When the holidays arrive they don't always do it in a calm and calm way. Holidays are changes for the life of the whole family, even if we don't make great trips or trips.
If this is true for adults, what will happen to babies and children. The usual routine change may be welcome, but in general there are children who will be negatively affected and will be uneasy and irritable, it will cost them sleep or eating ...
It is normal, and we must try to accompany them in that transition to habits for them unknown: long trips, beach days, change of house to a hotel or apartment, relaxed schedules ...
Let's look at these situations of Routine holiday changes, how they affect babies and children and what can we do to help them enjoy this time.
On vacation they sleep "worse"
If the environment is different, the little ones, even the babies, will notice that they are not at home, in their crib, with their toys ... And at night they are likely to claim us with them even if they are used to sleeping alone, or that they wake up more throughout the night, or cry when they see each other in that new room even if we are next to them in bed ...
The solution to calm them down and help them sleep is easy: stay by their side for the necessary time until they calm down, go to bed with them, and see that although we are not in the usual sleeping environment, they are still safe.
That we are with them every time they wake up offering comfort, breastfeeding, talking, caressing.
If they are used to sleeping with a pacifier or with a doll, it is not a good time to take away these habits, so if we take them with us on vacation they will be calmer, although nothing will be more balsamic for them than the presence of parents.
On vacation they eat "worse"
Regarding meals, even if we try not to vary the menu that children are used to (although in my opinion it is good that they get used to it, provided they are healthy meals, they will enjoy the new), they are likely to eat "worse" , less quantity, more slowly, who do not want to eat some occasions ...
And if we add to that the heat that can make you lose your appetite, your habits are more than likely to vary. What we can do about this is also simple: give more time to meals, take advantage of healthy snacks, make the moment of eating a special moment as part of a special holiday and have fun.
With the heat, the digestions are heavier, so we will provide light and refreshing meals, a quiet table and rest after meals that will help them be more calm and appetizing for upcoming meals.
On vacation they behave "worse"
Finally we will discuss the issue of irritability of children from two years. For many it is the time of the "tantrums", and unable to express themselves as they would like (their desires, their frustrations, their discomforts ... their feelings in short), and not understanding that there are certain things they cannot do, they get angry and scream or cry, expressing their discomfort of a Intense and excessive mode sometimes.
We will not have to do anything different from this situation that is absolutely normal and understandable in them at this stage of their development.
With routine changes, tantrums can increase, we have to talk a lot with the little ones, invite them to talk, try to understand what happens to them and calm them down. Let's try to be positive and assertive in our communication with them, respect their discomfort, show that we understand them and let them see that we are also affected by the changes.
We can try that the variations in the routine are not exaggerated, keep certain schedules ... so that the children do not get too disoriented.
For adults, all these changes can also be frustrating and exhausting. But the changes are transitory and have many positive things. The main one, that we spend more time with our family, enjoying, teaching and knowing our children, in the good and not so good times.
In the end, what will last in our memory album are the photographs of the wonderful moments we had the vacations of that year 2010 with our young children.
