Just because you have a small infant or newborn during the summertime doesn’t mean that you can’t still get out there and enjoy the great weather while it lasts. Sure, things will get a little more complicated and you may have more limited options as to your entertainment choices (sorry, they don’t allow infants at nightclubs, we checked!), but you still absolutely deserve to have some fun and enjoy those fleeting summer months while they last. In today’s article, we’re going to cover some helpful tips on napping your baby while away from home and on the go. Having a baby is a miracle of life and you should be able to celebrate their arrival with friends and family even if it means traveling across state lines to do it. Let us know in the comments about your experiences and tips for traveling with a baby!
Fundamentals Of Napping A Baby While Traveling
You may not be too surprised to learn that the best way to help a baby nap while on the go is similar to what is currently working for you at home. The difference being that you will have less control over your environment and may have to improvise in order to accomplish things that were mundanely simple while at home.
The baby will have the same needs as before, you just have to fulfill them a little differently and/or creatively.
- Plan your child’s naps carefully and integrate them into your travel plans if possible. Take off and arrival arrival of a plane or train are great places to start.
- Make sure that it is a priority and that you are following the same schedule as normal.
- Pack accordingly to ensure that your child’s ideal sleep environment can be recreated while traveling. Pack things like:
- A portable battery powered white noise machine loaded with apps and sounds that are familiar to the baby
- Plenty of bottles or formula servings that can be easily deployed before naps
- A portable crib or sleeping area
- Blackout curtains. You can even carry a collapsible canopy or windscreen that you can use to set up in an airport lobby or train station that you can use to block ambient light for your baby while they sleep. Or, figure out a creative covering solution for their travel carrier or travel stroller to help black out the light as well. Your imagination can soar with this one!
Black-out car seat cover: https://amzn.to/3JVXtDJ
Black-out crib tent cover: https://amzn.to/3NWmoZk
Black-out Pack N Play cover: https://amzn.to/3JT1n0h
Temporary black-out window film: https://amzn.to/3O735xv
- Extra swaddling items in case one gets soiled or lost. It never hurts to have extra on hand!
- Make sure that you are adjusting for time zones when you are traveling away for a week or more. Aim for one hr per day adjustment for naps.
Before You Go
We hope you enjoyed learning about tips for dealing with napping while on vacation. If you would like to know more about this, our sleep programs or any of our excellent newborn care services, we are happy to help. Just contact us and we can go over your options and help you find the best path for your little one. We hope these tips have helped you along your journey. If you have any questions about helping your baby to sleep better, or about your baby in general, please reach out to us HERE. We are experts in all things baby and sleep and would love to help!
If you have questions about your child, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We would love to help. Please reach out to us here! We always look forward to hearing from you.
