Having holidayed in the EU with a small child in various locations I wanted to write a blog on managing sleep on holiday to give you the best chance of having all the fun without the over tired melt downs.
In our family we are not too keen on flying long haul for a family holiday but that is only personal preference. It is not to say we wouldn’t but there is still so much of Europe we have not visited and would like to.
The benefits with travelling to a nearby country also means that the flight time is shorter and the time difference smaller so ideal for a first trip abroad with the little ones.
The Flight
As I always say to parents, ‘what happens on the plane, stays on the plane’.
Preparation however is key for a smooth journey with kids. Know what your airline offers and plan for every possible scenario. Imagine your little one is sick on you mid-flight and no one has a change of clothes, no one wants that.
Pack extras of everything: clothes, food (including bottles), nappies, and all your must-haves to avoid any discomfort. For older kids, bring lots of entertainment and their favourite snacks to keep them happy.
When it comes to sleep, it’s ideal to book flights around your child’s routine, but is that realistic, maybe not!
Sleep rules can be put on hold for the flight and so allow them to sleep when they want to, especially if the flight is over 2 hours. Travel can be exhausting, and it will not take long to rein sleep rules back into your routine once you get settled at your destination.
Handling Time Differences
Once you’ve arrived, consider the time difference. If you’re in Europe with just a one or two-hour difference, try to stick to UK time to avoid a rough adjustment when you return. Sticking to UK time may also help you with remembering awake windows too. Here is a little blog with awake windows guide and sleepy signs that may be useful.
Many European countries eat dinner later, which can be tricky if your kid’s bedtime is 7pm and the restaurants don’t open until then. Older kids might manage, but for younger ones, it can be a nightmare.
My Mallorca Adventure
We went to Mallorca in early summer and it was fantastic! My son is a great sleeper which helps but he still gets overtired from time to time and understandably becomes more difficult to get to sleep and deal with his mood. On those later nights, carrying out the same (if not a little quicker) bedtime routine that we do at home in a calm manner really helped to settle him into the mood for sleep.
If your child struggles to settle at bedtime in a new place, stick to your usual routine. Make sure they’re comfortable and check on them as you would at home and soon they’ll be back to their regular sleep habits. Here is a little link to The lullaby Trust to guide you on room temperature.
If your little one is over 8 months old, creating a private sleep space for your little can help. If possible, get a separate bedroom for them. If your children are sharing a room, the first few nights might be exciting and a bit of a challenge but stay consistent and they’ll adjust.
When my little one had stopped napping (at around 3.5 years old) we found that giving him a pre-dinner nap on the nights that we anticipated maybe late one worked well for us. We just made sure that we had a good 6 hour awake window before bed to make sure he built up enough sleep pressure again before bedtime.
Nap Time
How do nap work on holiday? You may be out and about exploring so please do not stress if your little one naps on the go occasionally. It is always a good idea to make sure they have cot naps too, it is also a good excuse to escape the midday sun and have a little siesta.
I also have a Travel Tips blog that takes you through setting up the bedroom environment to managing the bedtime boundaries.
Enjoy this special time together and make some wonderful memories.
If you are struggling with sleep please get in touch. Book a free, no obligation call and we can talk about working together to get you a better night’s sleep.
