Written by Sarah Murphy - The Happy Baby Expert @thehappybabyexpert
Qualified Maternity Nurse and Sleep Expert
Christmas can be a tricky time to navigate with small children. Max excitement, stimulation overload (and all that before we even get to all the sugar they consume!).
No wonder us mummies and daddies need some top tips for staying on track with out good sleep practices over the Christmas break..
1. Look after yourself first. If you’ve recently had a baby, it's tempting to want to make everything perfect for their first Christmas. The honest truth? Babies don’t care if it’s Christmas! Don’t put yourself under any unnecessary pressure and saying no to anything that doesn’t feel manageable is perfect OK.
Instead of trying to please everyone, practice self care. Rest. Eat. Stay hydrated, and try not to set yourself unrealistic expectations of a Pinterest Christmas. Remember- Happy Mummy, Happy Baby.
2. If you are travelling this Christmas, it’s a good idea to prepare where you can for changes to your little one’s normal sleeping arrangements. That could be, for example, taking their usual comforts and sleep props with you wherever you are going. If your little one sleeps with a special night light and comforter - take that with you!
It may take them a day or two to adjust to new surroundings so try to be patient and offer extra comfort if needed.
3. Try to keep some of your usual daily routines going throughout the holiday. Mealtimes, nap times, bed and bath routine. Having said that, don’t stress about anything that is out of your control.
If you get hugely off track with sleep over the holidays, accept it for what it is and as soon as things are back to normal you can get back to your usual good sleep practices.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns you can find me @thehappybabyexpert on Insta.
