Christmas And Your Baby's Sleep
- Charlotte Evans
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Christmas can feel so magical when you have little ones - all the twinkly lights, yummy food, and plans to see all your friends and family, but when you’re a parent the festive period can also feel overwhelming. Loads of noise, routines go out the window, unfamiliar beds, and more stimulation than a tiny brain knows what to do with can all make sleep feel unpredictable and stressful.
Whether you’re travelling to see family, hosting people at home, or squeezing in festive outings between nap times, keeping your little one well-rested can feel impossible. But your baby’s sleep doesn’t have to fall apart just because Christmas is so busy. With a few tweaks and considerations, you can be possible to keep naps and bedtime on track. And remember, even if it does go up the spout over Christmas - all is not lost.
Here are some realistic and achievable tips to help you protect sleep while still enjoying your Christmas plans:
1. Don’t Stress About the Schedule
One of the biggest causes of Christmas stress for parents is the pressure to keep everything perfectly on track. But babies can be resilient, and a temporary shift in their nap time or a later bedtime won’t undo all your hard work.
Instead of aiming for perfect, aim for “good enough.” If your baby usually naps at 12pm but it ends up being 12:45pm because you’re at Grandma’s house - don’t stress about it. Flexibility will help you stay calmer, which your little one will pick up on too.
For now, just focus on the overall rhythm of the day rather than the exact minutes on the clock.
2. Be Mindful of Over-Stimulation
As parents we all want to give our little one’s the best Christmas experiences we can - usually involving colourful decorations, social gatherings and of course a bit of Christmas music - all of which can be overwhelming for little ones. Over-stimulation can be one of the reasons why sleep becomes trickier over Christmas .
Signs that your little one has had enough might be:
zoning out
rubbing their eyes
turning their head away
becoming clingy or fussy
If things are getting a bit much, make an excuse to go into a quiet room for a few minutes of calm. Think of it as a “reset button” (for both you and your baby!)
3. Create a Familiar Sleep Environment
Even if you’re away from home, bringing a few familiar items for sleep can help your baby feel safe and settled. For example:
their usual sleeping bag
a familiar sleep outfit
white noise to help mask unfamiliar noises
their comforter or cuddly toy (if they use one)
a darkened room using portable blackout blinds
By recreating your sleep environment from home as much as possible, your little one will not only have the signals that it is sleep time, but will also feel more comfortable falling asleep in a different place.
4. Give Your Baby Extra Support If Needed
Your little one may need a bit more help than usual to calm down and fall asleep over Christmas, and that’s perfectly understandable. A little extra support here and there is unlikely to create long term habits that we can’t undo.
Remember that although it can feel like it goes on for weeks, Christmas disturbances are only temporary. Your baby is trying to process that everything looks, sounds, and feels different. Offering extra comfort when they need it is both appropriate and encouraged.
And If Sleep Goes Off Track… Don’t Panic
Even with the best intentions, sleep might still get a little messy - you might have later bedtimes, shorter naps, extra night waking, or a new sleep association has crept in such as holding their hand while they drift off.
This doesn’t mean you’ve ruined anything.
Once you’re home and back into your normal routine, you may find that your baby settles back into a great sleep pattern. The best way to encourage this is by giving them consistency, reassurance, and returning to their normal routine as much as possible.
Most importantly, give yourself permission to enjoy Christmas — imperfect sleep and all.
You’re doing an amazing job, and your baby’s sleep will find their rhythm again. In the meantime, just go with what works for you, offer extra comfort if needed, and don’t forget to look after yourself too!
If you need help creating a personalised post-Christmas sleep reset plan, I’d be happy to help.
Comments