Sleeping FAQ: 6-9 Months – Other

How do I get my 7 month old adjusted to New York time after an evening flight?

I have a question about travelling with babies and how to adjust the routine with time differences. We have just returned from a trip to France and booked an evening flight which seemed to work as my 7mth slept on and off all the way home, but the time difference was only 1 hour so it was easy to adjust. However, we are planning to go to New York at Christmas and she will be 10 months then. Again we have booked an evening flight which departs at 6pm and arrives at 9pm local time. How would you recommend that I get her into North American time on that first day?

Depending how much your daughter sleeps on the plane, as the flight coincides with her bedtime you may need to give her a short time awake on your arrival and then settle her with her usual bed routine. The following day you move her straight into local time. You may have to wake her at 7am and she may need slightly longer naps on the first day. Keep to her usual daytime routine as much as possible and try to stop her getting over stimulated especially at bath and bedtime. If she does wake in the first couple of nights, or wakes early settle her with a drink and a cuddle. If she continues to wake after the first two nights leave her 10-20 minutes to settle herself rather than rushing to her. Within three to four days you should find that she is back on track and settled into her routine on local time.
Take a look at the question and answer on p90 of the New Contented Little Baby.