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Surviving Holiday Guilt: Protecting Your Child’s Sleep and Your Sanity

Lacy Hess • December 23, 2024

Practical Tips to Avoid Holiday Guilt and Keep Your Family Well-Rested

Surviving Holiday Guilt: Protecting Your Child’s Sleep and Your Sanity

The holiday season can be joyful, but it can also bring a hefty dose of guilt. Invitations flood in, family gatherings pile up, and it feels like you’re being pulled in a thousand directions. If you’ve ever felt like you need to attend every event or bend over backward to meet others’ expectations, I’m here to tell you: You Don’t. 

That’s right, I’m giving you permission to stay home if that’s what’s best for your family—and I’m also giving you permission to throw that guilt away!

As a parent, you already weigh the pros and cons of your decisions every single day. If the risk of going to a holiday event (yes, even if it’s family) outweighs the benefit, you don’t have to go. You are the expert on your family’s needs, and it’s okay to prioritize your child’s well-being—and your own sanity—over societal expectations.

Protecting Sleep, Even During the Holidays

Another common source of guilt? Sticking to your child’s nap schedule when company is over. Let me be blunt: you are your child’s parent, and if maintaining their sleep routine is important to you, then honor that routine. Aunt Sally and Grandma may have opinions, but they don’t live with the consequences of an overtired, meltdown-prone child. You do!

Trust your instincts. If you know that a well-rested child makes for a happier holiday, prioritize those naps. Whether that means bringing a pack-n-play to a relative’s house or sneaking away for some quiet time, do what works for your family. Maintaining that consistency can make a huge difference in everyone’s experience—and honestly, everyone should be thanking you for it!

Real-Life Decisions That Worked for Us

Have I ever turned down a holiday event or insisted my children nap while out? 

Absolutely!

When my kids were babies, we always traveled with their pack-n-play, and they napped wherever we were. Some naps were on the go in the car, and that was fine, but if naptime hit while we were visiting family, I made sure they got their rest.

Then this year, we were invited to a neighbor’s Christmas party. But after a long Friday at daycare, my kids came home cranky. They were arguing, melting down, and having what felt like endless tantrums before dinner. The solution? An early bedtime. 

The risk of pushing them to attend the party far outweighed any benefit. It would have made bedtime a thousand times worse, and honestly, no one would have had a good time. Choosing rest over obligation was the right decision for us.

Permission to Choose What’s Best for Your Family

If you’re feeling pressured to conform to others’ expectations this holiday season, take a deep breath and let that guilt go! You know what’s best for your family, and it’s okay to make decisions that align with your priorities. Whether it’s saying no to an event or insisting on naptime amidst the holiday chaos, trust yourself.

Wishing you all safe travels and happy holidays! If you’re looking to ensure your child’s sleep schedule is set up for success, check out my Sample Sleep Schedules today. 

Here’s to a season filled with joy—and restful nights!
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