Sleep Tips for Navigating the Chaos of the Holiday Season

The holiday season brings joy, celebration, and special time with loved ones—but it also brings disrupted routines, travel, late nights, overstimulation, and a lot of tired little ones. As a mom of three and a Pediatric Sleep & Toddler Behavior Consultant, I’ve been in the thick of it. I know how quickly the excitement of the season can turn into meltdowns, bedtime battles, and exhausted parents.

The good news? With a few simple strategies, you can enjoy the holidays while still protecting your child's sleep (and your own).

You Don’t Have to be a Prisoner to Your Routine

But consistency is still key.

If your child goes into the season with a solid sleep routine, it becomes much easier to adapt to holiday events, travel, and unexpected schedule changes. Life will definitely get a little messy this time of year, so try to keep to your routine as similar as possible:

• Wake times

• Meal times

• Nap schedule

• Bedtime (as close to normal as possible)

  
  

Children thrive on predictability. Keeping their routine steady helps counterbalance the overstimulation and sensory overload of holiday gatherings, travel, and excitement.

A well-rested child can handle the occasional late bedtime or missed nap. So if you haven’t already, spend the weeks leading up to the holidays establishing a healthy sleep rhythm for your family.

Tip: If you’re thinking about starting sleep training for the first time, wait until after the holidays. Consistency is essential, and it's much easier to start once life calms down again.

Pack a Portable Sleep Environment

A familiar sleep setup can make a big difference, whether you’re out for the afternoon or staying overnight. Pack items from home that signal sleep:

• White noise machine or white noise app

• Lovey or comfort item

• Familiar crib sheet or sleep sack

• Favorite bedtime book

• Portable blackout shades, if you have them

  
  

These sleep cues help your little one settle more easily, even in an unfamiliar room.

Tip: Keep your bedtime routine the same wherever you go. The routine itself becomes a signal that it’s time for sleep, no matter the environment.

Protect Quiet Time and Rest

Have fun...but don’t overschedule.

You don’t need to attend every event, party, or family visit. It’s okay to say no. Young children become overtired very quickly when there’s too much stimulation, and that can lead to:

• More night wakings

• Short naps

• Bedtime resistance

• Meltdowns and clinginess

  
  

Build in breaks. Try to keep to your nap schedule as much as you can. Keep bedtime from drifting too far. When you are out and about, bring your sleep essentials and treat naptime as naptime, even if it happens in a stroller or travel crib.

And take advantage of willing helpers! If grandparents want extra time with your baby, let them be part of the bedtime routine. They’ll love it, and you’ll get a moment to breathe.

Just keep in mind that when children become overtired, bedtime and overnight sleep almost always suffer. Even bedtime being more than 30 minutes later for a few nights in a row can create measurable sleep debt.

Enjoy the Season—And Reset Later

Have fun. Make memories. Don’t worry about being perfect. Even if new habits pop up over the holidays, you will be able to reset once you’re home and back into your normal routine.

If your child is still having trouble sleeping well after a week back home, or if behavior challenges are showing up, Slumberland Solutions can help.

Wishing you a joyful season.

Sweet Dreams! 😴👶

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