Ah, Christmas and New Year – a time of twinkling lights, festive cheer, and a whole lot of excitement. For kids, it’s a magical season full of anticipation, family gatherings, and late-night celebrations. For parents? Well, it’s magical too… but also a time when bedtime routines can go a bit haywire. Here’s my Christmas bedtime tips for kids.
It’s no surprise that the festive excitement can wreak havoc on sleep schedules. Overstimulated toddlers, endless sugar-filled treats, and changing routines can leave everyone feeling frazzled. But don’t worry – with a few simple adjustments, you can keep your little one’s sleep on track while still soaking up the magic of the season.
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Here are my 12 essential Christmas bedtime tips for kids to help your child settle, sleep soundly, and wake up ready for more festive fun.
Why Does Christmas Throw Sleep Out the Window?
Do we really need Christmas bedtime tips for kids?! The festive season is packed with excitement, but it can also be overwhelming for younger children. Between the endless stream of visitors, bright lights, and late-night gatherings, your child may struggle to wind down – or stay asleep.
Sound familiar? That’s where these Christmas bedtime tips for kids come in handy. By maintaining some consistency and adding a few calming strategies, you can give your child (and yourself!) the gift of a good night’s sleep this Christmas.
12 Christmas Bedtime Tips for Kids
1. Stick to a Flexible Routine: Christmas doesn’t have to mean throwing the entire routine out the window! In fact, lots of us humans take a lot of comfort from a predictable routine. While some flexibility is fine, try to keep familiar elements like bedtime stories or bath time. These cues help signal that it’s time to wind down, even if bedtime is a bit later than usual.
2. Tuck Them in When They’re Sleepy: If your child still naps, build in extra time for wind-downs. The first sign of slowing movements or yawns? Head to their room, dim the lights, and use a calming activity like a short story or cuddle to ease them into sleep mode. It may take a little longer to wind down, but that’s ok.
3. Keep Their Sleep Space Calm: Festive lights and decorations are fun – but they’re best in the living room! A plain, dark, and quiet environment helps your child switch off after the day’s excitement.
4. Watch Out for Festive Treats Before Bed: Chocolate, fizzy drinks, and Christmas puddings may be delicious, but they’re loaded with sugar (and sometimes caffeine!). Limit these close to bedtime to avoid sugar-fuelled hyperactivity at bedtime. For more information on managing your child’s sugar intake see this great NHS advice.
5. Get Outside and Burn Off Energy: Fresh air and active games during the day can help burn off excitement (and the treats!). Closer to bedtime, opt for quieter family games or activities such as reading or Christmas colouring to avoid overstimulation.
6. Chat About Their Day: If your child is old enough, take a few minutes to talk about their day during the bedtime routine. Processing emotions – both the highs and lows – can help them feel more settled when it’s time to sleep.
7. Manage Early Mornings Like a Pro: Excited little ones may wake at the crack of dawn during Christmas to see if Father Christmas has paid a visit. If it’s far too early, quietly settle them back down with a hushed “it’s still nighttime.” Reassure them you’ll be back to get them up when Santa has been. Once it’s an acceptable time (probably still likely to be earlier than usual!), do a cheerful “good morning” wake-up routine to help them adjust.
As a side note, after a few days of early mornings out body clocks can get a bit stuck! If you fine the the early mornings stick, you may want to consider my Early Morning Waking masterclass.
8. Watch for Signs of Overtiredness: Overtired kids often become more emotional or hyperactive. They tend to get a burst of adrenaline and cortisol to keep them going. Act on early signs like slowing movements or fidgeting to avoid overtiredness creeping in and prepare to start winding them down away from the excitement.
9. Extend the Bedtime Routine: When excitement levels are high, an extended bedtime routine can work wonders. Add in extra time for a longer bath or calming activities to help your child transition into sleep mode.
10. Be Patient: It can take kids longer than usual to fall asleep during the festive season – sometimes 20–30 minutes or more. Be patient and remember that this is perfectly normal during busy, exciting times. Getting our body to regulate and calm is tricky when we’ve been on a high! For more self-regulation techniques see my blog posts on Heavy Work and Mindfulness.
11. Adjust Bedtime Hours: If your child seems more tired than usual, consider an earlier bedtime. If they’re buzzing with excitement, giving them a little extra time to settle can help. Factoring in an earlier wind-down time to allow for calming down can help ensure they’re still asleep by a reasonable hour.
12. Build in Buffers Around Big Events: If you’re attending a big family gathering or party, allow for a wind-down buffer before bed. A bit of quiet time after the excitement helps kids process the day and relax.
How to Reset Your Child’s Sleep Routine After Christmas
Worried that festive changes will derail their routine? Don’t panic! Hopefully the Christmas bedtime tips for kids above will help. The good news is that children are incredibly adaptable, and with a little guidance, they can return to their usual sleep patterns before you know it.
Once the celebrations are over, start by gradually reintroducing their regular nap and bedtime schedules. Consistency is key here – aim to bring back familiar elements of their routine that were perhaps skipped, like a soothing bath, a favourite bedtime story, or a special lullaby. These cues signal to your child that it’s time to wind down, even if they’ve been staying up later than usual during the festivities.
Looking for screen-free wind-down ideas? My Bedtime Wind-Down Book for Kids is perfect for a Christmas gift! It is packed with calming breathing games, gentle yoga, mindful colouring and affirmations – the perfect bedtime toolkit to help children aged 3–8 relax, reconnect, and drift off more easily.
If bedtime has shifted significantly, move it earlier in 15-minute increments every couple of nights to avoid overtiredness. For naps, stick to their usual timing as much as possible, even if they seem more resistant at first. Ensure their sleep environment is quiet, calm, and free from distractions like festive lights or leftover Christmas excitement.
Be patient with the process – it might take a few days, or even a week, for your child to fully adjust, especially if they’re naturally sensitive to routine changes. Remember, it’s completely normal for sleep to feel a bit out of sync after the holidays, but with consistency and a little extra care, you’ll have them back on track soon. If you’re feeling unsure or need extra support, my Bedtime Battles Masterclass is full of helpful tips to guide you through these transitions with confidence.
FAQs: Christmas Bedtime Tips for Kids – Your Questions Answered
Here are answers to some of the most common Christmas sleep questions:
Can I skip the bedtime routine during Christmas?
It’s fine to be flexible, but keep key elements like a bedtime story to help your child transition to sleep.
What if my child refuses to sleep because they’re too excited?
Extend the wind-down routine and focus on calming activities like breathing exercises, mindfulness or some calming stories.
How do I handle early Christmas morning wake-ups?
Try to settle them back down if it’s too early, perhaps with a “Father Christmas hasn’t been yet!’, but embrace the excitement when it’s time to wake up! It may still be early, but hey, it’s once a year!
Should I let my child stay up late for Christmas parties?
It’s totally ok! (Occasionally!) but build in recovery time the next day with a nap or early bedtime. Forgive them if they’re a little cranky the next day or have a few night wakes. They’ll be better soon!
What can I do if my child becomes overtired?
Look for early signs of tiredness and act quickly to get them into their bedroom and create a calm, dark space. Build in extra time to wind down. They may need a little more support to fall asleep and that’s ok.
Need More Help with Bedtime Battles?
Even after reading through my Christmas bedtime tips for kids, if you’re struggling with bedtime meltdowns, tantrums, or overtiredness, my Bedtime Battles Masterclass can help. Packed with practical strategies, this course will guide you through creating a calmer bedtime routine – even during the festive season.
Learn more about the Bedtime Battles Masterclass here!
Christmas and New Year should be magical – not stressful. With these tips, you can balance festive fun with good sleep for your little one, helping everyone enjoy the holiday season to the fullest.
Need more advice? Get in touch, or explore my blog posts for more sleep tips.
Thanks for reading my Christmas bedtime tips for kids!
