Quick Poll - do you stick to routine on holiday?

[llynnnn]

DD is 22 months and we are going on our first family holiday soon, I was just wondering what everyone else does in the evenings particularly.
Do you stick to normal bedtime routine, waiver it slightly or forget it completely? if routine goes out the window on hols does it take forever to get back into it when back home?

We never stick to routine on holiday - as it would mean we wouldn't be able to go out to eat in the evening and would be stuck in all night. We usually let the children go to bed alot later, then they get up later everyday and just move all meal times back a couple of hours. I find that when we get home we just go back to our normal routine and they have always adapted straightaway.

We've just got back from holidays with our dd (age 1) and pretty much kept to our normal bedtime routine, except as dd's bedroom was so light we had to stay with her to persuade her that she should not try and climb out the cot. Daytime routines went out the window - she slept in the car when we were en route places/slept in her buggy on the beach etc.

Got back last night and bedtime worked fine - though I had to sit in her room for a few minutes which I'd normally not do, while she started to fall asleep. Daytime nap today was back to pre-holiday routine, with no issues.

We did have one night where she fell asleep when we were out. I had dressed her in her night clothes and she just dozed off in her seat and we were luckily able to put her straight into her bed without her waking when we got home! Mind you, we weren't out anywhere busy/noisy as I think she'd have had more issues if there was too much going on.

For us the worst was when we went to Canada when dd was 5mths - the time difference (7 hrs) really threw her while we were there and when we got back it took her 2 nights of screaming from 7pm till 1am, to adjust back. Mind you, though it felt bad because we were also jet-lagged, when I think about it, it didn't take her long to get back to 'normal' nighttimes!

No, we have never stuck to routines on holidays (or weekends much either TBH).Never beena strict routine type of parent anyway, and we are even more flexible when away from home.

Have to say that for us it has paid off too.

We did when the boys were small but now they are nearly 4, nearly 6 and 7.5 we tend not to as it doesn't really 'upset' them to be out of a routine.

I think when they are babies or very small toddlers, keeping them in a feeding and sleeping routine at all times makes life easier on you, if you normally follow a routine of course.

We have tended to, roughtly (dcs are 2 &4) because it makes for an easier, happier life. We had one holiday where ds got out of routine totally & it was HELL

That siad, they're old enough now that I'd expect to start being more flexible (next hol in 2 weeks time, hurray!!)

Oh yes, should add that I'm normally quite anal about routine type things . No idea why! DH is much more relaxed about everything. Am sure things will change when dc2 comes along in October!

No not really.

The kids go to bed a bit later, by about an hour. I am lucky though as they just wake up later.

Did 1st hotel holiday with dd at 22 mths we did a vague copy of the routine. FOund that dinner worked better if she had a proper nap rather than a buggy nap. It meant that she was happier at dinner played for longer and dh and I could enjoy the wine. We had a couple of lateish nights (she danced to music had a little doze in buggy but there was too much going on ) she still woke early so we played catch up. Back home straight into normal dinner , bath bed no problems.

I was never that fussed about strict routines when DS was a baby, but now he's nearly 2 he really does benefit from a good afternoon sleep, means he sleeps through rather than wakes up several times (and he's never been a good nightime sleeper, so I'm pretty haggard).

We had a self-catering holiday in Devon recently and some days he slept in the buggy in the afternoons as we were out for the day, other days we went back to the cottage we were renting after a busy morning and ALL had siesta. I'm 3 months pg and really appreciated the chance to rest. I would say play it by ear on holiday, routine should be there to make your life easier, not to constrict you.

thanks for your replies, good to hear that your dc slotted back to normal when you got back too.

We have always been too worried about bedtime and sleeping through to play with her bedtime routine just in case she wakes early/in the night etc etc! want to be more relaxed on holiday and beable to enjoy the early evenings a bit more, will have to see what happens!!