Keeping the Happy with Holiday Sleep

We all look forward to the few holidays that pop up throughout the year giving all of us much needed pause from everyday life. The holidays mean more time with family and friends relaxing and letting loose and less time devoted to our daily work and household duties. During these special occasions sleep may seem impossible to achieve. With a fair amount of creativity and flexibility, though, even the most eventful celebrations can include some restorative holiday sleep.

Hurdles to Holiday Sleep

Along with the holidays come jam packed schedules, excitement overload, and little time for our children to the get the rest they are accustomed to. These hurdles to achieving holiday sleep can seem insurmountable with endless festivities to attend! While it is important to make some holiday sleep sacrifices to savor these special days, even the best holiday party will go sour with overtired, cranky children in tow.

So how do we balance enjoying holiday celebrations while still giving our children the nourishing holiday sleep they need? Read below for 5 Holiday Sleep Tips to help your family keep the happy during the most eventful occasions:

Holiday Sleep Tips

Tip # 1:

Bedtime Shift – Institute an extra early bedtime to account for missed naps on busy days.

Tip # 2:

Divide and Conquer – If possible, drive two cars to holiday parties. Have your spouse hang back while the baby finishes napping only to arrive at the party slightly later but with your well-rested little bundle of joy!

Tip # 3:

Nap Away from Home – At a friend’s house? Or maybe your In-Laws? Borrow a quiet bedroom to nap your baby. Remember to bring along a white sound machine to mask the noise of holiday fun. Disposable black out blinds will darken the space for better sleep.

Tip # 4:

Quiet Time – Have a toddler who is unlikely to fall asleep amongst the festivities? Avoid meltdowns and find a space to conduct Quiet Time to escape the holiday excitement. Be sure to bring along a few low-key activities like sticker pages or coloring books to let your child’s mind rest from the more stimulating holiday events.

Tip # 5:

Be Choosy –Saying yes to all of the invitations that come your way will surely create barriers to salvaging holiday sleep. Instead be choosy and feel free to say no sometimes. Maintain the best balance of fun and routine by following the 80/20 Rule. 80% of the time stick to your typical sleep schedule and 20% of the time take advantage of special activities that conflict with the, otherwise, ideal nap and bedtime routines.

Happy Holiday Sleep

Go forth and enjoy your day! Choose one tip or choose all. One thing is certain, in doing so, you will surely be keeping the happy in your holiday this year!