It’s that time of year again, when countless families pack up their cars and head for the coast or the continent. Cars and roof boxes are overflowing with bedding, baby stuff, fishing rods and flip flops. At least that’s how it was for our family when our 4 children were little. Holidays with small children are wonderful, but there’s no denying that for the parents they’re hard work too.

The one thing that you don’t want is for the holidays to disrupt your little ones’ sleep. After a long day out in the fresh air, you need them to tuck up nice and cosy for the night, whilst you put your feet up and have a glass of wine.
There are five golden rules to follow which will help ensure that small children get the sleep they need whilst away from home and which will help you deserving parents to ALSO get a break.

RULE ONE:
Be travel savvy. Baby’s sleep can be disrupted by travelling – especially long distances. If your baby is like most; and tends to be lulled to sleep with motion, then they will tend to sleep on and off during any journey. Of course, if you have travelled during the day, this excessive sleep can affect the ability to settle down and sleep at night, once you have reached your destination. The settling can of course be further affected by the fact that you will all be sleeping in a different environment to home.

There are two possible solutions to this one:
1.    Travel during the night.
2.    If you travel during the day, try to set off early in the morning. And if your little one has slept a lot on the way; put them to bed much later than usual, and only then, when they are showing signs of tiredness. They are far less likely to struggle to settle if you do this, and you will avoid all the negative sleep associations and habits which can occasionally develop in relation to a holiday cot.

RULE TWO:
Relax a bit. It doesn’t matter if your child goes to bed a bit later/earlier than usual and doesn’t nap at exactly the same times. So long as your child is given the opportunity to sleep – be it in the cot, pram, sling, car etc. - they will get the sleep they need. You are on holiday and there is every chance that there will be some disruption to your children’s sleep, so you have to accept it. You can return to normal once the holiday is over. In the familiar home environment, your child’s sense of place tells them that it’s back to the old system. For some babies who have been previously poor sleepers, a holiday, with its change of bedtime associations can sometimes actually IMPROVE their sleep.

RULE THREE:
Help your child to feel nice and safe in their holiday bed or cot. When you put them to bed for the night, use some of the familiar sleep triggers which are used at home. These include the same songs that you sing around bed time; same good night story book, and any usual teddy/blanket/comforters. It might not be possible to bath your baby every night, but you can still use your same bath time song as you wash hands, face and bottom, and clean teeth.

RULE FOUR:
Help them to understand the difference between night and day. For most little children, being out in the open air for most of the day will help them to sleep well at night. As well as being physically tired, the experience of light and darkness really helps with the production of sleep hormones. Despite this, some babies and children find it hard to fall asleep on holiday, especially if the room is not dark enough. Many babies will be used to having a black out blind at home and therefore being asked to settle to sleep in a room which is still light, can be very difficult for them. Increased light levels in the morning may lead to early waking too. It is well worth considering investing in a portable black out blind, such as the Gro Anywhere Blind. This bit of equipment is very portable, easy to use and will keep the room in darkness when you need it to be. It is extremely effective at getting babies and young children to sleep well when they are away from home.

Reluctance to fall asleep and/or early morning waking on holiday can sometimes be a problem for older children too. This is due to a combination of excitement and an unfamiliar environment. The Gro clock is a really useful tool for helping children to recognise when it’s time to wake and when it’s time to sleep. Once again, it is very portable, easy to use and children really benefit from knowing where they stand in terms of when to stay in bed and when to get up.

RULE FIVE:
Keep them cool, safe and comfortable. In the middle of summer it can be difficult to keep your child cool, even at night. We know that the ideal room temperature for a baby to sleep in is around 18 degrees centigrade. In order to achieve this you should put up the Gro Anywhere Blind or a similar window covering during the day to prevent sunlight coming into your child’ s room and overheating it. Make sure that the cot is NEVER placed in direct sunlight. Keep a window open both during the day and also at night if it is possible and safe to do so.
Before your baby’s bedtime, offer a warm [not hot] bath or if this is not possible; a sponge wash – top to toe. Then a drink and then put into the cot in just a vest and a 0.5 tog Gro Bag. This weight is ideal for keeping a baby cosy but cool as well.

It is very important to keep children out of the sun and to protect their skin with clothing and high protection sun creams. On the other hand; it is lovely for them to enjoy being in the fresh air and sunshine. The truth is that even the most careful parents can find that their children get a bit “sun kissed” on holiday. If you suspect that your child has been exposed to a little too much sun, you will need to keep an eye on them during the night and make sure that they have plenty to drink. [This should be water only – never milk if they’re over 6 months old.] If they are very hot, and seem at all unwell, you should seek medical advice.

Going on holiday should be a time for everyone in the family to relax together and by following the five golden rules, you should all come back relaxed and well rested.