5 Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep More During the Holidays

The holidays bring joy, family time, and twinkle lights. But for many parents, they also bring stress around disrupted routines and overtired babies. If you’re traveling or hosting this season, you might be wondering: Will my baby sleep at all?

The good news? With just a few intentional strategies, your little one can stay rested and enjoy the magic of the holidays, and so can you.

Here are 5 ways to help your baby sleep more during the holiday season:

1. Plan Travel Around Nap Times

Whether you’re flying across the country or heading across town, aim to plan your travel during your baby’s best nap window. Keeping your baby well-rested on the go reduces overtiredness, fussiness, and those dreaded wake-ups. I like to tell clients, let the baby wake naturally in the morning, offer a full feeding, and then give it a little time to pack the car and get on the road. If the baby is 5 months old, for example, and typically naps every 2.5 hours, allow them to be up for an hour before heading out.

Then, they will get acclimated with the drive, and in many cases, motion will begin to lull most babies to sleep, likely even around two hours. When they wake from that nap, it’s the perfect time for a feeding, and to stretch their legs outside of the car and yours at a rest area.

Sleep begets sleep, so prioritize naps, even if they occur while you’re on the go, to protect your nighttime rest.

2. Recreate the Nursery Anywhere

Familiarity is everything when it comes to sleep. Mimic your baby’s nursery setup while traveling with:

• A portable blackout curtain {we love these}
• A sound machine {this is small and lasts forever!}
• Their usual sleep sack or blanket {We love HALO}
• A familiar crib sheet from home

The more their environment feels like home, the easier it is to settle into sleep.

3. Don’t Wait for Overtired Cues

By the time your baby is rubbing their eyes or getting fussy, you may have already missed the ideal window for sleep. Keep an eye on the clock rather than just cues, especially in stimulating holiday environments. Our wake windows by age chart here is super helpful!

Aim to lay your baby down just before their usual nap or bedtime to avoid resistance and overtired tears.

4. Protect Nap Time During Busy Days

You might have a packed schedule, but don’t skip naps. Offer motion naps or contact naps if needed, especially if you’re out and about. Good naps lead to better overnight sleep, especially if your little one can self-settle at bedtime and you want the baby to sleep through the night. Think of naps as your investment in the whole day and night going smoothly.

After 11 years in practice as a Certified Sleep Consultant and the founder here, I will tell clients every single time, protect the nap – rocking, bouncing, walking, driving, I don’t care. Don’t skip it, overtired triggers stimulant hormones which cause trouble settling at bedtime, broken sleep and early morning wakings – which cause a downward spiral in sleep and a broken cycle parents struggle to get out of.

5. Stick to Your Routine (as Much as You Can)

Babies love predictability. Even if bedtime is a bit flexible over the holidays, try to stay within 30 minutes of your usual nap and bedtime schedule. That consistency anchors their internal rhythm and makes transitions smoother.

Want to make packing for your baby stress-free and sleep-friendly? We’ve created Baby & Toddler Travel Checklists just for you, along with a terrific library of free sleep training resources!

Sleep Doesn’t Have to Take a Holiday

With a little preparation and flexibility, the holidays can still include restful nights, peaceful naps, and joy-filled moments. You’ve got this. If you need support along the way, the team at Tiny Transitions is here to help. Book a complimentary call if you need a rest reset after your holiday travel season.