Sleeping FAQ: 9-12 Months – Settling/Sleep Associations

I am concerned how my 10mth daughter will cope with her daytime naps when we are on holiday

My 10mth daughter loves the routines and has slept through the night since a very young age. She is a very contented baby through the day. The problem I have is that she will not easily fall asleep in my arms or in the pushchair, although she will sleep in the car.

We are going on holiday soon and I am worrying how I am going to get her to sleep during the day. The flight is only 4 hours but the whole journey will take all day.

In the past when we have been out and she has not been able to sleep in her cot, she will just not sleep until she gets very overtired, has a screaming fit and then falls asleep. On very rare occasions she has managed to fall asleep in my arms or in her pushchair.

My daughter naps at 9.15-9.45am and 12.30-2.30pm.

It can be worrying when wondering how you will cope with a baby who likes her cot when you are away from home.

You could begin to get your daughter used to sleeping elsewhere now so, by the time you travel, she is more familiar with sleeping in places other than her cot. Try taking a walk in the morning at the time of her nap. It may help if you drape a blanket over her pushchair so she is not aware of what is going on around her, and so fight sleep. Try this two or three times, even if she seems unsettled, as she will gradually get used to sleeping whilst on the move.

Try to make things familiar for your daughter on the day you travel. She may find it easier to settle to sleep in her pushchair, and also on the plane, if she has some familiar items around her. Take her comforter, if she has one, and also a familiar blanket or cover from her cot. Most airlines will allow you to take your pushchair right to the boarding gate so, depending on the times of the flights, she may be able to sleep in her pushchair for at least one of her naps. If your daughter needs to have a nap on the plane it may take her longer than usual to fall asleep. Pull down the window blinds and turn off the overhead lights where you are sitting. With a familiar blanket or comforter she may well be lulled to sleep by the noise of the plane, despite all that is going in around her. Take plenty of small toys and books to enjoy with her whilst she is awake during the flight

Make up a bottle of water and have some powdered formula on hand to make her a bottle for take off and landing. Although it may not be the time for her feed, the sucking process will mean she is less affected by the change in cabin pressure. Have your own supply of food and snacks so you can offer her these at her usual meal times, or as near as possible, fitting in with your travelling arrangements.

Once you reach your destination move on to local time, even if it is only a small time difference. Depending how much your daughter has slept whilst travelling she may need an extra nap that day and so you will need to move her bedtime to later as well. But stay with the same routine she has at home, such as bath and stories before settling her down to sleep.

Keep the first day or so of your holiday as quiet as you can. If you are out and about when your daughter needs to nap try to be in a quiet place, especially as she settles to sleep, and put a blanket over her pushchair.

Babies can be very adaptable to change, despite being used to a certain routine. If you remain calm and relaxed but accept that she may not sleep as well in the day whilst you are away she will probably surprise you by coping quite well.