Crying, lasting for hours – this spoils every night and might even spoil your vacation. Your baby is not able to fall asleep in spite of tiredness or it is waking up several times per night and you are not able to calm it – these things can be very tiresome. Especially, when you went on vacation because you wanted to relax from everyday stress.
Your baby has to get accustomed to the new surrounding first. Suddenly, there are other sounds and smells, the light conditions are different, maybe the temperature outside is completely different than at home. The bed is totally strange and the surrounding looks different.
There is no patent solution for this problem, since every baby reacts different on changes. But some hints might support calm holiday nights:
- A travel cot comes in handy – but let your baby get accustomed to it and already let it sleep in there a couple of nights before leaving.
- If possible, plan your arriving time a couple of hours before bedtime. This enables your baby to discover the new surrounding and eventually to lie awake in bed, before having to sleep.
- In vacation, the daily routine is different than at home. Still try to stick to the usual sleeping rhythm of your baby and to maintain the normal rituals to fall asleep.
- Don’t forget the favorite cuddle toy and plan sufficient time for cuddling in the evening.
- Place the travel cot close to your bed or let the baby sleep inside your bed until your baby feels that you are close, even in this strange place. Especially in vacation it is possible that your baby has a stronger need for closeness.
- When planning the daily events, consider your baby. Processing numerous new impressions might lead to sleeplessness.
- Try to create lighting conditions similar to them at home.
- Make sure that the bedroom neither is too warm nor too cold, 61° to 64°F are perfect. Air the room before going to bed and turn off the air-conditioning in the night. The noise might disturb your baby.
Don’t give up, when going to bed is not running smoothly at the beginning of your holidays. Your baby needs time to process the new and unusual impressions and experiences. Try to still enjoy your holiday and don’t let your baby’s sleeping behavior disturb you too much.
Image Source: ©istock
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