3 Reasons to Maintain Your Child's Vacation Sleep Schedule

3 Big Reasons to Maintain Your Child’s Sleep Schedule on Vacation

I am one of those annoying mothers that insist on keeping up a schedule when on vacation. I know, this is frustrating to a lot of people. No one wants to stop having fun for nap time. And ending evenings early for bedtime can be annoying. I understand keeping up the schedule means limiting activities at times, but trust me, it is worth it. Here is are three big reasons why I maintain sleep schedules on vacation.

1) Children’s sleep needs don’t change on vacation.

This is sad but true. I wish my kids suddenly could go without a nap for a week every once in a while so we could get out and have a lot of fun. But this isn’t the case. Just because we are doing something different, it doesn’t mean they can skip important hours of rest. If anything it means they need more rest! We are in a new, exciting situation. There is more stimulation and less downtime. Kids need sleep just as much if not more during these times. Busier days and more activities up the need for sleep, so I make sure my little ones get it.

2) Sleep helps attitude.

Think about it, when you are tired out, you get cranky, even on vacation. The same thing applies to kids. Often on vacation we are eating new foods, going new places, trying new things. This can be scary and stressful for little kids. Being well rested helps us combat that. It is way easier to deal with a potentially scary situation with a full sleep tank. I have found one of the biggest reason my kids have tantrums is that they are tired. By getting enough sleep we can try to avoid this.

3) It’s vacation for Mom and Dad too.

This might sound harsh, but it’s true! Yes, I want to make sure my children have a great time on vacation. And yes, I know that when you become a parent you sacrifice certain things. But parents matter too. We are allowed to have a nice vacation as well. Our vacations pretty much consist of going to visit family. Lucky for us, we really like our family. Having my three kids nap and get to bed on time means we get to actually sit down and visit with the people we don’t get to see very often. We have game nights, watch movies, and get to relax with people we care about, away from the to-do lists of home. It also gives Pat and I a moment to reconnect, away from the normal grind.

Now, despite all these reasons I know vacation is a special time. If there is a specific activity we want to do or a special reason to stay up late, we adjust the schedule. I’m not crazy, I know the point is to have fun and take a break from the regular routine. I just also know what my kids can handle. Ali and Sammy still need at least one nap a day. Ben needs some downtime. All three still need a lot of nighttime sleep. Because of that, we plan to follow the normal routine most of the time. We don’t ignore our children’s personal hygiene while on vacation, why would we ignore their sleep hygiene? It just makes sense.