The Ultimate Guide to Baby and Toddler Sleep on Vacation – Tips to Make it Work Traveling as a Family and *ACTUALLY* Get Great Rest
Everything You Need to Know About Baby & Toddler Sleep on Vacation: (From a Mom Who Travels a Ton with Two Toddlers)
We’ve been on over 150 flights as a family, all over the world as a luxury family travel advisor and blogger, and every time we travel, my inbox fills with a ton of the same questions – what does SLEEP look like on vacation with a toddler? How do you make it work with a family of four while traveling in a hotel room? What should I bring with us to help my baby sleep on vacation? I’ve even gotten “Should I somehow pack up the snoo for vacation?” (please don’t try!).
This post goes over EVERYTHING about baby and toddler sleep on vacation, plus what’s worked for us after years of traveling with little ones.
And here’s the good news: babies and toddlers can sleep well on vacation.
And the most important thing I want you guys to remember is that breaking our routines every so often through travel builds resilient little travelers, and resilient little HUMANS!!!
Being a parent isn’t about making our children comfortable and happy all the time, it’s about helping them build up enough experience to know they can handle discomfort and the hard stuff that life will throw at them.
(The “hard stuff”, like sleeping in a $1000 a night luxury hotel in Italy!? LOL)
But in all seriousness, I want my kids to learn that unfamiliar doesn’t mean unsafe. That change doesn’t mean chaos. And that they can feel tired, off-schedule, or out of routine, and still be happy and okay!!!!
When babies learn (or even try!) to nap in strollers instead of cribs, or toddlers fall asleep later than usual after a full day of swimming and exploring, they’re learning something eternally valuable: flexibility.
Those little moments of a littttle discomfort, like a late bedtime, a time zone change, a red-eye flight, a different bed, are actually confidence-building for our little ones, and for us too.
So let’s get into your questions!!!!!
Can Babies and Toddlers Sleep Well in Hotels?
Yes! and many do.
Travel often means a full day of fresh air, stimulation, and movement, which means your kids (like you) are exhausted by the time they hit the bed.
A few familiar cues go a long way in making a hotel room feel like home to them:
White noise machine (we like this little guy)
Their sleep sack if they wear one at home (we love these sleep sacks)
A few of their favorite bedtime books! (this is key to making a hotel feel like home, all our favorite books are on my amazon list here!)
You don’t need perfection. You just need a little familiarity!
Now I’ll caveat this by saying that our FIRST night in a new place is almost always a tough night for everyone’s sleep, including my little ones. Especially if there’s a time zone difference, but mainly because it takes them a night or so to get used to their new surroundings, and my baby almost always ends up in our bed vs. the crib (but who could blame her? she’s somewhere new, and wants the comfort of mom!) By the second and third nights, though, they usually adjust pretty well! Not always perfectly (especially if there’s a new time zone involved!) but manageably.
Will Traveling Ruin My Baby or Toddler’s Sleep?
No!
Travel does not ruin sleep. It doesn’t undo routines. It doesn’t permanently change anything.
What does happen:
Bedtime might be a little different / a little later than normal
Naps might move around or be longer or shorter
Sleep may look less “perfect” on paper
What doesn’t happen:
Long-term sleep regressions
Lost sleep skills
A child who forgets how to sleep at home
Kids are wayyyy more adaptable than we give them credit for!!!!!! In fact, traveling often helps them become more flexible sleepers over time, which is one of the best gifts we can give them.
Should My Toddler Sleep in a Crib, Cot, or Regular Bed on Vacation?
It depends on their age and comfort, but here’s a simple guide:
Under 2: Crib or travel crib (we LOVE this travel crib!!!! it’s the lightest and best!!)
2–3: Cot, toddler bed, or bed with bumpers
3+: Regular bed with basic safety setup
If your baby already sleeps well at home, vacation rarely changes that. And if you’re transitioning, travel can actually be a great low-pressure place to practice! That was the case for us when Harrison started being in a big boy bed – it made travel all the more exciting!
What Sleep Items Are Worth Packing for Travel?
You don’t need to bring the whole nursery with you when traveling with a baby.
The essentials:
White noise machine (we like this little guy)
Their sleep sack if they wear one at home (we love these sleep sacks)
The slumberpod !!!! (info below!) totally optional – but we don’t travel without it. You don’t NEED it – but we do love it. I think it helps with time zone adjusting too!
A few of their favorite bedtime books! (this is key to making a hotel feel like home, all our favorite books are on my amazon list here!)
A GREAT baby carrier (this brand is worth its weight in gold (and you can get $50 off with this link)
A great travel crib! we like this one.
A travel stroller that lies flat for naps on the go (obsessed with this one right now for travel! and this one too – it’s a travel jogging stroller so handles rugged terrains really well, isn’t quite as compact as our travel stroller, but we travel with it anyway because it’s very lightweight for how sturdy it is!)
What is a Slumberpod?
A Slumberpod is a portable, blackout sleep tent that fits over a crib, travel crib, or toddler cot. It’s designed to create a dark, enclosed sleep environment for babies and toddlers! it is breathable and works wonders.
Can a SlumberPod Fit Over a Full-Size Hotel Crib?
Yes.
This is a very common question, and the answer is yes! a SlumberPod can fit over most standard full-size hotel cribs.
How Do You Keep a Toddler From Falling Out of a Hotel Bed?
This is one of the most searched questions — and one of the easiest to solve.
Here’s what works:
Pillows and Blankets as Soft Bumpers
Extra pillows and rolled blankets along the edge of the bed create a gentle barrier. Hotels usually have plenty.
Ask for Toddler Bed Rails
Hotels sometimes have rails available if you ask when booking or before arrival. Some family-friendly hotels even install them proactively.
Push the Bed Against a Wall
If possible, place the bed against a wall so your toddler sleeps on the wall side!
Toddlers usually figure it out quickly. The first night brings the most nerves. After that, confidence builds.
What If My Baby or Toddler Won’t Nap on Vacation?
This is completely normal, they’re very stimulated and excited!!! Don’t over stress. and remember that stroller naps count! carrier naps count! car naps count! Let them get rest when it comes.
On vacation, we’ll also sometimes try and do a poolside nap if we can, too, so we don’t have to go back to the room and waste precious vacation time! (And some hotels, like FS in Maui, even have poolside pack n’ plays you can use complimentarily. We’ve also brought ours that we travel with down to the beach for naps before too!
yes this was seriously a thing at this Maui kids pool! GENIUS!!!
Some days you’ll get a cabana nap while you sip a pina colada. Some days a beautiful long crib nap in the room. Some days you won’t. One solid nap (or even a decent rest) is often enough.
If my baby / toddler won’t nap anywhere but the room, how does that work? Are we locked inside the hotel room during vacation? Or can we leave them in the room?
Please do not leave your baby or toddler alone, ever. Not in a hotel room where you’re “close enough”. Not ever. I don’t feel comfortable doing that at all!!!! What if something were to happen? You’d never forgive yourself.
If you’re planning a trip, I do ideally look for hotels ideally beachfront access or a private pool, that way, during nap times, my husband and I have a great set up to enjoy while our children nap. But if not, we’ll just switch off.
The ideal hotel room types for traveling with babies and toddlers
In an ideal hotel room, your baby or toddler has their own separate sleeping space. But that’s not always realistic or in budget.
So get creative! It’s not uncommon for parents to put the travel crib in the bathroom if there’s enough space !!!! (easy to create a blackout sleep situation and separate space for the baby).
me pouring myself a glass of rosé on the balcony in Anguilla while my kids napped in the room
How Do Beds Actually Work as a Family in a Hotel Room?
This is one of the most common questions parents worry about when planning a trip as a family.
Where does everyone sleep? Who goes in which bed?
If we have two kids, do all four of us share one hotel room?
Below are realistic ways families actually sleep in hotels, based on what we’ve found works best.
When we travel, we go four to a room. It depends on the age of your kids, but for us for a while that looked like 2 cribs for awhile (we’d bring one with us and request one from the hotel), and more recently my son is in his own bed or cot and my daughter is in a crib. Here are some options depending on your family!
For Families of Four (Two Adults + Two Kids)
This is the most common hotel configuration, and usually the easiest to manage.
Option 1: Either 2 Children in 2 Cribs, or One Child in a Crib + One Child in the Bed, depending on age
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Baby or younger toddler in a crib or travel crib
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Older toddler or child in bed
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Parents in the second bed (or one parent with the child)
This works well when one child still needs a crib and the other is comfortable in a bed.
Option 2: Kids Share a Bed, Parents Share a Bed
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Both kids in one bed
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Parents in the other bed
This can work great for toddlers who feel comforted sleeping near each other.
Option 3: One Parent + One Child Per Bed
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One adult and one child in each bed
For Families of Five (Two Adults + Three Kids)
Families of five require a bit more creativity, but it’s absolutely doable. First of all, you need to make sure your hotel allows 5 in a room, some have strict fire codes and can only do 4 per room (in which case, you would need either a bigger suite type room, or connecting rooms, which sometimes hotels can offer the second room at a discount)
Option 1: Crib + Bed Sharing + Parent Bed
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Baby in a crib or travel crib
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Two kids sharing one bed
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Parents sharing the other bed
This is an ideal set up if the hotel allows it.
Option 2: One Child on a Rollaway or Sofa Bed
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Baby in crib
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One child in a bed with a parent
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One child on a rollaway bed or sofa bed (if the hotel provides one)
Many family-friendly hotels will provide rollaways or sofa beds if you request them early.
Option 3: Suite-Style Setup
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Parents in the bedroom
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Kids split between sofa bed, rollaway, or second sleeping area
If you’re traveling with three kids, booking a junior suite or one or two bedroom suite can dramatically improve sleep for everyone, even for just a night or two.
What to Remember About Family Hotel Sleep Setups
It doesn’t have to look perfect or exactly like your setup at home to work. Kids often sleep better than expected simply because they’re tired from full days of activity, fresh air, and stimulation. A slightly crowded bed, a different layout, or a temporary setup won’t ruin sleep – it’s just part of the fun!!!
And once you find a configuration that works, it tends to work again and again.
Will we all sleep terribly in one room?
It’s not always ideal, but it works out – bring earplugs!!! (my toddler talks in his sleep and my baby fusses in her sleep, ear plugs are a must)
Your sleep may not be perfect those first couple nights – but wouldn’t you rather have a worse night’s sleep in paradise than a perfect night’s sleep at home? I know I would!
Do hotels always have cribs available?
Confirm when you are booking that the hotel will have a crib available (or book with a luxury travel advisor like me who can make sure all of this is taken care of, AND get you free VIP perks like free breakfast, room upgrades, resort credits and more!)
But yes, you can usually depend on the hotel to have a crib (just make sure before)
Do Toddlers Need to Stick to Their Exact Sleep Schedule on Vacation?
No, and trying to usually creates more stress than benefit.
Instead of watching the clock on vacay, focus on:
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Keeping their bedtime routine familiar
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Offering them rest when it naturally fits into the day and when they naturally need it!
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Letting timing be flexible!!
How Do You Handle Jet Lag and Time Changes With Kids?
Patiently!
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Get outside as soon as possible upon landing and during daylight hours
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Eat meals at local times
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Let sleep adjust naturally
Early mornings or later or earlier bedtimes are common at first, but you’ll find kids often adjust faster than adults!!!
Time zone training for babies & toddlers
if you want to prepare before the trip, you can try ‘time zone training’ and moving your children’s eating, napping, and sleeping schedule up a half hour at a time, then an hour, for about a week or two before your trip, to get them just a little bit closer to your new time zone. We’ve also had a lot of success breaking our longer-distance trips up a bit, so stopping over in California for a few days on the way to Hawaii or Bora Bora, for example, can help a lot with the time zone change!
On our way to Bali last year, we stopped over in Italy, and it made all the difference (adjusting a 5 or 6 hour time difference twice is MUCH easier than adjusting to a 12 hour time difference once)
Decide Whether the Time Zone You’re Traveling to is Worth Adjusting Your Baby or Toddler’s Schedule
If you’re only taking a short trip one or two time zones away, it actually may be better to just keep your child on their normal sleep schedule and eating times, naps, bedtime an hour earlier or later, etc. Sometimes, when we travel just one time zone away, we’ll just make our baby boy’s bedtime and nap times an hour different. It’s not always the solution for longer trips or when you cross multiple time zones, but for quick trips with a baby, it can make it easier than trying to get your little one to adjust to a whole new routine while traveling, this is an especially key tip if you’ve already got a good sleep schedule going!
Also, consider adjusting a little bit but not ALL the way, so if baby normally sleeps 7-7 at home, maybe they’re sleeping 8-8 or 9-9 on vacation because that’s just easier time zone wise. Be flexible, and find what works best for you guys.
What should you do leading up to the trip to help your baby or toddler sleep well on vacation?
Talk to them alllllll about the trip!!!
Even if they’re young. Even if you’re not sure how much they understand. Even if they can’t talk back yet!
Tell them where you’re going, talk about the hotel room, the airplane or car ride, the beach, the pool, and where they’ll sleep. Describe it casually and often, the same way you’d narrate your day at home.
“We’re going to sleep in a new HOTEL room!”
“There will be a cozy bed just for you. a big boy bed!!!”
“We’ll wake up and have breakfast there. What do you think they’ll have at the breakfast buffet?”
I’ve found that when our kids feel included in the plan, they’re much calmer (and more excited!) once it’s actually happening. The environment may be new, but it doesn’t feel unexpected!
This works especially well for toddlers, who thrive on predictability even when things are changing. Knowing what’s coming helps them feel safe and confident, even in a new place.
I also ask my toddler what toys and books he wants to pack, and get him involved in that process too! It works wonders.
OK now talk to me about planes – how do babies and toddlers sleep on planes?
Babies – usually in a baby carrier on you is the easiest, or if they’re under 6 months and you’re traveling internationally, you should try to book them a bassinet! (here’s how) or if they have their own seat on the plane, in a car seat! Read this post on baby travel hacks for more info!!
Once they hit toddler mode, something like this contraption becomes a great tool to help them have a sleep space on a plane.
The Stokke Jetkids bedbox – works great for toddlers like 1-3 years old, after that they get a little too big for it to really make a difference.
after they grow out of using that, it really becomes just like adults sleeping on planes – not easy!!! But my toddler will usually just lie on one of us and make himself comfy and fall asleep. We help try to zen him down before it’s time to sleep, do his bedtime routine, and make it as comfortable as possible! He’s done great with it. But practice makes perfect!!!!
and, again, talk to them about it all leading up!!! Toddlers sleep best when nothing feels surprising.
Before the trip, talk about:
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Sitting on the airplane
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Sleeping while in the seat or being held
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Waking up and still being on the plane, and when landing will happen, etc
“We’ll sit, have a snack, watch a show, then have a little nap on the airplane. Then it will be like we teleported to our destination because when you wake up, it will be time to land!”
When toddlers know the plan, they’re less resistant to it!
Is it better to plan a flight during nap time or around nap time?
Planning your flights with your baby or toddler’s nap time in mind is about creating the best possible opportunity for their rest, and that depends on their age (see below)
Keep in mind that planes and travel days are unpredictable. Sleep is often delayed, fragmented, or looks nothing like home. Timing helps a little, but flexibility matters more.
For Babies (Under 12 Months)
Best flight times:
Morning flights are usually easiest. Babies are well-rested, and naps often happen naturally once you’re in motion.
How to think about naps:
Let the first nap happen on the plane if possible. Feed during takeoff or just before sleep, and expect naps to be shorter than usual — that’s completely fine. Many babies sleep surprisingly well with motion and background noise.
For Toddlers (12–24 Months)
This is the trickiest stage because they’re alert, opinionated, and still very nap-dependent.
Best strategy:
Try to board when your toddler is slightly tired, not overtired. Flights that start about 30–90 minutes before their usual nap tend to work best. That window gives time to settle, snack, and wind down before resting on the plane.
Trying to time an exact nap often backfires. A buffer works better!!!!!
For Toddlers (2–3+ Years)
You have two solid options:
Nap-time flights:
These work well for longer flights, but expect partial naps rather than full ones.
Early morning or late evening flights:
Morning flights mean a more rested, calmer toddler. Evening flights increase the chance of dozing off.
At this age, even 30–45 minutes of sleep can make a big difference.
Is It Okay If My Baby Wants to Contact Nap on Vacation?
Absolutely!!!
New environment, new stimulation, them wanting closeness with you makes sense.
If contact naps or extra cuddles happen for a few days, that’s totally normal, temporary, and won’t create long-term ‘bad’ habits. Just let them be close!! Vacation is not the time to fight them wanting a little extra comfort.
What If My Toddler Sleeps Less Than Usual on Vacation?
Then they sleep a little less – and life goes on! plus, they’ll likely make up for it later.
Babies and toddlers’ sleep needs naturally fluctuate with excitement, stimulation, and activity, and bounce back into their normal rhythm quickly once they’re back home.
We just had a DISASTER of a night of sleep on vacation, now what?
Bad nights happen, unfortunately, whether you’re on vacation or at home (she writes as her 18-month-old just woke her up at 4:45am this morning at home).
I’ve been there – too many times. But I find the next day matters more than the night itself.
In the morning:
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Get outside early for daylight exposure, we love a family walk!
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Keep wake windows reasonable, not rigid! If they need a little extra cat nap, it’s ok.
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Don’t try to “force” the perfect schedule
For naps:
- I let them nap earlier than usual if they’re exhausted
- If the nap is short, that’s okay!
- One solid nap is enough to reset the day
For bedtime that night:
- We try again with an earlier bedtime
- Keep the routine familiar, and comforting
- It will be better the next night!!!
Is It Worth Traveling With Babies and Toddlers If Sleep Won’t Be Perfect?
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!! A thousand times yes.
Sleep doesn’t need to be flawless for a trip to be magical. I mean how often have YOU had a little worse sleep on vacation that at home? and does it make you want to not travel?
Traveling with your babies and toddlers teaches kids flexibility, confidence, and comfort in new environments. And each trip gets easier !!! for them and for you.
Traveling With Kids and Getting Great Sleep Can Happen!!
If sleep anxiety is holding you back from planning your next family vacation, please remember:
Your baby can sleep well on vacation. and if they don’t, you will be ok!
Your toddler will adapt. You will adapt! Everyone will be better for it.
and you’ll only regret the trips you don’t take.
What other questions did I miss? leave them in the comments!
xx,
Christina
