[faithy]

Hi everyone,

I should be excited about our upcoming holiday but I'm feeling a little stressed. Someone I know recently went on hol's with her bub (8mths old, which will be around the time our LO will be when we go) and due to disrupted sleep routine on return home said "I wish we didnt go on our holiday!". She felt that she had to start from scratch, having had her daughter in somewhat of a routine and then it all fly out the window!

The other decision we need to make is the flight - should we catch a flight that matches her sleep time? There is an evening flight that I think would suit, and I'm predicting/hoping she'll sleep all the way and wake only for her feeds (wishful thinking that she'll be sleeping through by then lol). However, my DH seems to think that it's better if we catch a day flight. He's worried that she possibly wont sleep on the plane and so other passengers may be disturbed/he wont sleep either which wont make it fun when we reach the destination approx 8hrs later.

Any advice/suggestions for holidays and maintaining a sleep routine or due to time differences etc will I be fighting an uphill battle?

[KRT]

For DS, I've found that day flights are better since he absolutely won't sleep on me and I'd rather miss a day sleep or two than a night sleep.

I've been told that the time differences are actually a bit easier to deal with for a baby because they have more sleep periods to move around to get onto the right time, but haven't had any experience there.

For us the biggest challenge with travelling is having DS in the room with us. He's a noisy sleeper, we're both light sleepers, and we wake each other up. It's much harder to listen to a baby grizzling in the same room while giving them a chance to fall back asleep, so I get up more often. The worry I always have is that DS will quickly come to rely on the help and then need some effort to get him back to sleeping alone.

I hope you enjoy your holiday!

[Ehill]

Yes it can be hard but it does depend on the baby. Our Dd was fine but she was a great sleeper and never cared about a different place or cot, just slept whereever. Daynaps were probably the hardest. DS is different and quite frankly a PITA. He screams when put to bed in a new place and wakes constantly over night.

Flights are better than you think. How old? We used drugs with DD (very unEB thing to admit but flippin amazing). I have found bubs sleep ok on planes. Better than adults!

Good luck.

[Akatara]

Mine have never had a problem.

I think that's the best age to travel. I think night flights are better so they can sleep...

But only you know your child best.

[WinterIsComing]

If a routine is so easily disrupted, I wonder if it is natrual for a baby to be on your routine...if it takes so much effort to have it in place?

Just wondering...

We have a lose "routine" w

[faithy]

^By routine I mean the general (and relaxed) feed-play-sleep. Not a strict prescribed .. "sleep whether baby likes it or not". I also mean the 'environement' my LO is used to sleeoing in ie. at home in her bassinet.