Are you off on holiday with your family soon? Is it your little one’s first holiday? If you are not sure where to start, then you are in the right place.
Going on holiday is an exciting time; the chance to try new things, make new memories and explore somewhere new. But it can also be quite daunting… What do we need to pack? Will the flight go smoothly? Will they sleep well? How will we all cope with sharing a room?
Here are my top tips to help ensure you all have a good time and you can spend time focusing on the fun stuff.
The flight
Flying can be very exciting, especially if you have a transport mad toddler like I do, but it can also be a bit of a worry. How will we entertain them on the flight? Will they stay in their seat? Will they sleep on the plane?
There are lots of things to think about but here are my top tips to help with a smooth flight:
Hand luggage- make sure you have a change of clothes (for them and for you) along with lots of snacks and small toys to keep them entertained. You could wrap up some new, small toys and bring them out at intervals on the flight depending on how long the journey is. If you want to allow some screen time then pack your ipad/device and child friendly headphones but make sure it is charged and anything you want them to watch is fully downloaded beforehand.
You can take your buggy either right up to the plane or you can get a cabin-approved one which you can take onboard and store in the overhead lockers.
Naps- the sound of the plane is like natural white noise so you may find your little one drifts off without too much trouble. Try not to worry though if their sleeps don’t go to plan on travel day; they might be shorter, longer, or at a different time to normal, but for one day it is not the end of the world and you can always adjust things to compensate after.
Getting into a routine
Try and get into routine early on on holiday. Consistency is key with little ones and there is no exception on holiday. Try and recreate their usual bedtime or nap time routine as it will help things seem familiar and also help signal to the brain that sleep is coming.
If you have gone away somewhere within a 2 hour time difference then you could stick to UK time. This will mean that they naturally go to bed later as 7pm UK time will be 9pm if the place you are is 2 hours ahead, but this might work well in allowing you all to have some time together in the evening. It also means that you won’t need to adjust timings when you get home.
The sleep environment and room sharing
It is important to try and recreate their usual sleep space and make it seem as familiar as possible. Pack things like their sleeping bags, pyjamas and even their cot sheet. Make sure you also have any comforters or toys they have at bedtime.
It can also be helpful to pack travel black out blinds in case where you are staying doesn’t have dark curtains/blinds/shutters etc. This will help to create a dark sleep space which is important for the production of melatonin.
If you use white noise at home then remember to pack it, but even if you don’t, then it can be a useful extra, especially if you are room sharing as it can help to block out external noises.
If you have a toddler, and they use a toddler clock at home, then it can be a good idea to pack this as well (if you have space!) It is another item which is familiar to them and can help with mornings too.
If you are room sharing on holiday then there are a few things you can try to help bedtime go smoothly.
If you can stagger bedtimes then do that. Getting one off to sleep and then having the other one come in quietly can help reduce excitement levels, especially if they don’t normally share a room at home.
Create zones- if you can split the room up in any way using furniture, dividers or even a curtain, then this can help give the illusion of their own sleep space. This can help prevent them being distracted by others in the room or by your movements.
If is very normal for little ones to take longer to settle or need more reassurance than usual when they are staying somewhere different. By recreating your usual routines you will be helping them feel safe and secure but if they do need some more reassurance then go with it.
Enjoy the holiday and you can get back to your usual sleep routine when you are back if you need to!
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