cords or small objects.
45. Always follow safe sleep guidelines for infants.

Patience and Flexibility:

46. Be patient with your baby’s adjustment to the new environment.
47. Remember that it’s normal for sleep patterns to temporarily change during travel, and things will likely improve when you return home.

More Like this

• How To Create A Routine To Calm Your Kid Down At Bedtime (And Go To Sleep Nicely)
• The Best Sleep Clocks For Toddlers [And Why You Might Want To Get One]
• Best Calming Bedtime Games For Toddlers

References

1. Safe Infant Sleeping Environment: Recommendations for a safe sleep environment include supine positioning, use of a firm sleep surface, room-sharing without bed-sharing, and avoidance of soft bedding and overheating. These practices can reduce the risk of sleep-related infant deaths, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) (Moon, 2016).
2. Expansion of Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment: Further recommendations for SIDS reduction include the avoidance of exposure to smoke, alcohol, and illicit drugs; breastfeeding; routine immunization; and the use of a pacifier. These practices are also important in a travel context to ensure infant safety (Moon, 2011).
3. Responsive Parenting Intervention and Infant Sleep: The INSIGHT Responsive Parenting Intervention showed that developmentally appropriate bedtime routines and sleep-related behaviors can improve sleep duration for infants. This emphasizes the importance of maintaining a consistent routine even while traveling (Paul et al., 2016).
4. Neurophysiologic Assessment of Neonatal Sleep Organization: Studies have shown that skin-to-skin contact (SSC) can improve sleep organization in preterm infants, suggesting that physical closeness may also benefit full-term infants during travel by promoting more mature sleep organization (Ludington-Hoe et al., 2006).
5. Breastfeeding, Bed-sharing, and Infant Sleep: Understanding the relationship between breastfeeding, infant sleep location, and sleep bout duration can help parents make informed decisions about feeding and sleeping arrangements while on vacation. Some evidence indicates that bed-sharing may promote breastfeeding, but safety guidelines should be followed (Ball, 2003).