Easy Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep While Traveling

You know that feeling when you finally get the baby down, pour a glass of wine… and realize your Airbnb has paper-thin walls and no blackout curtains? 🫠

You are not alone.

➡️ It’s estimated that over 70% of parents notice their baby’s sleep gets disrupted while traveling.
And guess what? Most of them just "wing it," hoping bedtime won’t be a total disaster.

But here's the thing: you can go on vacation without totally derailing your baby’s sleep—or your sanity.

After supporting hundreds of families inside Cozy Baby Sleep, I’ve seen firsthand how a few simple but simple tips can make the difference between a miserable, overtired trip... and one where everyone actually sleeps (at least sleep as well as poss).

In this blog I’m giving you the exact tips to help your baby sleep anywhere. Think: beach house, grandma’s, hotel suite, even the back seat of a campervan.

Because when your baby sleeps, you get to rest, reset, and remember what vacation is actually supposed to feel like. 😌

First Things First… Start With a Well-Rested Baby

Let’s be honest—travel won’t fix bad baby sleep. In fact, it usually makes it worse.
That’s why one of the biggest travel hacks is actually what you do before you leave.

If your baby’s already in a sleep rhythm at home, they’ll adapt so much faster to a new place. So if sleep is rocky right now? Grab one of my free sleep guides by age or enroll in the Cozy Baby Sleep Course before you jet off. It will pay off in hours of better sleep on your trip.

Set Realistic Expectations

This isn’t a spa weekend. It’s a family trip with small humans.
There will be some hiccups—and that’s A-okay. My girls NEVER slept as well when we were traveling compared to being at home. But there are tips to help!

Babies and toddlers thrive on routine because it helps them feel safe and secure. Travel shakes that up. So expect a little extra clinginess, more wake-ups, or naps on the go. This doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. Just means they’re human.

Knowing this in advance helps you roll with it instead of panicking or canceling your plans mid-tantrum.

Pack Like a Sleep Pro

This part is crucial: replicate your baby’s home sleep environment while traveling.
That sense of familiarity can anchor them, even when everything else feels new.

Here’s what to pack:

✶ Travel crib or toddler bed
Bonus: let them sleep in it a few nights before you leave.

✶ A Blackout solution, here are my faves:
The SlumberPod: A game-changer. Blocks out light, creates a private sleep zone, and folds down small. (Use code COZYBABYSLEEP for a cheeky discount!)
🇨🇦: Canadian Link and Discount 

I also love Mahalo Eco Blinds - You can use code: COZY for a discount. Great for traveling, super light weight and easy! Mom owned business. 
Read my fave blackout solutions for ALL budget's right here. 

✶ Portable white noise machine
The Rohm is my go-to: rechargeable, compact, effective.

✶ Comfort items from home
Same lovey, sleep sack, pacifier, and bedtime book = security and calm. Easy peasy!!

Keep the Routine (Even If It’s Shorter)

Even if naps are happening in a carrier or car seat, you can still do a quick wind-down before sleep. Sing the same song. Read the same book. Use the same phrase ("it's n-night time honey")

That 5-minute ritual can signal safety and sleep, even in a brand-new space.

Prioritize One Solid Nap

If you can aim for just one good nap a day in a dark, quiet environment—especially for younger babies—you’ll take a lot of pressure off bedtime.

The rest of the day can obvs be totally flexible. Nap in the carrier. Nurse to sleep. Stroller snooze. Whatever works mate!! You get it. 

Sleep is important, but so is your joy. Don’t cancel every plan in the name of a nap. That’s not the point of a holiday!!

Use Daylight to Reset Their Body Clock

If you’re crossing time zones, get your baby outside during morning and afternoon daylight. Natural light helps reset their internal clock.
(And yours too.)

Try to anchor bedtime close to the new local time by shifting naps or waking them a little early the first day. Don’t stress—it takes most babies 3–5 days to fully adjust. Longer if it's a long haul trip (I do this when I take my girls home to England and it's usually a week).

Get Back on Track When You’re Home

This part really matters. As soon as you walk in the door, go right back to your normal sleep routines. Same schedule. Same habits. Same environment.

They might need a day or two to re-adjust—but don’t panic. Sleep that goes off track from travel is usually the easiest to bounce back from.

Final Thoughts

Traveling with a baby doesn’t have to mean sleepless nights and stressful days. With the right prep and a little flexibility, you can have a trip that actually feels like a break. (Imagine that lol.)

Let your baby nap in the stroller while you sip coffee by the beach. Let them sleep peacefully at Grandma’s while you go out for dinner. It can happen.

And if sleep feels chaotic right now? Don’t wait until you're mid-vacation meltdown to fix it.

Need a better sleep foundation before you travel?
Download your free Night Waking Guide or free bedtime chart + Playbook, or check out the Cozy Baby Sleep Course — the exact step-by-step plan to help your baby sleep independently, settle more easily, and stay on track (even when you're not home).

Sweet dreamin’ & safe travels,
Alice xx