Christmas is absolutely one of my favourite times of year and it is so magical when you have little ones. The lights, the excitement, the cousins, seeing friends and family, all the food - what’s not to love?! But for us mums, it’s also… a lot. Between all of the planning, the cooking, the buying presents and the days out, we all need our sleep to survive it!

Now don’t get me wrong, I definitely think that Christmas is a time to have lots of flexibility so that we can soak up the magic so there will be no suggestions of rigid routines here! Sleep will look a little bit different over Christmas and that’s ok. And the good news is that sleep is very forgiving, a few off days won’t undo everything. The key is aiming for small wins over perfection.

So let’s chat about what actually throws sleep off at Christmas, what helps, and how to get things back on track afterwards – without stressing, without aiming for perfection, and without missing any of the magic.

Why Sleep Goes Off-Track at Christmas

The main culprits for why sleep goes a bit wobbly are travel, new environments, overstimulation, busy days with lots of activities, missed naps, and late nights. And we tend to hit most of these if not all over Christmas! So, how can we manage it without running on fumes for 3 weeks straight.

Travel Days & Sleeping Away from Home

Travelling with kids should honestly count as an endurance race. Between packing half the house, organising snacks, and trying to remember the favourite teddy…it’s a lot before you even leave the driveway.

A few things that help:

1. Time car journeys with naps where you can.
Leaving 10–15 minutes before nap time gives them space to drift off naturally.

2. For evening trips, do a “car bedtime.”
If you’re staying out late, you can time the car journey with bedtime. Get them ready for bed before you leave and allow them to fall asleep in the car. When you get home, transfer them straight into the cot. Evening is when they fall into their deepest sleep so the transfer should be smooth. If they do wake up, keep everything low-key and calm. There is no need for a full awake window again.

3. For even later nights out: Bring the travel cot and let them sleep before you leave. Just make sure you head off before midnight so you are catching them in their deepest sleep to get the best chance of a smooth transfer.

4. When staying overnight, let them explore the new room.
Allow them a few minutes to get familiar with their new space. Bring familiar sleep cues like their sleeping bag, comforter, or white noise. Familiar cues help settle them quicker and support good quality sleep.

For any older toddlers, they might need some extra support than they’re used to, when sleeping in a new environment. That’s absolutely ok, give them the support they need. They will go back to their regular routine in their own sleep space.

5. Buggy naps count.
Are they as restorative as cot naps? No. Are they better than nothing? Absolutely. If naps were on the go all day, offer an early bedtime. They usually fall asleep faster after a busy, buzzy day.

Big Days, Missed Naps & Overstimulation

Christmas Day, family gatherings, big outings…they’re basically a full sensory workout for little ones.

Lights, noise, new toys, twenty different people all wanting a cuddle, their little brains are absolutely buzzing. Which means settling down for sleep can take a bit longer.

A calm, predictable wind-down works wonders here. Some things that can really help on one of those buzzy days:

Connection first: It can be tempting to rush through the bedtime routine to get them into bed but spending that 10–15 minutes together reading stories, singing songs, having cuddles or for older children chatting - all of this lowers stress and signals bedtime.
Late nights are inevitable: And a few late nights over Christmas won’t break anything, so don’t panic. The only thing we want to avoid is stacking them night after night, and coupling that with missed naps, because that’s when you start building up sleep debt and things can start to get a bit messy.
Recovery days: after a busy day, or a day of missed naps. The following day they might need a slightly longer nap or an earlier bedtime. Their brains have been through a whole event. A nice chilled out recovery day is great not just for them but also for you!

Getting Back on Track After Christmas

Once the excitement winds down and the last of the cheese and celebrations have been eaten, ease back into your usual routine.

Same bedtime
Same sequence
Same sleep space
Same familiar cues

If you have bent the rules, don’t stress. Sleep resets quickly. After a few nights of consistency, most kids settle right back in.

Getting outside in the daylight helps too. Lots of fresh air and natural light help to regulate all of our bodies.

The Takeaway

Christmas sleep won’t be perfect, and it doesn’t need to be. A few missed naps, a few later nights, a couple of chaotic bedtimes…it’s all part of the season.

What makes the biggest difference is:

Keeping things familiar where you can
Using calm wind-downs on busy days
Protecting naps when possible
And giving yourself permission to bend the rules a little

Sleep is forgiving, kids are adaptable, and memories matter more than perfect schedules. So enjoy the magic, soak up the slow days, and don’t worry if sleep looks a bit different for a week or two.

Are you ready to get better sleep? Book a free 15-minute call with a certified child sleep consultant today. As a paediatric sleep consultant and a mom to two young kids, I know the challenges sleepless nights can bring. I’m here to support you and help your whole family to get better sleep.