Christmas is a time of joy and celebration, but it can also mean disrupted routines, overstimulation, and lots of travel. All of that can take a toll on your little one’s sleep (and their mood). Here are our top tips to help keep things smooth and calm over the festive season.
Daytime tips
1. Avoid over-scheduling
There’s so much stimulation at Christmas – presents, visitors, lights, sweets, films, noise – and the temptation is to squeeze everything in. But one of the biggest mistakes parents make is overloading the calendar. Try to stick to your little one’s regular routine as much as possible and make sure they have some quiet, calm time to reset between the excitement. This will help avoid overtiredness and those dreaded meltdowns.
2. Get fresh air and movement
Let your little one burn off some of that festive energy during the day. Daylight (even the grey winter kind!) helps regulate the body clock and improves sleep pressure, making it easier for them to wind down later on.
3. Don’t stack too many off-routine days
A nap in the car or a slightly later bedtime here or there won’t ruin everything. But after a couple of days of on-the-go naps and late nights, your little one may become so overtired that settling at bedtime becomes really difficult. They might even forget how to settle themselves and cry. Stick as closely to their usual nap and bedtime routine as possible, even when you’re away, to avoid backtracking on all your hard work.
Bedtime tips
4. Keep Christmas Eve bedtime calm and familiar
Christmas Eve is exciting, but aim to keep bedtime as normal as possible. Plenty of fresh air during the day, a calming bedtime routine (as close to their usual one as you can manage), and a reminder that Santa only visits once they’re asleep can go a long way. Give them some notice that bedtime is coming and avoid getting them too hyped up right before sleep. Putting them to bed before they become overtired is key to a peaceful evening for everyone.
5. Make the last hour before bed screen-free
The blue light from TVs, tablets, and phones suppresses melatonin – the hormone that helps your little one feel sleepy. Instead of another Christmas film, focus on screen-free, calming activities that involve fine motor skills, like jigsaws, building blocks, or colouring. These gently encourage relaxation and help prepare them for sleep.
Tips for staying away from home
6. Be consistent – even away from home
If you’re staying with family or friends over Christmas, it’s completely normal for babies, toddlers and children of all ages to test the boundaries around sleep. They may wonder: do the same rules apply here? Stay consistent. Treat bedtime the same way you would at home. If they’re unsettled, go in every five minutes or so to offer reassurance, but try not to bend the usual rules. With consistency, most little ones adapt to a new environment within a night or two.
7. Bring the familiar with you
Pack the same sleepwear, their usual toothbrush, and their favourite bedtime storybooks. Familiarity is incredibly comforting and will help your little one feel more secure and ready to sleep, even in a different place.
8. Don’t forget the comfort items
That favourite soft toy or blanket? Absolutely essential. Amongst all the excitement and new gifts, they’ll find comfort in the familiar, especially when it’s time to wind down.
The most important tip of all…
9. Enjoy it!
This really is a magical time of year, and it’s meant to be enjoyed. Staying relaxed yourself is one of the best ways to help your little one stay calm too. And if you can manage a good night’s sleep in the mix, it’ll help everyone create beautiful memories and look forward to next year with joy, not exhaustion.
If sleep becomes tricky over Christmas or you’re worried about routine changes, we’re always here to help. Book a free 15-minute consultation and we can chat about what’s going on for you and how we can help.
