Traveling with kids
Traveling with kids can be really hard. But it can also be fun, exciting, and worth all the stress you were feeling beforehand! I find this post is particularly challenging to write because there are so many unique factors. How old is your baby? Do you have multiple children? Are you flying or driving? Are you room sharing or does everyone get their own room? Hotel, airbnb, or staying with a friend or family? Are you gone for a weekend or a week? There are many different elements to consider when traveling with kids!
The first topic I want to talk about is departure time. If you have plane tickets, there isn’t a lot of wiggle room as to when you can leave. If your baby is under 6 months old, and it is around naptime, you can plan to have your baby take their nap ON you on the plane or in their infant car seat on the plane. If you are driving and have a baby, I recommend leaving after a feed, NOT when it is close to naptime. If you follow the eat, wake, sleep, pattern, this will be the most efficient way to drive longer before making your next stop to feed. For example, if you wanted to leave in the morning and your 7 month old baby’s wake window is 2.5-3 hours, I recommend feeding your baby at their daily wake time (let’s say 7:00am) and then getting in the car. If their scheduled nap is from 9:30-11:00am, then your first stop would be at 11:00am to feed. That gives you a 3.5 hour driving stretch. If you left at nap time (let’s say 9:30am), you’d have to stop 1.5 hours later to feed at 11:00am. Before your trip, plan ahead and make sure you leave at the right time for you and your family’s situation.
Planning out your child’s sleep environment is crucial when traveling. Remember to bring a portable sound machine when you are traveling. It will help them feel comfortable and drown out surrounding noise. Regardless of if your child is sharing a room with you or not, the space will need black out curtains or shades. Call ahead of time! If your sleep environment does not have black out shades, I recommend investing in a Slumberpod which is a blacked out canopy that fits snuggly over a pack-n-play (or toddler mattress on the floor). The Slumberpod is a wonderful tool that helps create that ideal sleep environment wherever you go. It’s portable, safe, and has a space for a monitor or sound machine. If you do not have black out shades or a Slumberpod, I recommend bringing portable black our curtains that can suction to the windows or bringing black garbage bags to tape onto the windows. When you’re on vacation, you do not want early risers. Decide ahead of time how you will make their sleep space dark!
It is very important to bring comfort items from home when you are traveling. This is particularly important for toddlers. If they sleep with a special blanket at home, make sure it comes on the trip. If there are special books that you read every night at bedtime, make sure you pack the books. If they use a Hatch sound machine, make sure you pack it. The more familiar items from home, the easier the transition will be. Try to mimic the bedtime routine that you do at home, on vacation. This is crucial for babies. If there’s a certain sleepsack that you put your baby in every night, make sure you pack it! Say the same bedtime phrase and confidently put them down awake, for naps and bedtime.
Being on the same page with your partner is HUGE when traveling. Have conversations ahead of time so you can all be on the same page.
Questions to consider talking about ahead of time:
Will the baby be napping on schedule on vacation? If so, who will stay back and supervise?
Where is everyone sleeping?
Are we committed to the same bedtime time? Are we going to be flexible with what time bedtime is?
For daily outings, is everyone going? How will the baby nap on the go? Will someone wear him? Will you be bringing the stroller?
Are you going out to eat a lot? Are you buying food and making it at your temporary home? If that is the case, are there any supplies you need to pack in the car to make meals successful at the vacation house? Does your toddler have certain foods they have to have at the vacation house that you should pack?
What comfort items do we need to bring for the kids?
If we’re taking the car, who is driving and who is navigating?
If you’re driving or taking a plane, do you need to get activities ahead of time to keep children busy?
Is there a screen time limit when traveling?
Are there apps we need to install on their devices before leaving?
If someone is nursing or pumping, how does that look on the go? How will you store milk?
If there is a pool, how will you keep kid(s) safe?
Traveling can be stressful. When kids aren’t in their normal day-to-day routine, they can have big feelings. Kids might tantrum more, sleep worse, be more whiny, etc. When you’re traveling with kids, don’t expect to have a “restful vacation” but more of “we’re doing life together in an unfamiliar place and making memories.” If you can, remember that this trip is temporary and try to enjoy it.
When you come back from vacation, it’s “business as usual.” This is particularly important if you have toddlers, but make sure you explain what bedtime will look like tonight on your way home from your trip. For toddlers, it’s all about communication, communication, communication. Tell them, “Wow. Sleeping on vacation was different than how we do it at home! The past week you got to sleep with your brother every night! You went to bed later and things were a little different. That’s what makes vacations so much fun. It can be hard coming back from vacation. Tonight, at bedtime, we are going to do the same routine we did before you left. We’re going to do bath, brush teeth, put our jammies on, read two books, and then give hugs and kisses and go to bed. You will each be in your own room, in your own bed, all night until your light changes.” Follow through. Expect some protest and nurture their feelings at bedtime.
Once you are back home, you might need to adjust nap time and bedtime. If they’re overtired, they might need more daytime sleep or an earlier bedtime. Adjust their schedule as you see fit.
Expect a regression with sleep after a vacation. Transitions are hard and their sleep might be disrupted. It’s normal and age-appropriate. You will get through it! Be consistent and stay the course.
Lastly, give your child(ren) and YOURSELF some grace. Some kids take longer to adjust back to “normal” than others. If you have a baby under 12 months old, consistency is key. You will get back on track the more consistent you are every night. With babies over 12 months old, communication and consistency are key. Tell them the plan and stick to the plan.
Now, go enjoy your vacation!
