Navigating Your Little One’s Sleep Over the Holidays

The holiday season is full of magic - but for many parents, it also brings a familiar worry:

“How will all of this affect my baby’s sleep?”

Between late nights, new faces, travel, excitement, noise, and being passed around, it’s totally normal for sleep to feel a bit all over the place in December. You’re not doing anything wrong - it’s simply a busier, brighter, noisier world than your little one is used to.

This blog will gently guide you through the most common holiday sleep disruptors and how to manage them - without stress or pressure. Think of it as your calm companion during a busy season.

Protecting the Basics (The Big Three)

If everything else goes completely off-script, and you can only hold onto a few things, make it these:

1. Naps

They don’t need to be perfect. Truly. If naps happen in the buggy, the car, the sling, or on you - that’s okay. Your aim is simply to avoid long periods of overtiredness.

2. Nutrition

Keep milk feeds and meals broadly consistent. Hungry babies struggle to settle and stay asleep.

3. Bedtime Window

Try to stay within 30–60 minutes of their usual bedtime. A little later is fine - it’s the big, 2-3 hour stretches that usually lead to tears, night waking and early starts.

If you only protect these three things, you’re already doing brilliantly.

Managing Overstimulation (A Silent Sleep Disruptor)

Christmas is full of bright lights, noise, new people, being passed around, and general excitement - which can overwhelm even an easy-going baby.

Signs your little one is overstimulated:

• Clinginess or sudden crying

• Rubbing eyes but struggling to switch off

• Arching, back-turning, or avoiding eye contact

• Hyper energy followed by a crash

• Difficulty settling for naps or bedtime

What helps:

• Build in small “quiet pockets”: 10 minutes in a dim room with you.

• Wear your baby in a sling if everything feels too busy.

• Say no to passing the baby around if they’re already struggling.

• Step outside for fresh air when everything ramps up.

These tiny resets make big differences.

Handling Gatherings Without Feeling Overwhelmed

It’s not easy to balance your baby’s needs with family expectations.

Here’s permission to protect your little one’s boundaries:

If people want to hold your baby: “Thanks so much - she’s a bit overwhelmed today, so I’m keeping her close for a little while.”

If naps just aren’t happening: Aim for one small reset nap on the way home or during a walk.

If bedtime runs late :A mini bedtime routine still helps - a quick wind-down, fresh nappy, sleepsuit, feed, and into bed.

Consistency doesn’t have to be perfect - it just has to feel safe and familiar.

Travelling Over Christmas

Whether you’re staying with family or just doing lots of visiting, travel can shake things up.

Try to bring the sleep environment with you:

• Sleep bag

• Comforter/teddy

• White noise

• Portable blackout blinds

• Familiar cot sheet

• Usual sleepsuit

These little sensory cues help your baby feel secure, even in a new space.

If naps are mostly in the car or buggy during this time - that’s completely okay. Many families have a “survival mode” nap schedule over Christmas, and everything resets once routines return.

Bedtime During the Holidays

There are two gentle approaches:

Option A: Stick mostly to the normal bedtime

Ideal for sensitive or easily overstimulated little ones.

Option B: Slightly later bedtime

30–60 minutes later is usually fine and won’t cause too much disruption. More than that often leads to early wakes or extra night wakings.

If they fall asleep in the car:

• Transfer if you can

• Leave them if not. Then shift bedtime slightly later to compensate.

Early Morning Wakings Around Christmas

It’s extremely common.

Often caused by:

• Late bedtimes

• Extra stimulation

• Broken naps

• Sleeping in a new place

• Lighter rooms

• Different noise levels

What helps:

• Earlier bedtime the next night

• Darken the morning environment

• Protect naps the following day

• Keep stimulation low

• Reset routines gently

Your baby will settle again once things calm down. This is temporary.

If Everything Goes Off Track… You Can Reset

The most important thing to know:

You haven’t ruined anything.

Holiday sleep disruption doesn’t undo your hard work - it simply needs a gentle reset.

Day 1: Early bedtime + low-key day

Day 2: Back to normal naps + wind-down routines

Day 3: Things usually click back in

For younger babies, give them a few extra days.

And if sleep was tricky before Christmas, this time of year often highlights it more - which can be a sign your little one is ready for some extra support.

A Gentle Note for You

This time of year can be magical…but it can also feel exhausting, overwhelming and emotionally heavy for parents.

You’re not meant to do it all perfectly. You’re not meant to please everyone. You’re not meant to ignore your baby’s needs - or your own.

You’re allowed to leave early. You’re allowed to say no. You’re allowed to protect calm when things feel chaotic. You’re allowed to do what works for your family.

You’re doing enough - and your baby feels safe with you. That’s what matters most.

If You Need a Little Help This Season

If sleep feels overwhelming - whether because of Christmas disruptions or because things have been tricky for a while - I’m here to support you.

You can book a free discovery call to talk through what’s going on and how I can help your little one sleep better… so you can too.

Under the Wing Sleep Consultancy

Helping babies sleep better so that you can too.