Christmas Eve is probably THE most exciting night of the year! Kids all over the country are bouncing on beds, peering out of windows and excitedly chattering about what Santa is going to bring!
Now, how on earth are you going to get them to settle down for bed? Here are some Christmas Eve baby sleep tips that might help!
Create New Traditions
Christmas is all about traditions and there is no better time than now to make some new ones with your new family. Christmas Eve traditions should be calming and quiet, helping to encourage your children to settle down and relax if they can. Some of our favourite Christmas bedtime routine ideas include:
- A bedtime story. The old classic but it really works. Have a selection of Christmas-themed story books to hand and read a couple to bring little heart rates back down to a normal level. Maybe finish with one of your child’s favourites just to keep things normal.
- A Christmas movie. It's the ideal time to cuddle up on the sofa and watch Elf, don't you think?
- Track Santa's progress – you can find this online from 1 December. Kids will be fascinated to see where Santa has got to and tell them that the closer he gets to your home, the more important it is they go to sleep!
- Drink warm milk and listen to Christmas songs.
Keep Them Active Throughout The Day
Make sure they get lots of fresh air during the day. Keeping busy will bash boredom as well as stopping the endless questions about when Santa is coming, what he's bringing and so on. Fresh air and exercise will help your little one sleep later, too, so pop them in the pushchair with your SnoozeShade in place for when they drop off. Another good tip is to avoid too much sugar throughout the day and especially in the evenings.
Involve Them In The Big Day
Kids like to know what's going on, so let them help write, post and deliver Christmas cards. Let them help decorate the Christmas tree, make some mince pies and get them to help set the Christmas table too. Let them help with any little job that they are capable of.
When It Comes to Bedtime..
Make some rules. You can expect that little ones will be excited and reluctant to go to sleep but you must make sure that the kids are aware of your boundaries. Maybe they can stay up a little later than usual, as long as they go straight to sleep when it's bed time.
But If They're Really Too Excited to Sleep?
- Play some calming music to help them relax
- Try baby or toddler massage to calm and soothe them
- Run a warm bath and let them soak awhile
- Turn off all screens so that they can really switch off for sleep
- Stick to your usual routine, especially for younger children.
What time will your little ones be going to bed on Christmas Eve?
Further Reading:
Seven Tips for Mastering Your Baby's Sleep Routine Over Christmas
Going Away on Vacation with Babies and Toddlers At Christmas
Three Tips for Dealing with an Over Tired Baby at Christmas
