9 Top Sleep Tips for Little Ones at Christmas
As the holiday’s approach it’s easy as a parent to start worrying about what’s going to happen to your little one’s sleep. After all, the holiday season is full of bright lights, late nights, music and parties which can have an impact on our little one’s sleep, especially if we’re out of our usual routine.
Planning ahead and considering your options in advance is always a good idea when it comes to the holidays. Then you can relax and enjoy the festivities without stressing that your little one’s sleep is going to go to pot!
Here are my 9 top tips for managing your little one’s sleep over Christmas:
1. Stick to routine where possible
Most families need to have a degree of flexibility over the Christmas period, but if your little one does follow a fairly set routine then try to stick to it as much as possible. Consider your little one’s personality and whether they will be able to stretch a bit longer before a nap or have a slightly later bedtime – some babies cope with this really well, whereas others will have a complete meltdown! If your baby usually responds with the latter then planning in extra cat naps can always help if you are going to be out later than usual.
2. Plan quiet days between busy days
If you know you’re going to have a really busy, stimulating day and it’s likely sleep isn’t going to be as restful as usual, then try to plan quiet days either side so that your little one has time to calm down and get back on track.
3. Say ‘no’
Don’t be afraid to turn down invitations if it’s going to completely disrupt your schedule and will make you feel uncomfortable. If, like me, you have well-meaning relatives who tell you your baby ‘doesn’t look tired and doesn’t need a nap’ then politely remind them that you know what’s best for your baby. Be confident and stand strong in your parenting decisions, after all you are putting your baby’s needs first and other people should respect that.
4. Prepare for late nights
There needs to be some flexibility around this time of year and there are bound to be some later nights – the key is being prepared! If you’re out visiting friends and relatives then it can be a great idea to take your little one’s pyjamas and comforter and do your bedtime routine there, before you leave, so that they can fall asleep in the car and quickly be transferred to their sleep space when they get home. This is especially a good idea if you are facing a long journey.
I always remind parents I work with that an occasional later bedtime really won’t matter – your baby doesn't know what the time is, they only understand the predictability of your routines. So, if they are an hour late to bed, don't panic, just follow your routine and they should settle without too many issues.
5. Take familiar things with you
If you are staying away from home, take as many familiar things with you as possible – your child’s unwashed bedding, sleeping bad, comforter, pyjamas and a couple of stories. Babies and children are more sensitive to smell and touch than us so bringing familiar things will help them feel more secure.
Bear in mind that toddlers and older children can be unsettled when they are sleeping in a different environment. They may need some extra comfort and reassurance at bedtime.
6. Plan naps on the go
We all love a Christmassy day out, so if you’re out and about and your baby needs to nap, try to plan the day so that your little one has the opportunity to nap in the pram, car or sling. These naps still count and it’s better that your baby has short motion nap than none at all.
7. Avoid the sweet treats
I’m not saying avoid them completely (both my children and I have a huge sweet tooth!) but as much as our little one’s love sweet treats, sugar is a stimulant, which means it gives us energy and too much could prevent your little one falling asleep. For this reason, I would avoid the sugary treats after dinner time if you don’t want it to affect bedtime.
8. Allow time to wind-down
Christmas is a wonderful time but its soooo stimulating for our little ones. All the bright lights, colours, music and people can really overstimulate them. If you’ve had a particularly stimulating day it’s a good idea to do a longer wind-down before your little one naps or make your bedtime routine slightly longer. Adding in a couple of extra stories, some massage or doing a couple of other calm activities will really help little ones to relax and wind-down after all the fun the day has brought.
Also, believe it or not, some children actually find Christmas quite scary (I mean, the guy with the big white beard can look a bit freaky can’t he?). In older children this can sometimes lead to nightmares. If this happens, give extra reassurance and comfort – leaving them with an item of your clothing or a photo of you under their pillow can help them feel like you are right there with them.
9. Don’t forget yourself!
Christmas can be hectic so make sure you take some time for yourself - a nice baileys or mulled wine in front of the fire should do it! No-one wants to be burnt out by the time Christmas day rolls around so it’s important you get some rest. Draft in friends and family to help if needed and avoid staying up mega-late on Christmas Eve – we all know how early kids like to wake on Christmas Day!
If your baby does become unsettled over this period it may be that their routine needs to be tightened up again. However if you find that, after the holiday’s are over, your little one still isn’t sleeping as well as they were, here are some things you can try:
- Don't panic: your child slept well before and they will again. Blips are temporary and this won’t be forever. Go back to your original sleep training technique and implement it for a few days. I bet within a week things will be back to normal again.
- Slow down: once Christmas is over, try to get back to normal as a family. December can be very busy and stimulating for little ones so a calm, quiet January where the pace is a lot slower will help most children settle back into their routine.
- Ask for help: if a couple of weeks go by and sleep still isn’t going as well as it was, don’t feel silly asking for help. I am launching a new ‘Star Sleeper’ program at a greatly reduced rate for the first 6 people to sign up and I'm currently taking bookings for 1:1 sleep support in January. Book a free initial chat if you are interested in either!
Usually when a baby’s routine is disrupted, it is fairly easy to get back on track. Don’t let the fear of disruption spoil your Christmas entirely…. above all, it’s about enjoying your Christmas with your beautiful family! Good luck!
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