Long Weekend, No Sleep? How to Make Baby Sleep on Vacation More Manageable

It’s Memorial Day weekend—you’re finally on vacation, the grill is going, the fire pit’s ready for S’mores… and your baby’s sleep is making everything harder.

Whether you’re traveling to visit family, heading into the mountains, or enjoying a much-needed getaway, your child’s sleep doesn’t have to derail your plans.

As a pediatric sleep consultant and mom who lives in a vacation town myself, I know the challenges that come with managing baby or toddler sleep while traveling. New environments, disrupted routines, and overstimulation can lead to short naps, late nights, and overtired meltdowns—right when you want to be relaxing.

Here are a few gentle, practical tips to help make baby sleep on vacation more manageable, so you can enjoy your trip and protect your child’s rest.

🧳 1. Stick to a Flexible Version of Your Routine

You don’t need to follow your at-home schedule minute-for-minute, but try to keep the bedtime routine consistent (same steps, same order) and aim for age-appropriate wake windows. Familiar rhythms help your child feel safe, even in a new place.

🌙 2. Recreate the Sleep Environment

Bring comfort items like your baby’s lovey, white noise machine, and sleep sack. Use blackout shades or garbage bags and painter’s tape to darken the room. The more it feels like home, the more likely your child will settle.

💛 3. Build in Connection Before Bed

Being around more people and new surroundings can be exciting—but also overwhelming. Set aside 10–15 minutes of calm, one-on-one time before starting the bedtime routine. This fills up your child’s “connection cup” and can ease bedtime resistance.

🚫4. Avoid Creating New Sleep Associations You Don’t Want to Keep

It’s tempting—your child won’t settle in the hotel crib, and you’re desperate to get back to the BBQ or just want one good night of sleep. So you try rocking them to sleep again, or maybe they end up in your bed “just this once.”

And while that might get them to sleep tonight, it can quickly become a new habit that’s hard to break once you’re home.

Try this instead:

• Offer extra comfort within the routine you want to maintain.

• Sit beside the crib or bed with a calming presence rather than reintroducing old sleep props.

• Use touch, voice, or closeness to support them—but stay consistent with the overall sleep expectations you’ve worked hard to build.

You don’t need to be perfect—but keeping sleep associations consistent during travel (as much as possible) makes it much easier to return to your usual routine afterward.

⏰ 5. Be Prepared for Some Sleep Disruptions

Even with the best preparation, it’s normal for sleep to be a little off during travel. Whether it’s skipped naps, late nights, or early wakings—give yourself (and your little one) some grace. It’s temporary, and you can reset once you’re home.

🔄 6. When You Get Home, Reset Gently

If you’re dealing with a baby sleep regression after travel, return to your regular schedule and sleep environment as soon as possible. Keep routines predictable, offer extra connection, and stay consistent—you’ll likely see improvement within a few nights.

📘 Want More Travel Sleep Support?

My 26-page Travel Sleep Guide is full of gentle, expert-backed strategies to help you manage sleep before, during, and after your trip. From navigating time zone changes and naps on the go to avoiding regressions and getting back on track when you get home—this guide has everything you need for restful travel with little ones.

🧸 Grab your copy here! 

Because sleep doesn’t have to stay home when you go on vacation.

🐾 Need More Personalized Sleep Support?

If you're feeling overwhelmed or unsure how to apply these tips to your unique situation, you're not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out by yourself.

Whether your baby is still waking all night after vacation, you're struggling to get back to your routine, or sleep was already hard before the trip, I’m here to help.

✨ As a certified pediatric sleep consultant, I offer gentle, personalized sleep support for babies and toddlers that honors your child’s emotional well-being and your family values.

Book a free 15-minute Trailhead Call here to chat about your child’s sleep, your goals, and how I can support you through the next steps.

Because everyone deserves to come home to better rest. 🧸💤