My son's bedtime routine is the same every night. We turn on the constellation turtle (blue only, naturally), "nuggle" in the rocking chair, say our prayers (which consist of thanking God for "foof", mama, dada and "foof" again. Very cute) and into bed he goes - with the bb (bink), and stuffed puppy.
End of story. It's the same every night. We say "love you" and the door shuts. Sometimes he sings or talks to himself before falling asleep, other times he's out as soon as his little head hits the pillow. It's been this way since he was 4 months old. And, did I mention that this all takes place by 6:30 pm at the latest? And that's a new development. Our bedtime for a solid 20 months was 6:00pm with a wake call around 6:30 am. I know; I'm super lucky.
Our first few trips away I realized that unless things are consistent while we're on the road, we've got a totally different story - and a miserably different kid.
Here are my tips, solutions to common "roadblocks based on conversations with our pediatrician and other well-traveled parents. Hopefully it will help to keep your kids sleeping through the night and enjoying their days while on your vacation. Let me know if you disagree or have anything else to share.
Roadblock #1: Long naps in the car lead to late bedtimes and frequent arousals during the night.
If you're driving to your destination, make sure to stop for frequent breaks to get out of the car and moving around. Stretch those legs, have a snack, get some fresh air. It helps to break up the day and keep little ones awake.
Roadblock #2: They simply cannot sleep because they're in an unfamiliar setting.
When you're packing for your trip - keep in mind those items that are necessities to your child's bedtime routine. Pack your child's pillow, favorite blanket and their cherished "lovey" to re-create familiar sleep settings.
Roadblock #3: There are "scary" sounds.
The city seems even louder at night. Even the rolling ocean can be a distraction to little ears when they're trying to fall asleep. Bring a sound machine or a small CD player to help block out unfamiliar noises.
Roadblock #4: Too much excitement or over-tired children.
Try to stick with the same nap and bedtime schedule. Allowing your child to stay up late once in a while is not a routine-breaker but keeping them on a routine will help prevent them from becoming over-tired and over-stimulated. If you are traveling to another time zone, start to change the child's nap and bedtime by 15 min increments over the weeks prior to your trip. Another alternative is to continue going by your hometown time zone schedule.
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