How to Help Your Baby Sleep During Travel

Traveling with a baby or toddler can really wreak havoc on sleep for both you and your child. For the small child, new and unfamiliar environments can lead to difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. No need to avoid travel out of fear of compromised sleep. As parents, we can do a few things to help our children sleep better while away from home. This is not a quick fix, just practical solutions that may offer a better travel experience.

1. How to prepare a sleep station…

Once you arrive at your destination, set up a ‘sleep station’ or a special area where your child will sleep. A sleep station may include a pack ‘n play (playard) with a soft and comfortable sheet, along with a lovey and sleep sack or wearable blanket placed in the playard. If you will be sleeping in the same room as your child, attach a towel or blanket around the outside perimeter of the playard using safety pins to prevent your child from seeing you in the room. Often times, seeing a parent in the room can cause the child to think it’s time to get up. Using the blanket to block your child’s view can encourage them to go back to sleep if they wake up.

While setting up the sleep station, have your child watch you assemble it, and explain this is where he will be sleeping. Throughout the day, remind your child about his sleep area to help him prepare.

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