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1. Keep to your little one’s nap times and bed times as much as possible. A sun tent is great for taking on the beach with you so your little one can curl up for a nap when needed. Or a buggy blackout blind will make sure your baby has a good sleep in the pram or pushchair, wherever you are, and you can relax for an hour or more!
2. If you can, take your child’s bedding with you. Sheets, sleeping bags and duvets that smell of home will be reassuring and comforting. Infants and toddlers naturally wake at night and they rely on their senses to know that they’re safe. If your little one’s bedding smells like home, they're less likely to feel anxious and need attention during the night.
3. Take a soothing sleep CD with you that you already play at bedtime when at home. This will help to make the environment feel familiar and work as a sleep cue for your baby or toddler. Gentle sounds like the rain or the sea will also help to mask any unusual noises in the night, which may cause your little one to wake.
4. If your child doesn’t have a baby comforter or blanket, it’s worth introducing one before you go. Comforters are a very powerful sleep cue and they help your little one feel safe and secure in unfamiliar environments. Plus, they’re portable!
5. If your baby already has a comforter, then take a spare. We tend to be out and about a lot on holiday, visiting quite a few places in just one day, and this is a time when things easily get lost. The last thing you need is a missing comforter and a baby who won’t sleep!
6. Follow the usual bedtime routine to wind your child down after the adventures of the day. Think about each stage of this routine when you are packing for your holiday and remember to take anything you use as part of your countdown to bedtime. Your child may have a special cuddly towel or a favourite bath time toy. Taking these items on holiday with you will help them to relax as bedtime approaches.
7. Make sure you have a safe place for your baby to sleep. If your toddler is already in a bed, a portable bedrail will prevent her from falling out. You may also need to take a travel cot with you, and a stair gate for the top of the stairs. A lot of holiday properties provide these, but check before departing.
8. If your baby sleeps with a blackout blind on their window at home, they may find it hard to fall asleep on light evenings and then wake early when the sun comes streaming into the bedroom at 5am. To avoid this, take a portable blackout blind with you to pop up on the window at bedtime.
Finally, relax and have a great time! Here at Farm & Cottage Holidays we have a huge selection of family friendly self catering cottages available and if you have any questions about a specific property, just give our team in the office a call.
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