Post Trip Reset Guidance

I know the thought of travelling with children can be stressful, and sometimes, quite frankly terrifying! So I have decided to do a travel series with all my top tips, advice and essentials, walking you through every step off the planning and preparation, the travel, the holiday and return travel, as well as how to reset on return.

So if you’ve got the urge to travel with your kiddos, but are feeling overwhelmed, please read on. My travel series is a comprehensive guide that will give you the toolkit you need for staycations, short-haul, and long-haul travel.

Reset on return from your holiday

The main worry parents have when returning home from their holiday is getting their little ones back into their usual routines. Please don’t let this put you off travelling as it generally only takes a few days to get back on track once you are home. In fact, some little ones seamlessly ease back into their usual routine.

Travel can of course can involve a new sleep environment, changes to sleep schedules and routine, and jet lag. Hence, returning home can sometimes cause temporary sleep disruptions.

Adjusting back to your time zone

Travelling abroad may entail changes to the time zone, and so jet lag can be present on holiday as well as when you return home. Adjusting your little one’s body clock back to local time can take some time. I suggest getting them outside into the natural light as much as possible to help to reset the circadian rhythm. The key is to keep the daytime bright and evening and night time nice and dark in order to regulate the release of melatonin and cortisol.

You can begin to shift your little one’s sleep schedule by 15 to 30 minutes per day, depending on the time difference. If there is a significant time difference, it may take a week or so to get back on track with sleep. If your little one is exhausted on return, please don’t be afraid of an earlier bedtime too.

Getting back to routine

On arrival, I would suggest you offer your little one their meals and snacks at the local time, or if possible, you can begin this on the flight home.

Predictable routine is key to resetting the internal body clock, so diving right back into your little one’s usual pre nap and bedtime routine can help to signal sleepy cues, making the transition to sleep easier for them.

Adjusting your little one back into their usual sleep space

Holidays may entail big changes to the way your little one settles to sleep. Often their sleep space is in a shared room with you whilst away. So, returning home can sometimes result in some separation anxiety for your little one. If they have slept in the same room as you whilst away, they may resist sleep at home temporarily, or be anxious around bedtime.

I would advise really slowing down the bedtime routine, as this can help your little one to calm and ease their anxiety when you leave the room. If you usually leave the room before your little one settles to sleep, you might need to increase the support for a few days and then gradually reduce it again once they are more comfortable.

Some little ones may need to spend some additional time in their bedroom on return to help them feel more comfortable in their sleep space. The best way to do this is to spend some time during the day playing together, cuddling, or reading in their room. This can help them to feel more at ease in their sleep space.  

Connection time

Holidays involve lots of family time, and your little one may have spent more time with you than usual whist away.

On return, of course life returns back to normal and your little one may notice this and miss you. Building in one to one connection time during the day, doing something with your little one that they enjoy can ease the separation at night.

With these simple steps, you can get your little one’s sleep back on track. So please don’t hesitate to travel, and make memories with your little ones. Sleep and routines can all return back to normal once you return. If you are facing any sleep challenges with your little one, feel free to get in touch.