How to get your child to sleep whilst traveling

So if I knew the secret to getting kids to sleep whilst traveling I'd write a book and sell a million copies but here are some things that have worked for us in the past.

Before the Trip

Slowly start bringing baby over to US time (or time at destination). We always aim to morph about halfway so that she's only 2.5 hours off either time. Our children who normally go down at 7 pm are staying up till 9:30 pm, and instead of waking up at 6 am sleeping in till 8:30 am.

Here is a suggested schedule:
6 weeks prior to the trip: move bedtimes and meals forward by 30 minutes
5 weeks: move bedtimes and meals forward by 1 hour total (an addition of 30 min from last week)
4 weeks: move bedtimes and meals forward 1 1/3 hours total
3 move bedtimes and meals forward 1 2/3 hours total
2 move bedtimes and meals forward 2 hours total
1 move bedtimes and meals forward 2.5 hours total

I find that at the beginning and end I am more committed to it, hence why the 20 min forwarding occurs in the middle.

Sleep Associations

Children and babies like us can have strong sleep associations. If you can predict what will help your children sleep, you will be more prepared.

For babies

• what worked well for us this time was a fan heater when I was breastfeeding to sleep. The roar of the airplane is similar and in the States my parents put a fan heater in our room. In a hotel, esp during winter, it is easy to request one.
• other sleep associations might be 
• a bath
• baby massage
• cotton sleepsuits
• cotton swaddling
• a special toy
• a special song
• or all of the above - in an unbreakable order - it may be tempting to cut corners so you can visit with family you traveled so far to see but don't even be tempted. You will regret it when she wakes up in 2 hours acting like 'That was a nice nap, Mom!'

For older kids

• Do they sleep in complete darkness or have night lights? 
• Make sure you take nightlights or get the grandparents to invest in nightlights. 
• A strong routine works well here too: cereal snack, storytime, goodnight song, prayer.

Whilst Traveling

On the airplane and the kids don't sleep, don't despair - our friend's kids sleep beautifully on the plane and then never adjust to the time difference. If your kids don't sleep, just remember they'll probably adapt faster at the other end and you'll be glad for it in a few hours when you're trying to sleep at your destination because they'll actually be tired too.

Creatures of Habit

My kids make some military regimes look like a honeymoon. They absolutely need a routine.

• Don't neglect exercise. We found a brisk walk every day helped the kids adjust and be tired at the right times.
• Also don't neglect other routines - such as homeschool first thing in the morning.
• Look on the bright side - you can finish homeschool before everyone else in the house wakes up

Regrets

Have realistic expectations - they are just kids. I made an enemy of a neighbor in our apartment when I let a jet-lagged toddler cry for hours after we got back from a trip. Don't be like me.

This revelation changed our travel experience!

When you arrive at your destination, move your eating schedule to get on time faster. A big part of what wakes you up in the States is hunger cues at breakfast time your time. If you can push your breakfast back a half hour every day, you'll get onto the time faster.

After the trip

Back home in the UK: we tend to expect the older kids to wake up at midnight and have a sort of 'midnight snack and reading time' for the first two nights, then wake up for a drink and go back to bed on later nights. For babies, it'll take a week or more.