New rooms, new sounds and later nights can throw off even a great sleeper. Holiday trips don't have to mean a week of short nights, though. The trick is to bring a little bit of home with you and keep the routine as familiar as possible.
Keep the bedtime routine
Your routine is the most portable sleep tool you have. Do the same steps in the same order: bath, pajamas, teeth, books, lights down. Even in a hotel room, it tells your toddler that sleep is coming. Our toddler bedtime routine has the full steps.
Bring familiar things
- Their own sleep sack or pajamas
- A favorite book for bedtime
- Their usual comfort object, if they're old enough to have one
- A familiar light. A cordless night light is easy to pack. The Glow night light runs about six hours per charge, charges by USB-C and has a warm-toned glow and three brightness levels. Set it on a dresser or nightstand, out of the crib, and charge it away from bedding.
Make the room sleep-friendly
- Darken it. Travel blackout blinds, or even dark towels over the window, help a lot.
- Add white noise to cover unfamiliar sounds.
- Keep it cool. Hotel rooms and guest rooms often run warm.
Set up a safe sleep space
Wherever you stay, safe sleep rules still apply. If your child still sleeps in a crib, use a crib or play yard that meets current safety standards, with a firm, flat mattress and a fitted sheet. Many hotels offer cribs, so check that it's in good condition, with no loose parts, before using it. Keep the sleep space bare.
Handle time zones gently
- For short trips across one or two time zones, many families simply stay on home time.
- For longer trips, shift bedtime gradually, by 15 to 30 minutes a day.
- Get outside in daylight in the morning to help reset body clocks.
Plan for the travel day
Travel days are rarely perfect. Aim for rest, not a full nap schedule. A stroller nap or car nap counts. Just get back to the routine at bedtime.
Expect a few rough nights
It's normal for sleep to wobble for the first night or two somewhere new, and again when you get home. Stay calm, keep the routine and it usually settles within a few days.
Questions parents ask
How do I get my toddler to sleep in a hotel?
Keep the usual routine, darken the room, use white noise and bring familiar sleep things.
Should I keep my toddler on home time when traveling?
For short trips with a small time difference, often yes. For longer trips, shift bedtime gradually.
What should I pack for my toddler's sleep when traveling?
Their sleep sack or pajamas, a bedtime book, a comfort object, a portable night light and something to darken the room.
More travel tips in flying with a baby and road trip with a baby.
