Like many of us, you probably have plans this holiday season. You may be driving a few hours to see Aunt Liz (her cranberry sauce is just about the best thing on Earth), you may be flying someplace warm with Jim, Diane and the kids, or you're playing host to Mom, Dad, brother Sam and his new girlfriend, the twins and their kids, and Grandpa Billy.

Either way, you got this. Take a few deep breaths, and remember that your little one is still just about the most important thing around. Keep her well rested by following these tips.

  1. Keep the routines.
    Story (or 5). Tubby. Bedtime. Bottles, breastfeedings, wake-ups. As much as you can keep the same as her life back home, she'll love you for it, and she'll sleep best. Routines are a baby's best friend (besides you and the dog, of course).

  2. Use her sheets on the travel crib.
    If you're on the road and using a travel crib - or even Cousin Debbie's crib from when she was a tike - take the two minutes to put your little one's sheets from home on it. It'll smell like home, like her, and like you.

  3. Bring the lovey.
    You may not use one, but if you do, bring it along. Maybe even bring its twin just in case lovey no. 1 finds his way into the dirty sheets pile and goes swimming in the hotel's washing machine. Just like her sheets, it'll keep her grounded when she's jumping over the moon with the cow.

  4. She's still allowed to cry.
    I know, it's hard, especially with a lot of other people in the house. They love you and your little one, so if you normally don't go in if she's crying, try your hardest not to at Aunt Liz's house. She's a baby, she's allowed to cry!

  5. Sam and his new girlfriend make great babysitters.
    Take some time for yourself. With so many people around, a rested you is an awesome you, so ask one of them to stick around the house while you go out for a run, or a beer, or a quick jaunt to the movies (we've heard The Hobbit's pretty kickin').

  6. Bring a suite of pj's.
    Depending on where you're going, of course. But we all know that Aunt Liz likes to keep the heat jacked up, or the AC in the hotel room may be on auto. Bring some footies, some onesies, and a couple of different weights of swaddles and sleep sacks.

  7. Mimos work in other people's homes, too.
    Bring your Mimo along if you're headed to Aunt Liz's house (Mimos don't respond well to hotels - they're more of a B&B type)! It's an easy tool to show the rest of the family how cutting-edge you are, and it'll allow you to keep getting those insights about how baby's doing. Plus, you'll probably learn a few new things about baby sleeping in other environs.

If you follow this quick cheat sheet, you'll be sure to give your little one, and all of her adorers, a most restful holiday. Which means you'll get your much-needed, and very much-deserved, rest, as well.

Have a wonderful holiday!

Mike
COO & Mimo Dad
Experienced kid travel companion
2am bottle feed ninja