Summer is almost here and that means many of you will be traveling with your little ones. Some of my clients get nervous about traveling with their babies and toddlers for fear of upsetting well-established eating and sleeping routines, which is certainly understandable. My phone tends to ring a bit more than usual after holiday or summer travel with families at their wit’s end from lack of sleep. However, with a little forethought and planning, and some extra attention paid to your child’s needs, summer travels will yield treasured times with family and friends.
Make a plan
Before hitting the road or skies talk through the details of the trip with your youngster. Tell them who you will be visiting and where you will be staying and how you will be getting there.
Pack a couple of new toys and books just for the trip.
This might be a good time to use technology. Some episodes of “Sesame Street” on an iPad or an interactive game might be just the thing to keep little ones from getting restless in their seats.
Before boarding an airplane, run off steam in the airport.
I’m sure you’ve seen it in action – a parent cruising up and down the terminal with a toddler ahead of them. Some airports even provide areas for children to play. A trip to an observation deck to watch planes take off and land might be a worthwhile adventure before your travel date, as well. I used to love packing snacks and taking my children to watch the planes take off and land.
Have a plan for carrying your child, too.
I love slings, wraps and carriers. I used them with my children for years and they continue to be tools of my trade. A carrier allows caregivers to be basically hands-free, which makes pulling a travel bag all the easier. They will come in handy for tired little ones after an active day with the family, too.
Stick to the sleep schedule as much as possible.
Whether you’re traveling long distances or staying close to home, keep your child’s sleep routines as close to normal as possible. This means you may find yourself trying to convince well-meaning family members that your toddler’s need for sleep is more important than their need for play time. To put a positive spin on it, the quality of their time together will be much more enjoyable if your little one is not melting down from too much stimulation and too little sleep.
Bring along the noise. The white noise, that is.
Bring along white noise, which works for both lulling your child to sleep and for drowning out the sounds of partygoers. You can buy apps for your iPad or purchase a portable white noise machine. Either way, pack one along with a special bedtime toy, book, and bath toy. Don’t forget a nightlight, too.
Get back to normal when you get home.
All the changes and stimulation may indeed affect sleep habits but only temporarily. When you get home, get back to routines right away. If possible, return home from travels with at least two days to settle in before returning to work.
