There’s no doubt about it, life with kids can be unpredictable. Travelling is no different! But there are a few things you can try before you leave.

Good preparation can help you embrace the beautiful kind of chaos that only travel can bring.

Get ready for jet lag

Expect jet lag to affect your baby's sleep schedule, especially if you're crossing time zones. But remember, it's temporary. (You may need to remind yourself of this when you arrive!) 

While it can't be avoided, knowing what to expect can make it feel a bit easier. Long story short —  expect some disruption. Your baby might seem excessively tired, irritated or have disrupted feeding and sleeping schedules.

It's normal. However, with patience and extra cuddles, sleepy new schedules typically emerge within a few days.

Remember: jet lag discomfort won't last. Your little traveller's natural rhythms will resync, and the experiences you share will create lifelong family memories.

Have a flexible plan in place 

Make a plan for where your baby will sleep when travelling. If you’re booking hotels, does the hotel have room for the travel cot beside your bed? Or a separate sitting room if your baby already has their own room at home?

If you’re staying with family, what arrangements will you make? Is there an overnight plane ride you need to plan for?

Planning ahead means doing the hard work now so that things go smoothly during your trip. But of course, sometimes things go wrong. So, while you can plan things in advance, you may also need to be flexible sometimes to make the most of your time away.

Start with a well-rested baby

You won't get the best from your baby if they're already tired. You'll probably be rushing around at the last minute to finalise things before you leave, but try to prioritise sleep.

Like us adults, a well-rested baby will cope much better with the exciting changes coming up.

Pack their sleep essentials

One way to combat those changes is to keep as much as you can the same. That means packing the items your baby associates with sleep. Here are some things to consider.

• Sleepsuit
• Dummies
• Teddy
• Sound machine
• Favourite books
• Favourite blankets (if old enough)
  

Don’t forget about their sheets! Pack their favourite bassinet sheet or the comfiest fitted sheet for your travel cot. These comforts from home can help them settle in unfamiliar places.

If you've ticked off all the to-dos, packed the tickets and put on your comfiest travelling gear, you must be ready to hit the road! The good news is that you've done most of the hard work by planning ahead.

Time to enjoy the trip. Here’s how you can help the whole family get better sleep while you’re making those memories.

Gently adjust your baby’s sleep schedule when travelling

There are a few things to keep in mind about your baby's sleep schedule when travelling.

1. Try to maintain your baby's regular sleep/wake cycle as much as possible when travelling to different time zones. This may not be doable. But if you can, it provides structure and routine during an otherwise disruptive time. Having said that, you may need to make some adjustments. You can try to gradually shift nap times by 15-30 minutes per day in the weeks leading up to travel if crossing multiple time zones.
   
2. Fatigue and disruption can impact your baby's sleep needs. Be prepared for changes in how often or how long your newest traveller sleeps. Go with the flow of their tired cues. Different environments, noises and travel motions may disturb sleep at first. Bringing those comfort items from home can help.
   
3. Young babies usually sleep on the go, but older babies? They might need more engagement during transits. Plan some activities to keep your little one occupied.
   
4. Adjust gradually back to your routine at your destination by following the same principles of gentle shifting. Aim for your regular schedule within a few days.
   

When it comes to baby sleep and travel, flexibility is key. Expect disrupted sleep as their body adjusts. Be ready with extra cuddles and lower your expectations if needed initially.

Patiently follow your baby's lead to help them feel comfortable amid the changes.

Keep the same bedtime routine

While everything else has changed around them, keeping to roughly the same routine will help your little one know it’s bedtime. So if you normally bathe them, dress them in pyjamas, read a book and go to sleep? Just keep doing it! It doesn’t get much simpler.

Of course, you probably can’t do everything that you normally would, and that’s OK. Your baby will cope with the changes, and you’ll all go home with some unforgettable new experiences.

Where baby can sleep when travelling

What can babies sleep in when travelling? There are three main ways your baby might sleep while you’re on the road.

• Travel cot
• Baby carrier
• Pram

Let's have a quick look at each of those.

Travel cots

Travel cots are a really handy option. You may even find your baby sleeps better in their travel cot after being worn out by a big day of new experiences.

Red Nose says that travel cots are safe for babies to sleep in. They fold up to be lighter and more compact for easier packing, and you can use buttery-soft travel cot sheets. Just make sure the cot you use meets Australian standards — look for the sticker label that will tell you so. 

Are you wondering what age your baby can sleep in a travel cot? Check the safe sleep guidelines from Red Nose Australia. 

Baby carrier

Many babies love being close to you in their carrier. The movement may lull them off to sleep in no time, and feeling your heartbeat will help them feel safe enough to sleep despite what might be happening around them.

It’s a beautiful way to help them sleep while you still get to stay busy on your trip. Of course, make sure you use a carrier that meets Australian safety standards and is worn properly at all times. Red Nose has some excellent advice about keeping your baby safe in the carrier.

Like many things, practice makes perfect. If you’re new to babywearing, leave yourself enough time to give it a try on home soil.

Pram

Getting baby off to sleep in the pram can be a convenient way to sightsee or hit the shops on holidays. There’s even room underneath to stow your things for the day.

Like your carrier, make sure the pram meets Australian safety standards before using it. When you’re ready, get that safe incline happening and off you go. You might even find that the constant gentle movement and background noise help your little sleeper to nap longer.

There might be times when your baby needs to go to bed while you’re actively travelling between places. Here are some tips for helping your baby sleep when travelling on a bus, plane, train, or in a car.

Bus

• Sit in the front rows where the ride tends to be smoothest.
• Bring a compact, lightweight baby carrier or wrap for safe, contained naps.
• Play gentle music or noise to mask engine sounds.
• Plan any bus trips for nap times if possible.

Car

• Secure baby in their rear-facing car seat as per safety guidelines and laws. The motion replicates sleep rocking.
• Play white noise, lullabies or calming audiobooks to mask unfamiliar road noises or conversations.
• Consider noise-cancelling headphones for older babies to focus on gentle sounds.
• Limit distractions and pull over for active play breaks every 2 hours or so.
• Engage your baby with interactive toys on car mirrors or a mobile for physical and mental stimulation.
• Sing songs together or read books using expressive voices to maintain an energetic yet soothing atmosphere.
• Feed or wind baby just before setting off to help induce sleepiness as the car moves.
• Avoid direct sun facing the seat in hot weather and dress baby comfortably to prevent overheating.
• Plan car trips for typical nap windows to utilise the lulling motions and fall asleep more easily.

Plane

• Feed or nurse baby during take-off and landing to help little ears equalise pressure.
• Bring along small toys, books and snacks.
• Consider playing white noise or familiar sounds.
• Dim your overhead lights and draw window shades for darker surroundings like naptime.
• Dress baby comfortably and bring lightweight blankets in case of temperature changes.
• Talk, read or sing in gentle voices without overstimulating during descent.
• Ask flight attendants about bassinets on longer flights if breastfeeding isn't possible.
• Accept that one or two disrupted sleep cycles is normal. Stay calm and relaxed.

Train

• Choose seats away from noisy aisles and loud passengers if possible.
• Play white noise or sound machines to mask unfamiliar rumbling and announcements.
• Use a baby carrier or pram for a comfy and familiar nap. 
• Entertain with toys, books or window views between sleeps.
• Use consistent sleepy time cues like nursing, rocking or singing.
• Dress for temperature changes and bring extra layers/blankets.
• Try daytime travel to coincide with typical nap times.
• Accept disruptions are common initially as they adjust to new stimuli.
• Stretch legs during stops to break up the journey for baby.
  
  Consistency and comforting associations will help to promote relaxation no matter where you are. Remember, adjusting to new routines takes time — be patient and try not to worry about temporarily disrupted schedules. It’s all for a good cause!

If you’ve done a great job of helping your baby sleep when travelling, there’s one catch: they’ll need to adjust to being at home again!

We have six tried and tested tips to help you adjust your baby’s sleep schedule after travel.

1. Gradually transition them in the days before arriving home by shifting naps earlier or later. This one is especially important if you’ve been away for a long time.
   
2. Try to keep schedules consistent once you’re home. Even if tired, stick to your regular times to help baby's body clock recalibrate faster.
   
3. Recreate your usual bedtime rituals like bath, book and cuddles. The familiar routine is comforting as they readjust.
   
4. Blackout curtains can alleviate daytime sleep disruptions from new light exposures at home. 
   
5. Extra soothing is key. Rocking, nursing, or holding close may help tired babies drift off more easily as their biological rhythms reset.
   
6. Be patient. It may take a few days of misaligned sleep-wake cycles as their internal clock realigns. Extra support and earlier bedtimes can minimise fussiness.

Remember, these challenges are usually short-lived as their body relearns what healthy sleep looks like in the familiar surroundings of home.

Phew, that’s a lot! Here it is in a nutshell.

1. Prepare: expect jetlag, pack their familiar essentials, plan to be flexible, and start as well rested as you can.
   
2. During the trip: gently adjust their sleep schedule if changing time zones, keep familiar bedtime routines, try different nap styles (travel cot, baby carrier and a pram), and prepare for sleep while on a bus, car, plane or train.
   
3. After returning home: gradually transition back and recreate familiar bedtime rituals.
   

No matter what stage, you can help your baby sleep when travelling with lots of patience and extra cuddles. Your little explorer will have the time of their life, but they may also need extra comfort from you to cope with the changes.

Now that you’ve sorted your game plan, why not treat them (and you) to a great night’s sleep in our butter-soft travel cot sheets? Recreate the comfort of home to make your holiday sleep a dream.

Here's to sweet dreams and even sweeter days exploring!