3 golden sleep tips for your baby on holiday

Family holidays are a time for making lovely memories and spending lots of time together. Yet research shows that going on holiday is one of the biggest stressors for parents.

All the preparations, handing over your work properly, travelling and packing. But also the uncertainty of how your baby will react to a different rhythm, different climate, and perhaps even a different time zone, and especially ‘how will the baby sleep on holiday?’

Because Sleep bureau We wish you a relaxing holiday, they share 3 golden sleep tips for your baby on holiday, so that you can all sleep well on holiday.

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Preparation is key!

Going on holiday with children is nice, but make sure you don't encounter too many surprises:

Make a list of essential items. Find out in advance what is available at your holiday destination. And are you flying on holiday? Find out what facilities are available or which ones you need to book.;
The better prepared you are, the less stress you'll have. Are you feeling a lot of tension? Then your baby might pick up on that.;
As a precaution, take bin bags with you to make the bedroom dark. There are also plenty of ready-made blackout curtains with suction cups available (online);
What kind of cot is available and is your child used to sleeping in it? What kind of bedding are you bringing?
Plan in the first instance, but especially when you return home, for a few quiet days. This way your baby can acclimatise again and get into a rhythm. Also, don't plan the first day(s) of your holiday completely packed.

Give your baby a sense of security with a sleep routine and regular rituals

Try to stick to the same sleep rhythm as you do at home as much as possible. The sleeping location is less important. So a nap in the car, a cot out in the shade, or a cuddle in the baby carrier is really not a problem. The important thing is that your baby gets the opportunity to sleep during their peak tiredness. If you let them go over their tiredness too often and too much, your baby will become overtired. Combined with extra stimuli and less routine, this will be reflected in their nights.

By sticking to familiar home routines as much as possible, your child will associate that with going to sleep.

Always try to stick to your fixed bedtime routine of song, story, cuddles, etcetera before going to sleep;
Bring familiar comforts from home, think about your sleeping bag, jingle and the teddy bear. And do you use at home the NUNKI fitted sheet, Then take it with you on holiday. The routine of tucking your child in under the sheet is a routine that links your child with nice sleep. That also applies to, for example, white noise.

3. Mindset

Sleeping in a different place can be a bit unsettling for your baby. Accept that things might not go as you planned. Some babies are more sensitive to a changing environment than others. If you're going on holiday with your baby for the first time, unfortunately, you can't plan and control everything.

A holiday with children is wonderful, but also quite different:

Don't plan too many outings in one day;
Ensure there are sufficient rest periods;
Be flexible with the sleeping arrangements: it's more important that people sleep than where they sleep.;
Enjoy! Relax! The more stressed you are, the less well your baby will sleep.

And remember, if sleep isn't going well, then build in some rest days at home to get back into your old rhythm with all your familiar routines and belongings, and within a few days it will surely be okay again.

Have a lovely holiday!

Lots of love,

Marijke and team

Bureau van slaap helps families get more rest and sleep. Their loving approach is characteristic, which is why they do not use sleep training or rigid sleep schedules. If you want more sleep tips, follow Bureau van slaap on Instagram Take a look at their Website. A bedside table also has a special Sleeping on holiday guide released, packed with tips for a relaxing holiday.