Traveling to a different time zone with your baby? Tips to handling the baby jet lag.

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Travelling across time zones with a baby

The bedtimes and naptimes of a baby are the only chances for parents to catch a rest. Traveling becomes extra exhausting with a baby from the moment of packing to the end of the journey so you will strive for a good sleep and a rest. If you are planning to travel across a time zone, you will be haunted by the thought of your baby missing his sleep. An overtired, sleep-deprived baby is a nightmare and not something that you want to handle during a vacation.

I avoided traveling across time zones with two of my kids but when the youngest was an 11-month-old baby, we had to cross two time zones. We could handle the jet lag with no big problems which was a huge relief to me at that time. In this article, I am sharing the tips and all the other details you must know when dealing with the jet lag of babies.

CONTENT

1.    How long will my baby’s jet lag last?

2.    How to prevent baby jet lag?

3.    How to help my baby with jet lag?

1.    How long will my baby’s jet lag last?

If your baby is out of his sleeping schedule, is fussy, and is extra clingy after traveling across countries, your baby is having a jet lag. It is a temporary condition that you should not worry about. Most of the toddlers and babies will get back to their usual daily routine within two or three days.

Jet lag will impact differently to the babies depending on their age. There will be almost no jet lag experienced by your 6 months or younger baby even if it is a time difference of few hours. This is because they do not have an established sleep schedule.  Older babies and toddlers will find it difficult to adapt when they miss a nap, night sleep, or put to bed when it is still light outside. Hence, you do not have to worry much about the jet lag of young babies as they are more likely to fall asleep soon with the tire from traveling.

2.    How to prevent baby jet lag?

It is not possible to fix your baby’s body clock in 100% to match with the time of the new destination. But there are some tricks that you can start playing before the day of traveling to reduce the impact of jet lag. It is always better to take prior measures to reduce jet lag if you are traveling with an older baby or a toddler. Here are some tips that you can try.

  • Plan and decide

Plan ahead. Figure out your traveling schedule early. When will you be leaving? How long is your flight? How long will you stay there? What will you do during your trip? Consider the answers to all these questions and decide whether you need to adjust the sleep schedule of the baby. There is no need to shift the bedtime and adapt to a new schedule during a short time. By the time your baby gets used to the new schedule, you will have to come home creating much more work to do after the return.

You need to consider few other factors even when you are on a long trip to a different country. If you are not planning sightseeing or visiting family with your baby, there will be a lesser need to adjust the schedule of your baby. Just let him rest when he wants and within few days he will be adapted to the new sleep schedule.

  • Start with baby steps

After all the research, you might have decided to shift the schedule of the baby to match the time difference of the country you are traveling to. Follow a gradual approach in reaching this goal. Start a week or two early. Help your kid to go to the bed early or later as required. Maybe it is a 10-minute difference on the first day but it is a step towards your goal. Your baby will not be stressed and tired when you shift his schedule gradually.

Dealing with baby jet lag
  • Rest well

A tired baby who has jet lag will hard to be handled. You can avoid this situation by letting your baby or toddler sleep and rest well before the trip. This might also involve an extra nap or two.

Consider the time you will land in the new country and when your baby should get to bed. Charge the physical battery of the kid to last long until the bedtime of the destination. This worked for me with my older kids when I was traveling with the youngest as a baby and I still follow this technique when traveling across time zones.

  • Night flights

Traveling at night can solve the jet lag problem to a greater extent. If you can book a night flight or an evening flight depending on where you travel, do not miss that opportunity. You will not have to fight your baby to sleep if it is night already and the baby is tried.    

3.    How to help my baby with jet lag?

As I told you earlier, jet lag is a temporary condition that will disappear in a matter of two, three days. But if you want to make it fast and comfort your baby while he is adjusting, here are some tips to try out. Whatever you do, you will have to be patient with the body of your baby. It needs time to adjust and you should allow the body to have it.

  • Most parents follow a bedtime routine before putting a baby to sleep. Follow that routing in the same way when you are at the new destination. The babies and toddlers are comfortable when everything happens in the schedule. The bedtime routine will signal their body that it is the time for sleep as usual and it will make them easier to fall asleep.
  • Every baby has a favorite toy, bedtime storybook, or a security blanket that he loves. Do not forget to pack that thing your baby loves. It is wise to have that toy in your hand luggage as your baby might need something to comfort him during the flight too. Pack the bassinet sheet or the blanket she has been sleeping on at home. The familiar smell and texture will also comfort your baby while he adjusts to the new environment.
  • Do not let your baby become overtired. I do not have to explain to you the downfalls of making your baby overtired. Is he rubbing his eyes, yawning, or fussy? Put him to sleep before he hits that overtired limit. You can put your drowsy baby in the crib and let him settle on his own.
  • Go out with your baby when the sun is up. Sunlight knows the magic of altering our natural body clocks quickly. It will help both you and the baby to get over jet lag after traveling. Stay active during the daytime as much as possible. Go for a walk, swim, or work out with your baby.

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