I don’t think anyone has ever looked forward to summer travel as much as people are this year. With vaccine rates increasing, states are starting to open up and summer vacations will be increasing too. For us, we are moving so our summer travel will be staying in an Airbnb a few weeks, then with friends for a few weeks, prior to closing on the new home. So if your wondering if I am planning this all out, the answer is yes- and you’ll get to benefit!
No matter how much work it is to prepare for a trip with kids and how much effort it may be along the way, I really hope you still do it. Not only is travel good for you, but for your growing little ones as well. Even if they won’t remember it, you will! For years to come, you will tell them the stories of the smiles on their faces the first time they bite into that s’more.
Even some of my close friends may not know that I actually didn’t start out majoring in nursing, but rather in travel and tourism. This girl over here loves to travel! My husband does too and actually, we traveled all around the US and world while we dated long distance for 2 years. So it’s no surprise that our kids have the travel bug too!
As a sleep expert and travel buff here are some of my top ways to sleep well during summer travel!
- Staying safe in cars– Car travel is still going to be on the rise this year and I would be rich if I could bottle up that car movement that puts most babies to sleep! That being said you want to make sure that car seat safety is as important as safe sleep inside the house. Make sure you don’t use any inserts that didn’t come with the car seat. And most importantly once you arrive at your destination transfer baby to a firm flat sleeping surface. Check out more info from safe in the seat here!
- Jetlag– No escaping jet lag completely for most people, especially when going west to east coast.
- Similar to daylight savings time it can help a lot to slowly adjust the family a few days prior to the trip. For example, I’ll be prepping our family by trying to wake them up a little earlier in the morning and get to bed a little earlier in the evening a few days before we fly out.
- If you like packing at the last minute then adjusting before a trip is probably not the best option for you 🙂 In that case, then your best bet is to try to get outside in the sunlight whenever possible. Daylight is a powerful stimulant for regulating the biological clock. (Staying indoors worsens jet lag.). So find those local playgrounds, beaches, or places to go for a walk.
- Generally, it takes about 1 hour per day to adjust, so for a 3 hour time difference, it will take your little one’s body about 3 days to get on a new schedule. The important thing is to recognize their cues for tiredness and try to go with the flow a bit more than normal. They likely will nap on the go a little more, but that is completely ok.
- Sleep spaces at your destination– Whether you are staying at Grandma and Grandpa’s house or at an Airbnb it is important to think ahead for baby and young kid’s sleep. Make sure to bring a few familiar things from home (blankie, lovie, pacifier, and portable sound machine). My favorite travel options depend on the baby or child’s age and how the room is divided up (see below).
- If you have a baby or toddler still in a pack n’ play AND you are room sharing then my favorite is the SlumberPod. The SlumberPod is a quick-assembly blackout privacy pod that helps babies/toddlers get a good night’s sleep by keeping light out and offering their own sleep space. The SlumerPod is a bottomless design to enclose travel crib, mini-crib or select toddler cots (see the full list on SlumberPod). I love SlumberPod so much with our family that I’m also an affiliate and if you use my code NESTED10 you’ll get $20 off your order.
- In addition to the SlumberPod if you need something for older children, or even yourself, on the go to put on the windows if the room is not dark enough I love these portable blackout shades. They are really amazing and make a room pitch black (see full discussion in Instagram stories icon). Plus, you can amazon prime right to your location, easy peasy!
Join me on Instagram this week as I do a Q&A on summer travel and sleep to get you prepared for your memorial day travel!
