The summer holidays are often filled with excitement. Family holidays, weekends away, weddings, BBQs, days at the beach and making memories together.

But if you have a baby or young child, they can also bring a lot of worry.

Will they sleep?

Should we stick to the routine?

Will one late night ruin everything?

What happens if they only nap in the buggy?

How do we cope with sharing a hotel room?

These are some of the most common questions I am asked every summer and my answer is usually the same.

Take a deep breath.

Your child’s sleep is important, but so is enjoying family life.

The goal is not to create the perfect routine every day of your holiday. The goal is to protect the foundations of good sleep whilst allowing enough flexibility to make wonderful memories together.

Routine versus rhythm

One of the biggest misconceptions about sleep is that children need a rigid timetable every single day.

In reality, children thrive far more on rhythm than exact timings.

At home your day might look like this:

Wake up

Breakfast

Play

Nap

Lunch

Afternoon activity

Dinner

Bath

Bed

When you’re away, the timings might shift slightly, but the overall rhythm can stay surprisingly similar.

Instead of watching the clock all day, watch your child.

Are they becoming tired?

Do they need a quieter moment?

Would bringing lunch forward help?

Sometimes protecting the order of the day is far more important than protecting the exact times.

Don’t be afraid of one-off late nights

One late bedtime will not undo months of good sleep habits.

If your child stays up to watch the sunset on the beach or enjoys an evening with family, embrace it.

Sleep is built on consistency over weeks and months, not perfection every single night.

The following day you may notice they are a little more tired, so simply allow for a slightly earlier nap or an earlier bedtime if needed.

Think about balance rather than perfection.

Expect naps to look different

Holiday naps are often very different from home naps.

Some children will happily nap in the buggy while you’re exploring a new town.

Others may sleep in the car between destinations.

Some may still prefer their travel cot.

None of these are wrong.

The most important thing is making sure your child still has the opportunity to rest.

If your baby is under 12 months, always follow The Lullaby Trust’s safer sleep guidance. Babies should sleep on a firm, flat surface, on their back, with a clear sleep space free from loose bedding, pillows, toys and comforters.

Holidays can be incredibly stimulating

New sights.

New smells.

New people.

Swimming pools.

Ice cream.

Long walks.

Parks.

Beaches.

Family gatherings.

For adults this is exciting.

For babies and young children it is also exhausting.

Even if your child appears full of energy, remember that their little brain is processing far more information than usual.

It is completely normal for them to need an earlier bedtime after a busy day.

Travelling by car

Try not to worry if your child naps in the car.

Sometimes the journey naturally falls over nap time and that is absolutely fine.

If you have a very long drive, consider planning regular stops so everyone can stretch their legs.

For babies, remember that current guidance recommends limiting time in a car seat where possible and taking regular breaks on long journeys.

If your little one only has a short car nap, simply bring the next sleep a little earlier rather than trying to keep them awake until their usual time.

Flying with children

Many parents worry about flights, but children are often far more adaptable than we expect.

Dress them comfortably.

Offer feeds for babies during take-off and landing if appropriate.

Pack familiar sleep items such as their sleeping bag, white noise and favourite bedtime book.

Don’t worry if sleep is a little unsettled during travel days.

Travel days are rarely representative of normal sleep.

Sharing a hotel room

This is probably the question I get asked the most.

“My baby sleeps brilliantly at home, but what happens when we’re all in one room?”

The good news is that most babies adapt surprisingly quickly.

If possible:

Bring familiar bedding such as their sleeping bag.

Use white noise.

Keep the bedtime routine as close to home as possible.

Use portable blackout blinds or blackout material if the room is particularly bright.

Once your little one is asleep, don’t feel you have to sit silently in the dark all evening.

Most children become accustomed to the normal sounds of their parents quietly reading, chatting or watching television with the volume low.

Keeping the bedtime routine

Your bedtime routine does not need to be long.

Five or ten familiar minutes can make all the difference.

Perhaps it’s:

Pyjamas.

Teeth.

Story.

Cuddle.

Song.

Bed.

Children find enormous comfort in familiar routines, even in unfamiliar places.

Time zones

If you’re travelling somewhere with only a small time difference, many children naturally adjust within a couple of days.

For longer time differences, try to move meals, naps and bedtime towards local time as soon as practical.

Get outside in natural daylight during the morning as this helps regulate the body’s internal clock.

Most importantly, be patient.

Everyone adjusts at their own pace.

The summer heat

Warm weather can make sleep feel more unsettled.

Dress your child appropriately for the room temperature.

Keep bedrooms well ventilated where possible.

Use blackout blinds or curtains during the hottest part of the day to help keep bedrooms cooler.

For babies under 12 months, always follow The Lullaby Trust’s guidance on avoiding overheating and maintaining a safe sleep environment.

Will we create bad habits?

This is probably the biggest fear parents have.

“My baby only slept in the buggy.”

“We cuddled him to sleep every night.”

“She ended up in our bed one night.”

Please don’t panic.

Children are incredibly good at recognising different environments.

Holiday sleep does not have to look exactly like home sleep.

It is perfectly okay to respond to your child’s needs while you’re away and gently return to your usual routine when you get home.

One week of flexibility is not going to undo months of loving consistency.

Returning home

Many families are pleasantly surprised by how quickly children settle back into their normal routine.

The key is confidence.

On your first day home, simply return to your usual rhythm.

Wake at your normal time.

Offer naps as you usually would.

Follow your familiar bedtime routine.

Your child already knows these patterns.

Sometimes they just need a gentle reminder.

My top holiday sleep tips

• Protect your bedtime routine, even if timings vary slightly.

• Aim for rhythm rather than rigid schedules.

• Don’t be afraid of the occasional late night.

• Make naps happen however you reasonably can.

• Pack familiar sleep cues such as sleeping bags, white noise and bedtime books.

• Allow earlier bedtimes after particularly busy days.

• Keep bedrooms as dark and cool as possible.

• Follow safer sleep guidance for babies under 12 months.

• Enjoy your holiday without worrying about perfection.

• Remember that routines can always be gently reset once you’re home.

Final thoughts

Summer holidays should be about making memories, not watching the clock.

Children are wonderfully adaptable when they feel safe, loved and supported.

Some days will go exactly to plan.

Others won’t.

And that’s okay.

A missed nap, a buggy snooze or a later bedtime doesn’t define your child’s sleep.

What matters most is the consistency they experience over time, not one holiday or one weekend away.

So enjoy the ice creams, the beach days, the family BBQs and the adventures.

Sleep will always be there waiting when you get home.

If you’re worried about travelling with your little one this summer or would like a personalised sleep plan before you go away, I’d love to help.

At Born To Sleep, I support families with gentle, responsive sleep solutions from birth right through to 6 years, helping you protect your child’s sleep while still enjoying family life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will one late night ruin my baby’s sleep routine?

No. One late night is very unlikely to undo months of consistent sleep habits. Simply return to your usual routine the following day and consider an earlier bedtime if your child is particularly tired.

Should I keep my baby’s routine exactly the same on holiday?

Aim to keep the rhythm of the day rather than focusing on exact timings. Children often cope well with some flexibility while still benefiting from familiar routines.

Is it okay if my child naps in the buggy or car on holiday?

Yes. Holiday naps often look different from naps at home. The most important thing is ensuring your child still has opportunities to rest.

How quickly will my child settle back into their routine after holiday?

Most children settle back surprisingly quickly. Simply return to your familiar wake time, naps and bedtime routine as soon as you are home.