5 Tips for Managing Baby’s Sleep Routine at Christmas

It's fast approaching Christmas and we've put together five tips to help manage your baby's sleep routine on Christmas day and during the festive season.

BE PREPARED

If you’re going to be travelling to in-laws remember to take all your baby’s familiar sleep time essentials (Sleeping bags, white noise etc) with you so you can try to follow your baby’s normal sleep routine as closely as possible. It’s also important to think ahead of time about where your baby will sleep/nap while you’re away, as you may need to take a Moses basket or travel cot with you.

PRIORITISE AT LEAST THE MORNING NAP

Most babies do much better if that morning nap is in the usual sleep environment, so try to make that a priority before going out. Also plan your other naps wisely, if possible, a nap around the time that Christmas dinner is being served could mean that everybody gets to enjoy the turkey but let’s not count our chickens (turkeys!) that baby will oblige.

LOOK OUT FOR SLEEP CUES

Christmas is an exciting time with lots of new faces and stimulation so it’s likely that your baby will become overtired a lot quicker than usual. Keep alert for sleep cues such as rubbing eyes, yawning, and crying - you may have to retreat to a quiet room to calm your little one or perhaps bring nap time and bedtime forward if they seem overtired.

PLAN AHEAD

If it’s likely that you’re going to arrive home after baby’s normal bedtime, then make sure you put them in their pyjamas before you set off. That way you can transfer them into their cot when you arrive home with minimal disruption.

TRY NOT TO STRESS

It’s Christmas and it’s going to be hectic and with all the best will in the world you could quite easily lose your baby’s sleep routine. Try not to worry too much about it and enjoy the festive season because you can easily get back on track with your baby sleep routine in the New Year.