Your toddler won’t sleep on vacation, and you’re looking for the best travel sleeping solutions for toddlers?
If so, you’ve probably come across post after post on the “best travel beds for toddlers.” While these can be useful resources under the right circumstances, they don’t really solve the real problem.
Toddlers will still be in a different environment, overstimulated, and probably jetlagged, so having the best travel beds will not solve all those problems. It will simply have you carry a bag.
Now, to be clear, there’s nothing wrong with bringing a travel bed for your toddler. But for toddler travel sleep options, we don’t think buying a travel bed should be your first plan of action.
Instead, we think you should try these 9 travel sleeping solutions for toddlers to get a good night’s sleep.
Before we do, though, let’s get clear on why sleep is even more important when you’re traveling than it is at home.
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Why Toddler Sleep REALLY Matters
Every new parent knows how precious a good night’s sleep is. For many, the idea of having 8 hours of uninterrupted time in dreamland almost sounds like a dream itself.
When you’re at home in your normal routine, this is annoying.
When you’re traveling, though, the amount of sleep you get will have a direct impact on your trip. That’s because getting a full 7-9 hours of sleep will affect your:
- Moods
- Weight control
- Brain function
- Patience
- Immune system
- Length of life
- And more…
That last one is no joke. For more information on how getting enough sleep will affect you, check out this post by the American Sleep Association: How Important Is Sleep?
But let’s be honest: the biggest reason you need your kids to sleep while traveling is so you can enjoy your kids while traveling.
When you’re tired, it’s much easier to lose your temper, get annoyed with toddlers (for being toddlers), or start little arguments with your partner.
Plus, being exhausted makes it harder to handle high-stress situations like losing luggage, fighting heavy crowds in public, or simply breaking through that 2:00 PM slump.
Now, for you, this isn’t a problem. All you need is a bed and 8 hours of quiet to float through your REM cycles.
The problem is that your kids don’t sleep well at home, let alone while traveling. So what should you do?
Let’s turn to our 9 travel sleeping solutions for toddlers that don’t require you to buy a new bed.
After all, buying a bed just to help your kid sleep would be like putting shoes on a newborn, hoping she’ll start walking. The problem isn’t the equipment… it’s the routine.
9 Toddler Travel Sleep options when your toddler won’t sleep on vacation
Before starting, I want to make something clear from the get-go: our kids are NOT (and never have been) great sleepers.
From the time both kids were young, they’ve had loads of energy and wake up frequently at night. To be honest, I can’t remember the last time we had a FULL night’s sleep without waking up to one of our boys hoping to crawl into bed.
Most nights, this means walking them back to their own room and lying down for a few minutes with them.
But, surprisingly, Emilie and I have both noticed that our boys actually sleep better while traveling. And we think it’s because we naturally do each of these 9 tips when traveling but forget to do them at home.
Let’s get started. 😉
1. Bring Portable Blackout Curtains
Having a dark room is one of the most important aspects of a good night’s sleep for toddlers, at least for our kids. As soon as summer comes and the days are longer, our kids have a hard time going to bed. But then, they wake up at 5:00 AM ready to go.
“But mom… it’s not even dark outside”.
So at home, we installed blackout curtains in every room. But then, we have a problem when we travel. Sleepout Curtains came out with the perfect solution for toddlers who won’t sleep on vacation when it’s too bright: a portable blackout curtain.
Sleepout blackout curtains come in a small bag, so it’s super easy to carry. The curtain is easily installed on a window with a suction cup system, so it can work on pretty much all windows. (You can read our detailed review here.)
Plus, they are machine washable!
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2. Bring a travel bed
This is by far the most popular option for parents of toddlers. Investing in a portable, lightweight travel bed. When traveling, we always make sure the bed is just like the one in their own bedroom so it keeps them feeling secure and familiar during nap time.
Travel beds come in many different sizes and styles, making them perfect for whatever space you have. Some even have features like a thick mattress, an inflatable pillow, optional covers or sheets, and of course, an electric pump.
And they are usually lightweight, and easy to pack up and set up, so you can quickly get your toddler settled in for the night wherever you’re staying. It’s been a lifesaver for us! 🙂
Make sure to put it in a safe spot, away from any hazards or sharp objects.
Traveling light and don’t want to bring a toddler bed?
Have you heard of BabyQuip?
BabyQuip is a platform that allows you to rent baby gear for travel, such as a toddler travel bed. It offers a wide range of items, including car seats, strollers, cribs, high chairs, and more. No more need to pack and transport bulky items like car seats and strollers, you can simply rent them through the BabyQuip platform and have them delivered directly to your destination.
3. Start in the Afternoon
When many people think about bedtime routines, they imagine starting at 7:00 or 7:30. Most routines go like this:
- No screen time 30 minutes before bed.
- Kids play calmly.
- They take a soothing bath with lavender soap.
- They drink a glass of milk.
- Parents read a bedtime story.
- Kids drift off to sleep in under a minute.
Our thoughts on that? Yeah. Freakin’. Right.
It sounds great on paper, but we haven’t had much success with the structure listed above. Inevitably something comes up to disrupt the routine, and then we end up feeling like we’re “bad parents.”
I mean… it’s working for everyone else, right?
We’ve actually had much more success preparing for naptime in the afternoon. By that, I mean we make sure to plan activities where the boys can burn up some energy.
When we go for a walk, for example, we try to get the kids out of the stroller. Let them chase each other around or play “tag” with Mom and Dad.
In other words, pay more attention to how active your kids are throughout the day. This will help you figure out the best ways to put them down at night.
4. Plan for Jetlag
Again, there are tons of articles online on how to adjust a baby to time-change travel.
I can’t honestly say we’ve found the silver bullet for that problem, but here’s how we handle it: push yourself to be more “present” and active in the first few days.
It takes time for the body to adjust to different time zones. And most kids don’t have any real conception of time, let alone what “jetlag” is.
They just know they’re tired, grumpy, and probably hungry (but that last one’s par for the course).
You’ll need to load up on coffee and plan lots of engaging activities for the first 2-3 days. And this is true for all children’s ages. Rather than hitting all the sites, find a few things that are designed specifically for kids.
Playgrounds, indoor recreation centers, public pools, spray parks, and other similar activities will be enough to get your kids’ adrenaline pumping. And when their excitement is up, they can start burning up some of that energy we talked about in the last tip.
Remember: your toddlers won’t be as excited to “sight-see” as you are. In the first few days, make the trip more about them until their body adjusts.
Then you can drag them around your favorite sights while they are (hopefully) in a better mood.
This is harder to do when you’re only visiting a city for a couple of days. That’s another reason why we prefer to slow travel as a family rather than jump from time zone to time zone.
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5. Create a Travel Bedtime Routine
We already talked about the traditional bedtime routine at home.
Now I’m going to share a bit of advice for creating a travel bedtime routine for toddlers that, we found, is more realistic.
Here’s how it breaks down:
- Kids play alone 30 minutes before bedtime starts (let them get a little crazy).
- Kids play a calm game with a parent for 15 minutes before bed.
- Kids brush their teeth.
- Mom or Dad reads 1-2 bedtime stories.
- Mom or Dad hugs them for a few minutes before leaving with the door open.
One thing to mention about this routine: there’s no bath time.
Emilie and I scratched this from our travel bedtime routine because we couldn’t be consistent with it. On rainy days, we’d take a bath in the morning or afternoon just to kill some time (how sad is that?).
So we took this away from the routine and took baths either before the routine kicked off or at other parts of the day when it was more convenient.
Now, you might change the routine above depending on your parenting style. We’ve had some family, and friends tell us this routine “coddles” the kids too much. Some suggested we take 2 nights and let them cry it out until they adjust.
Who knows? Maybe they’re right.
But traveling can be really hard on little kids. They’re so new to life that they never know where they’re going, why they’re going there, or if they’ll come back with you.
The routine we mention above still encourages independence (the kids play alone, that’s non-negotiable), but they still get plenty of love from mom and dad.
That said, you still need clear boundaries, which leads us to the next point…
6. Set Clear Boundaries
Just because you’re traveling doesn’t mean you need to give up on all the rules.
You and your partner should decide on clear boundaries while traveling. This mostly means either allowing or preventing the kids from sleeping with you at night.
Sometimes, you won’t have a choice (unless you buy one of those fancy toddler beds listed in other articles).
If you’re in a 1-bedroom hotel room, get ready to be cozy for a few days. But other times, you may use AirBnB or a site like Home Exchange to stay in a house with a few bedrooms.
You should tell your kids your stance on them sleeping in your bed a few hours before bedtime to prepare them.
Then comes the hard part: sticking to it.
If you say, “No sleeping in bed with mom and dad,” there’s nothing wrong with that. But you need to enforce the rule so your kids know it’s clear.
And just so we’re all on the same page: Emilie and I kinda’ suck at this one, too.
At 2:00 AM, it’s hard to get up and walk your kids back to their room. It means helping them get back to sleep and then stumbling back to “the big bed” afterward.
We’re getting better at this now, but it’d be silly of us to pretend like we nail this 100% of the time.
Plus, sometimes we’re so tired that we don’t even notice them crawl into bed with us until it’s morning!
7. Lay Down With Them for a Few Nights
This might seem counter-intuitive to my last point, but schedule some time to lay down with your kids for 10-15 minutes for the first few nights.
This can be hard when you want to spend your evenings having a romantic dinner or planning out tomorrow’s activities.
But, again, travel can be tough on kids. It comes with lots of changes that are difficult to adapt to. This is obviously more true for some kids than it is for others.
Make sure to have a few kids’ books on hand and read 1-to 2 before bed every night. Then stick around for a bit and let your kids know how long you’ll stay.
The key, I think, is vocalizing your plans so your kids understand what’s going on. Let’s be clear, though: by “vocalizing” your plans, I don’t mean negotiating.
Once kids know that you’ll stay longer if they cry or ask nicely, you’ll never leave.
Again, Emilie and I learned this the hard way, and while we have the theory 100% locked in, putting it into practice is often another story.
8. Try Essential Oils
I know… I know… I can feel the eye-rolls. And I’m really not pretending like essential oils are the miracle solution that a surprising amount of parents think they are.
We put some lavender oil in their bath and a few droplets on our youngest’s pillow (he has a tough time sleeping).
I can’t honestly say whether or not it worked for us, but we know 2 things for sure:
- It certainly didn’t make things worse
- It’s worked for a lot of parents
Essential oils have tons of health benefits that are often exaggerated but still exist. You might find that the right essential oil helps to get put your toddler to sleep at night.
Plus, it’s a less expensive solution than buying a travel bed for toddlers.
9. Increase Your Patience
This is probably the most important tip on the list: you need to push through the fatigue and work on your patience.
Is it annoying when kids wake up? Yes, for everyone.
Does being tired put a grey cloud over your life? Yes, and sometimes it brings out the thunder.
But did you sign up for this when you brought a little human into the world? 100%.
Keep in mind that no matter how tired you are, the goal of your trip is to spend more time together as a family. If your attitude gets negative, you can be sure theirs will, too.
Prepare yourself mentally and leave a glass of wine on the counter as a reward for when they’re down. And use the knowledge of that reward to boost your patience and help your toddlers get to sleep.
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F.A.Q.S: What to do when A Toddler Won’t Sleep on Vacation?
Where do toddlers sleep when traveling?
Toddlers typically sleep in a car seat, stroller, travel bed, and travel cot when traveling. Car seats are the most common option as they provide familiar comfort and safety features.
Where does a 2-year-old sleep on vacation?
On vacation, 2-year-olds typically sleep in the same accommodations as their parents. Depending on the specific circumstances, this may mean a hotel room, a rental house, a camper trailer, or something else.
How to get toddler to sleep in hotel
To help toddlers sleep in a hotel, it is important to establish a comfortable and familiar sleeping environment. The best way to do this is to bring items from home, such as their own sheets, blankets, and pillows. You should also make sure the room temperature is comfortable for them and they have access to their favorite toys or stuffed animals.
How to get your toddler to sleep on vacation
A consistent bedtime routine is one way to get your toddler to sleep on vacation. Before the trip, establish a routine for your child, including a set wake-up time, meals, and activities. In addition, make sure to keep the same bedtime with your toddler’s naps or rest periods while you are away from home.
What to do when your toddler won’t sleep on vacation?
If your toddler won’t sleep on vacation, maintaining a consistent bedtime routine is the first thing to do. It will help signal your toddler’s body that it is time for sleep. You should also make sure that their sleeping environment is comfortable and familiar. Consider bringing items from home like sleepout curtains, their favorite stuffed toys, a comfortable travel bed, and a blanket, as these can provide comfort during their sleep.
What should a toddler sleep in when traveling?
A toddler should sleep in an Inflatable travel bed. I recommend using the Shrunks toddler travel bed when traveling. They are designed to be lightweight, compact, easy to set up and take down, and comfortable to use. Travel cots are also the best sleeping options for toddlers to sleep when traveling.
Final Thoughts: Toddler Won’t Sleep on Vacation?
It’s important to remember that traveling with kids, as awesome as it is, can be hard on toddlers (and all children’s age, for a matter of fact). It disrupts their routine and can make sleep harder.
While bringing a travel bed can be seen to be the ultimate solution, we believe that there are other sleep travel solutions that will help your toddler go to bed more easily.
Will they all work 100% of the time? No. Nothing will.
But these strategies will at least give you a starting point that’s more practical than buying a brand-new bed. 🙂
Related Articles
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- Best Type of Stroller for Travel: Jogging VS Regular
- The Best Road Trip Snacks for Kids
- Best Type of Stroller for Travel
