My kid finally sleeps at home, now you want me to mess with that by going on a trip, YES!

If you ask any new parent, what is the one thing you miss about your pre-children days, most of the time the answer is sleep. It can be so hard to get your children to sleep at home and you may not want to travel because you FINALLY figured out a sleep routine and are afraid traveling will mess it all up! We have been there and want to share with you our best tips and tricks, whether you are staying with family a few hours away or traveling across the world to a completely different time zone. Managing sleep on vacation has its trials, but so does managing sleep at home. We will share our tips from the newborn to the toddler days and then after that, this mama is hoping her kids just sleep without being bribed (a mama can dream, or can't she because dreaming requires sleep 🤔)

Newborn/infants

Newborns and infants need a lot of sleep, so how can you make sure they get all the sleep they need on vacation, but while still making sure you have a great vacation? Read along for some of our tricks that have worked for us, and no judgement because sometimes you do get desperate for sleep!

• If we are driving, we will pack the pack and play. Our little ones always sleep in the pack and play from the day they come home from the hospital, so this is already their comfort spot, so if we can fit it, we pack it. They also make travel sized pack and plays that are even more convenient. We don't have one, but have friends who swear by the covers for a pack and play that make them completely dark, so then you can still have lights on in your room and do not have to tiptoe around in the dark.

• When we are flying, that's when things get a bit more complicated. First off, we always try to look for hotels or Airbnbs that specifically offer a baby bed or pack and play. On sites like www.AirBnB.com and www.hotels.com, you can specifically filter "crib" as an option to ensure where you are staying that this as an option. We will also always then email or make sure we write it in our booking, so it is known that we want one, rather than waiting until we check in. We have never had an issue with them being unclean and a lot of times will even have sheets on them that get washed just like a regular bed. This is a win win because your baby has their own place to sleep and you didn't have to lug out a bed for them.

• So what if you can't find a hotel with a pack and play and don't want to bring your own. This is where we have had to get creative (and where the no judgement kicks in). We have gotten creative in order to make a safe place for our kids to sleep and have used items like a dresser drawer to make them a cozy, safe sleeping space. I've also have had friends who have used laundry baskets and even a bathtub. You have to do what you think is best and safe, but sometimes you can get creative and think outside the box (or maybe use that box as a bed!)

• We do always pack a sound machine as our babies sleep with a sound machine, but we purchased a travel one and that has been a life saver to use both in the hotel and on transportation.

• We also always pack our infants sleep suits because at that age, a lot of times being swaddled or in their sleep suit is their comfort place, so we always packed those until our kids stopped wearing them. As they got older and a safe age to sleep with a blanket, then we would bring a lightweight baby blanket for them to sleep with.

• Pack whatever if your baby's comfort sleep item, teeethers, pacifiers, a wubbanub.

• If nothing is working and you are at your wits end (we've been there once with a 3 month old in Switzerland), hold and rock your baby and run a hot shower and just stand in the bathroom. The sound of the water and the warm humidity will sometimes help coaxe your baby to sleep!

Toddlers/Pre-schoolers

At least in our family, the toddler sleeping days can be worse than the newborn sleeping days. Since they can understand a bit more at this age, we try to really hype up their new bed that they will be sleeping in, no matter what that looks like! So we have used a few different options for making the most out of sleeping in a new place.

• If we are driving, we use what the kids refer to as "boat beds", basically it's an air mattress specially designed for little ones as it has sides on it so they can't roll out. The boys think these are so fun and love sleeping in them.

• If we are flying and staying in a hotel or AirBnB, we specifically look for certain things. Our kids are getting old enough, they can sleep with us, so we we will look for a hotel that offers two full beds or a bed and a pullout couch. We have tried letting the two boys sleep together, but it doesn't work out well most of the time, so typically Kev and I each take a boy in bed with us. If you are staying in an Airbnb, there are sometimes specific kid beds, such as bunk beds, a floor mattress, and even sometimes play couches for kids to sleep on.

• No matter if we are flying or driving, we let them each pick out one special sleep toy to bring with them, so they have their comfort item. I will also let them pick out their favorite pajamas because that makes transitioning to the night time bed routine a bit easier if they picked out their favorite pjs from home.

General tips

• Try to adjust to the time zone you are on as quickly as possible. I know it's so tempting to go and sleep as soon as you get checked in to your hotel, but try as hard as you can to avoid that temptation for you and your kids. If we are arriving in the morning and know we won't make it, we will set an alarm for a two hour nap and then we force ourselves to go outside and do something. If we are arriving any time after ~3 pm, we force ourselves to stay awake. Our general rule of thumb is to not go to sleep until 8 pm on your new time zone so you can get acclimated. So to keep ourselves awake, we have to stay busy. So that generally looks like grabbing a bite to eat and going for a long walk. And then finding a playground or going to the beach and letting the kids play. Fresh air seems to always help grumpy, sleep deprived kids. But I know it's tough and you and your kids may be grumpy, but it's much better to be grumpy for that first day, rather than be grumpy the whole week because your sleep schedule is off.

• Read reviews for the noice level of the place you are staying. It is never fun to finally get your kids asleep, and then learn your hotel is above a bar that has a rock band playing until 3 am. Also, if you are staying in a hotel in the city, request a higher floor so you are further away from sirens and beeping horns.

Sleep can be a stressful thing for parents whether you are in the comfort of home or in an exotic place across the world. Newborns don't know the difference and toddlers can be easily motivated to make sleeping in a new home exciting, so hopefully these tips and tricks will ease the burden of sleep a little bit and you can be on your way to your next dream trip! (All products linked below).

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