Helping Your Baby Sleep on Holiday: Practical Tips for Babies & Toddlers

Sweet Dreams Away From Home: Helping Your Little One Sleep Soundly on Holiday

Hooray - you’re on holiday.

You’ve packed the bags, planned the days out, and you’re ready to switch off but there’s often one little worry that follows parents on every trip:

“What’s going to happen to sleep?”

A new environment, different light, unfamiliar sounds - and suddenly bedtime doesn’t feel quite as simple as it does at home.

The good news?

Sleep doesn’t have to fall apart just because you’re away.

With a few simple adjustments (and a lot of flexibility), you can help your little one feel safe, settled, and able to drift off - even somewhere new.

1. Bring a Touch of Home

When everything around them changes, familiarity becomes incredibly powerful.

Try to bring a few key sleep associations from home:

• Their usual sleeping bag

• A familiar blanket

• Their favourite comforter or teddy

• A well-loved bedtime book

These carry familiar smells, textures, and cues, which help your child feel safe much faster in a new space.

For toddlers especially, involving them can help:

“Which teddy are we bringing on holiday?”

That small sense of control can make a big difference at bedtime.

Practising Sleep Setups Before You Travel

Your little one is already adjusting to a new place, different sounds, unfamiliar smells, and often a different sleep space too. If they’ll be sleeping in a travel cot while you’re away, it can really help to make it feel familiar before you leave.

If possible, try a few naps or even bedtime in the travel cot at home in the weeks before your holiday. This doesn’t need to be perfect - even a little exposure can help it feel less unfamiliar when you arrive.

Bringing familiar sleep cues can make a big difference too. A familiar sleep sack, white noise, favourite bedtime books, or parts of your usual routine can help signal: this is still sleep time, even in a different environment.

It’s also worth remembering that the first night or two away can sometimes be a little unsettled - and that’s okay. Many little ones need a short adjustment period before settling into the rhythm of holiday life.

2. Prioritise Darkness (It Matters More Than You Think)

Light is one of the biggest disruptors of sleep when you’re away.

Even if your little one sleeps well at home, a brighter room can lead to:

• Shorter naps

• Earlier wake-ups

• Difficulty settling at bedtime

Try to recreate a dark sleep environment:

• Check if your accommodation has blackout blinds

• If not, consider a travel blackout blind

• Use bin bags or towels as a quick fix if needed

If you want to understand why this matters so much, you can read more in my light and sleep environment blog.

Beyond Darkness: Creating a Sleep-Friendly Space

One thing that can catch parents off guard on holiday is just how bright bedrooms can be - especially during summer evenings or when travelling abroad.

You don’t need to recreate home perfectly, but making the sleep space feel calm, dark, and familiar can really help.

Some simple things that can make a difference include:

• Portable blackout blinds or travel blackout covers

• Using clips, towels or even bin bags (carefully and safely) to reduce light if curtains are thin

• Bringing white noise to block unfamiliar sounds from hotels, apartments or busy streets

• Keeping the sleep space cool and comfortable where possible

If things aren’t perfect, don’t panic. Holiday sleep doesn’t need to look exactly like home sleep to still go well.

3. Use White Noise to Block the Unfamiliar

Holidays often come with new sounds:

• People in nearby rooms

• Street noise

• Late dinners and music

White noise can:

• Mask sudden disturbances

• Create a consistent sleep cue

• Help your child settle more easily

If you already use it at home - definitely bring it.

4. Keep the Room Cool and Comfortable

Temperature plays a bigger role than most people realise-especially in warmer climates.

Aim for:

• 16–20°C where possible

Helpful tips:

• Use air conditioning if available

• Dress your child appropriately for the temperature

• Keep fans away from direct airflow

• Close blinds during the day to keep heat out

Small extras that help:

• A slightly cooler bath before bed

• Removing sun cream before sleep (it can feel sticky and uncomfortable)

5. Keep the Routine… But Let Go of Perfection

This is where many parents feel torn.

You want to protect sleep, but you also want to enjoy your holiday.

The balance?

Keep the structure, not the exact timings.

Rather than focusing on exact clock times, think about keeping a familiar rhythm to the day where possible.

Bedtime may happen later, naps might shift slightly, and days may look different - but keeping some familiar structure can help sleep feel more predictable for your little one.

While still keeping:

• A similar rhythm of the day

• A familiar wind-down routine

This allows you to:

• Enjoy dinners out

• Stay flexible

• Avoid overtiredness

And remember:

A few different days won’t undo everything.

What About Room Sharing on Holiday?

For many families, holidays mean room sharing - even if your little one sleeps in their own room at home.

This can feel daunting at first, especially if your child is used to having their own sleep space, but it often works better than parents expect.

A few things that can help include:

• Putting the travel cot as far away from your bed as possible

• Using a travel blackout cover or temporary divider if the room layout allows

• White noise to soften the sound of movement

• Going to bed a little later yourself or spending some evening time on the balcony, downstairs, or with headphones if possible

And remember - this is temporary.

Holiday sleep often looks different to home sleep, and that doesn’t mean you’re creating bad habits or undoing progress.

6. Expect Naps to Look Different (And That’s OK)

Holiday naps rarely look like “perfect cot naps” - and that’s okay.

One of the biggest questions parents ask me before travelling is:

“Do we need to plan our entire holiday around naps?”

Usually, the answer is no.

While sleep still matters, holidays are also about enjoying yourself and making memories. Many little ones cope really well with some flexibility for a short period.

This might mean:

• Buggy naps while exploring

• Carrier naps while sightseeing

• Car naps on travel days

• Shorter naps than usual

Some families find it helpful to prioritise one good “anchor nap” every day or two, particularly if their child is sensitive to overtiredness. On other days, naps can happen more naturally on the go.

You know your child best.

Some little ones thrive with flexibility, while others benefit from keeping things a little more structured. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

7. Travel Day Tips for Easier Sleep

Travel days can feel unpredictable - but a little preparation goes a long way.

Helpful tips:

• Bring a buggy (ideal for naps in the airport)

• Use a baby carrier for comfort + hands-free movement

• Pack essentials in your carry-on

• Change nappy before boarding

• Offer milk or water during take-off and landing

And most importantly…

Lower expectations slightly, take the pressure off yourself.

Travel days aren’t about perfect sleep - they’re about getting there.

Most Importantly: You’re Allowed to Relax

This is the part that matters most.

It’s okay if:

• Bedtime is later

• Naps are different

• You’re sharing a room

• Your little one needs more support

It doesn’t mean you’ve undone anything.

If they’re extra tired one day? Offer an earlier night or a “rescue nap”

If things feel a bit off? That’s normal - and temporary

Wondering How Flexible You Can Be on Holiday?

You don’t need to follow your usual routine perfectly while you’re away - but there are some parts of sleep that are often worth protecting.

If you’re wondering how much flexibility is okay (without sleep completely falling apart), you might also like to read:

How Much Can You Relax Your Baby’s Sleep Routine on Holiday (Without It Falling Apart?)

When You Get Home…

If sleep feels a little unsettled after your trip, that’s very common.

Most little ones return to their usual rhythm within a few days with gentle consistency.

If they don’t-or if sleep was already feeling difficult before your holiday - that’s usually a sign there’s something deeper going on.

Need a Plan That Works at Home and Away?

If you’re finding yourself:

• Dreading nights away

• Struggling with frequent wakes

• Unsure what’s “normal” vs a pattern

That’s exactly what I help with.

You don’t need a rigid routine - just the right structure for your child.

You can start with a free discovery call.

FAQ: Baby & Toddler Sleep on Holiday

Will going on holiday ruin my baby’s sleep?

No. A few days (or even a couple of weeks) of different sleep won’t undo your progress. Sleep is more resilient than that.

Should I stick to my routine exactly while away?

No - you’re better off keeping the shape of your day rather than exact times.

What if my baby wakes more at night on holiday?

This is common due to the new environment. Offering reassurance is okay-things usually settle again once you’re home.

Do I need blackout blinds when travelling?

They can make a big difference, especially for naps and early mornings.

How long does it take to get back on track after a holiday?

Usually 2-5 days with gentle consistency.

I have written a Holiday Sleep Guide for you to download for free, perfect for reading before you go or taking it with you.