How can I make sure my baby is getting enough sleep during the holidays? To help you out, we’ve compiled some great tips on how to manage your baby’s sleep schedule during the holiday season! By planning ahead and following our helpful sleep guidelines, you can keep your baby sleeping well and feeling rested throughout the festivities! Plus, as a bonus, you’ll be less stressed as well! Here are three tips to help you help your baby stay on track with their holiday sleep schedule.
Holiday Activities
The holiday season is a busy time for everyone, but if you have a new baby in your life, it can be even more hectic. Besides gift-shopping and cooking, families also spend time decorating their homes and attending holiday parties. And, of course, there are all those special seasonal traditions many people love—the Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center or that certain display at Disneyland. Your baby may sleep just fine during these festivities…or she may not! It depends on a number of factors. Here are some tips for making sure your baby still sleeps well despite all those holiday activities:
- If your baby’s current sleep routine involves feeding before bed, eliminate feedings several hours before bedtime so she doesn’t become accustomed to going to bed with a full tummy. This will help her wind down for nighty-night without getting fussy from being overtired.
- Make sure you don’t use lights—real or artificial—to cue baby when it’s light outside versus dark. The contrast between day and night helps our bodies wake up naturally each morning.
- Try tucking baby into his crib early in order to give him enough downtime for proper nighttime rest.
Holiday Bedtime Routine
To avoid holiday sleep problems, it’s important that your baby’s bedtime routine remains consistent. No matter what time of year it is, we recommend a nightly routine for your baby. Make sure you keep her bedtime and wake-up time about 15 minutes later than normal during Thanksgiving and Christmas (while still keeping her awake before church). If you stick with your normal routine and only change the time by an hour or so she will be less likely to experience sleep problems as a result of shortening her night-time sleep. This method has worked well for other parents. Be sure to also use their Sandstone Avenue bedtime swaddle to keep them comfortable and familiar even when sleeping at grandma’s house for the first time.
Holiday Wake Time Routine
Many babies have a nice, easy morning waketime routine during the holidays. Once they wake up, parents feed them, change their diaper, and get them dressed in their favorite organic clothes for babies. Depending on how awake your baby is, you may want to include some holiday activities into your waketime routine, like taking him or her into your living room or family room for Christmas morning breakfast. The idea here is that since your baby is already up at his or her regular time of day for eating and changing diapers, you can make it more fun by including some holiday festivities as well! Remember that it’s okay if he or she falls back asleep after eating…remember that it’s okay if he or she takes a longer nap than usual.
Sleeping with a baby during holiday time is not easy. Maintaining a consistent sleep routine can be challenging so if you feel like you need more advice, you may want to read these Ergobaby sleep tips for baby to help you and baby get ready for the busiest time of the year.
