As parents, we know that sleep is essential for young children. A bad night of sleep or a skipped nap can spell catastrophe for your day. Cranky Babies/toddlers are hard enough at home, but they can absolutely ruin a day when you’re on the go. As nerve-wracking as potential travel sleep nightmares may seem, I’m here to tell you that keeping kids rested on the go is possible and maybe not as hard as you might imagine!

Sleep Schedules

Naps

Yes, we want our children to sleep when they are supposed to. That means finding a way to offer sleep when they usually nap. How you offer this can differ depending on where you are (see below section on Sleeping on the Go). But what do you do if they do not nap? Answer: don’t stress too much.

Sometimes the nap may happen later than usual because of excitement – that is ok. Either keep the nap short and try to wake your child up if you are comfortable with that or maybe bedtime moves back a bit that night – which honestly can be a win for you when you don’t have to rush back to your accommodation. Again, this will not hurt your child!

Bedtime

In general, I try to be back “home” no more than an hour after usual bedtime. Yes, this can be frustrating when your child has an early bedtime, but it will set you up for success the next day. (See the Accommodation section for tips to make this early “home” bearable.)

Try to keep your bedtime routine regular. Give your child a bath or read a story if that is part of your usual routine.

Bring items to make your child feel at home. Maybe a favorite blanket or stuffed animal, a portable sound machine (I take my Hatch everywhere), or a small pillow they are used to. Anything to make your child feel “at home” will help with sleep.

If you are a sleep-training family (no judgment either way), this is not a time to be strict with it. Your child is out of their comfort zone. If they need extra cuddles or a parent sitting with them while they sleep, my opinion is to give it to them.

Sleep on the go

No, you do not need to return to your accommodation every time your child needs a nap. You just need appropriate napping transportation and atmosphere.

Carriers

I highly recommend investing in a good structured baby carrier; the Lillebaaby is my personal favorite. Babies love sleeping in carriers because it provides comfort and a constant rocking motion. Just make sure your carrier has a sleep neck support and that baby is facing you as they snooze.

You would be amazed at what babies will sleep through in a carrier. I used to teach GroovaRoo parent/baby dance classes with carriers. The classes involved group dances with upbeat music, and I swear that every single baby was usually asleep by the end of the class, no matter how noisy we were.

Strollers

The traveling parent’s best friend is a smooth-riding stroller with a good recline or bassinet attachment (see post on best travel strollers). You will probably need to take atmosphere into account more when stroller napping because without being cuddled up against somebody, it can be a bit easier for your child to get distracted. Naptime is an excellent opportunity to walk in a park, stroll the side streets of a new city, or explore a quieter sight.

Like bedtime, it is a good idea to provide comfort items when stroller napping. A favorite stuffed animal or small portable sound machine go great in strollers. We actually recorded my husband making shushing noises and would play it on a phone in airplane mode in the stroller while my daughter slept. You may get funny looks at the strange noise coming from your stroller, but who cares if your child sleeps!

Practice

If your child has never napped on the go, it is a good idea to practice before going on a trip. My daughter would often nap on the go from an early age, so it was an easy transition to vacation napping. If this is not the norm for you, then take some time to practice before your trip. Strap on your baby carrier or cuddle into the stroller and go for a walk at naptime. At first, being out at naptime may seem novel and exciting to your child, leading to bad naps, but they should settle in and rest after a few tries. It is better to have these initial bad naps at home rather than when you are out.

Accommodation

I am a HUGE fan of vacation rentals when traveling with children. I used to love staying in hotels pre-baby, but heading back at the end of the day and being stuck in a room with a sleeping child is very unappealing to me. However, renting an apartment allows you to put your little one(s) to sleep and then have some time to yourself in the living room. My husband and I enjoy making dinner with local ingredients or ordering from local restaurants and watching a movie at the end of the day.

If you prefer or need to stay in a hotel, try to find one with a balcony or a separate sitting and sleeping area. When babies are small, you can get away with putting a travel crib in a bathroom or closet, but this really will not last long. Older children will start questioning their sleeping arrangements.