By Claire Lerner and Rebecca Parlakian
We are going to be visiting my parents’ house in a few weeks, where my 9-month-old will be sleeping in a portable crib. This is his first time away and his first time sleeping anywhere but in his own crib at home. Any tips on making the transition easier?
Begin by borrowing a safe, portable crib if you don’t have one of your own. Place it in a common room in the house and then move it to different rooms, including his bedroom, so he gets used to it in different places. Let your baby explore and play in it for limited periods each day so it becomes a familiar place for him. If you visit friends around nap-time or in the evening, you might want to bring the portable crib along and have your baby sleep in it so that he will begin to associate his nap-time routine and portable crib with sleep,regardless of where it is.
When you pack for your trip, be sure to bring with you the sheets you’ve been using for the portable crib at home as well as your baby’s “lovey” or other special objects that give him comfort. Because vacations can be very stimulating, especially if you’re visiting family, help your son wind down before nap or bedtime with a period of quiet time when the two of you spend time alone playing, cuddling, and reading books. Then do your usual bedtime routine.
But—there’s often a “but”—some protesting from your baby is normal and expected. Sleeping in a new place can make children feel insecure and fearful. Plus, at 9 months, children are learning about “object permanence”—the understanding that people and things still exist even though they can’t be seen. So protesting when you leave the room to try and get you to reappear is quite common. If your baby cries, peek your head in every few minutes to reassure him that you are still there and that he is safe.
Some parents understandably worry that for babies who had been sleeping through the night, the regression they see while on vacation will carry over when they return home. However, once babies are back in their own bed, after a few days they usually settle back into their normal sleep pattern.
