Holidays and bedtime

sohappy14

I'm already thinking ahead to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. My lo goes to sleep at 8:15 ish... But Christmas eve we will be an hour away from home. We were planning on leaving at about 8:30 to come home and hoping lo will fall asleep in car. And Christmas night we will be about 15 min but it takes forever to eat dinner and open presents!! Huge family! They usually don't eat until 7:30 or later! What do u do?? Just eat and leave? Not worry about it? My lo is 20 months. Is it that big a deal? Last year we left at 9 and he did fall asleep in car, but maybe this year he can hang longer. Everyone always says "you're leaving already" he looks fine to me" well yeah he's running around and entertained, but it doesn't mean he's not tired!  

RayRay007

Not worry about it. DD is pretty laid back though. If she gets cranky to the point where it's not worth it, we try to put her down where we are and if that doesn't work we leave.

amberpro

I'm sure DS will be up way past his bedtime several times over the holidays.  I'm not worried about it.  The only time I would be concerned is if he had to get up early and go to daycare the next morning or something.  If we're in the position to let him nap when he needs it the next day, then whatever.  He was up way past his normal bedtime a few times on Thanksgiving and he was fine.  

There have also been times we've been out late and just brought the PnP.  Drop him in it in a back room and continue the evening.  Then just transfer him to carseat then crib when we leave.  But I have a great sleeper.   

meggers102

If we know we are going to be out late at a family get together we usually bring our PNP and put her down in a room that is farthest from all the action.  Works pretty well but we also have a pretty good sleeper on our hands and we do it enough that she is used to it.

JenniCollins

My daughter is one who will go, go, go until you tell her it's time to stop.  We traveled 4 hours last weekend to celebrate with family.  Her usual bedtime is between 8:30 and 9.  Two nights in a row she didn't go to bed until 11!  Not ideal, but with so much stuff going on I didn't want her to miss it 

I figure the holiday's are special so we can bend the routine.  When we got back from visiting she slept in till 11 and then spent the day just cuddling on the couch before taking a 3 hour nap...so she made up the sleep.

NineTwentyOhEight

RayRay007:

Not worry about it. DD is pretty laid back though. If she gets cranky to the point where it's not worth it, we try to put her down where we are and if that doesn't work we leave.

This. I'll probably also let her have dessert. *gasp* It's Christmas.

chardonnay24

On Christmas Eve, the party runs a little bit late so I am planning on putting him down about 30 minutes to an hour after his normal bedtime as long as he's happy. He sleeps at my parents' house a lot, but if he's not able to sleep we'll probably just leave and he'll fall asleep in the car.

I tend to not worry too much about bedtime on special occasions unless he's cranky or overly tired.

dairygirl19

I'm all about bedtime routine 354 days of the year. However, on holidays and special occassions, I don't get too worked. If I know something will take awhile I'll grab the pack n play and slide it in a bedroom. If she's fine I leave her up and pray she sleeps on the way home.

2 days will not undo my routine at all so I don't worry. Sometimes you have to have a little fun too!

Mrs.Greg

I don't think you need to worry about it.  It's one or two nights, he'll be fine!  Enjoy the time with your family. 

fancynewbeesly

I am not worried about it. We go locally on Christmas Eve--we will be at his fame's house--and we will leave when she seems to be showing real signs of exhaustion. We are going to bring the pack n' play just incase.

I do think the excitement of new toys and cousins on Christmas Eve will keep her up later than her 7pm bedtime.

 

erbear

It's one night. We're flexible with our kids on holidays. It's one night.

MommyKayla11

On Christmas eve and day we try to stick to his normal bedtime routine. It worked last year when he was only 4 months old but scared for now!

lisamoe

I have a horrible sleeper on my hands, so on occassions like this, I just let the kid do his thing! 

He will be running around like crazy, and usually won't stop until I actually stop him.  If he puts up a fuss and won't sleep for us or is very cranky, we go, but we've only run into that once.  GL and have fun!

swimiz500

I am concerned about this too. We have an hour drive, and my family's gathering doesn't even start until 8:30! Usually, DD is in bed by 9 or 9:30, so this will be a big departure from normal. She won't sleep in the car either, so I just assume we are in for a long night! It is only one night, and I don't want to miss celebrating with family, so hopefully she will be able to handle it! 

misskris927

NineTwentyOhEight:

RayRay007:

Not worry about it. DD is pretty laid back though. If she gets cranky to the point where it's not worth it, we try to put her down where we are and if that doesn't work we leave.

This. I'll probably also let her have dessert. *gasp* It's Christmas.

Hahah. This!

ThatWasAHoot

Yeah I'd just chill out if I were you.  It's not a regular thing, it's the holidays, you know?  My son is 23 months and his bedtime is 8:00, but there were quite a few times in the summer where he was up until 10.  My sisters wedding, he was up until 11.  Heck, it is 9pm right now and we just got in from making cookies at my mum's house, so we're letting him wind down and watch Cars for a few minutes before bed. 
It's not like one or two nights is going to change your LOs bed time.  They will still get tired around the same time the next night.