After a topsy turvy summer with holidays postponed or cancelled, many families are planning their much-needed get-away in the term 2 break.
However, ‘kids and sleeping well on holidays’ doesn’t often appear in the same sentence, and parents often have a level of anxiety around the slippery slope of bedtime.
To add more fire power to the parental sleep arsenal, we spoke to several well-travelled parents for their top tips on encouraging good sleep habits on the road:
Everything looks better during the day
“We find it helps to arrive at our destination during daylight hours. That way, my daughter can get familiar with her surroundings well before bedtime (when the monsters come out!). Allowing her to explore and build confidence in her new environment helps her feel more relaxed at bedtime.” Carly, Gold Coast, QLD
Napping on the road
“If it’s a long trip, we’ll schedule park breaks before a nap is due and get them into the car in time for sleep. This just helps prevent the kids from being over-tired at night – one less barrier to night-time sleep when we’re away!” Miranda, Seaforth NSW
Digital detox
“Even if we’re still in the car, we make sure devices and screens have been switched off a good hour before sleep time. We find this makes the kids less wired and helps them to calm down before sleep.” Andrea, Glen Iris, VIC
Reducing FOMO
“My kids were easily distracted by noises on the campsite until we started using Glow Dreaming. The pink noise is so powerful that any action around the site gets blocked out and my kids don’t feel like they’re missing out! The device helps to produce melatonin to encourage sleep so it also calms the kids down. It’s been a game changer for us – we won’t go anywhere without it!” Jessica, VIC.
Consistency is King
“Our kids are creatures of habit and like to know what to expect and when; otherwise, they tend to get a bit worried. We always make sure things like bedtime, comforters, reading a story and having a glass of milk are kept as consistent as possible and they tend to settle pretty well.” Cathy, Ocean Grove, VIC