Holidays Away from Home

Tips from a pediatrician on how to manage the change in routines with kids.

The holidays can be fun yet stressful as a parent. Leaving the house with kids can be complicated, whether it’s overnight or just for the day. There are often different routines, new foods, lots of stimulation, and missed naps that can throw kids off and lead to meltdowns. No matter what happens, expect that everyone may be a bit out of sorts, but things will get better!

Sleep Routines

Holidays can be tricky to maintain routines, and most kids thrive on routines around sleep. Try to keep routines as normal as possible, but when it’s not possible due to travel or gatherings, know that it’ll take some consistency to get everyone sleeping well again. It may take a few days to a week back to your consistent regular routine to get your kid back on track. If you know that bedtime might be delayed or your kid will miss a nap, try to maximize sleep when you can with an early bedtime or an additional nap if possible.

Unfamiliar Foods

Traditional holiday dishes are often foods kids don’t eat regularly. As with any unfamiliar food, I recommend offering some on their plate but to not expect your kid to eat. If you know your kid is particular and likely won’t consume much of the meal, try offering a “safe” food from home alongside the unfamiliar foods. Often getting them some protein through a cheese stick, yogurt, or a nut butter pouch can be easy and provide some lasting energy to help prevent hangry meltdowns.

Family Expectations

If you’ll be visiting with friends or family who your kids don’t normally see, expect that it may take them some time to warm up. Also, most people’s expectations for kids are not realistic, especially if they don’t currently have young children. Most kids can’t sit for extended periods of time without wiggling and may not be interested in grown-up activities. Try to prepare your kids and any family members ahead of time about what to expect can help. Try not to take well-intentioned suggestions from family and friends to heart if they don’t work for you.

The key take-away for traveling with kids is to do what you can to keep routines on track while away from home. Remember that things may get a bit rough while away, but they should improve once you’re back to your regular schedule. Once you’ve returned home, keep as much consistency as possible, and most families find everyone’s back to normal within a week.

Dr. Sarah Wiersma is the owner of PeaPod Pediatrics and a board certified pediatrician and breastfeeding medicine specialist. Schedule a Meet & Greet to meet Dr. Wiersma and find out how pediatric direct primary care can support your family.