Reply To: Day time naps & travel

[Emma H]

Hi Camilla,

It’s great to hear that you revisited the Period of PURPLE Crying video! I hope you found some new tips to try with your little one.

Based on what you’ve described, it sounds like your baby’s panicked breathing and crying during the fussy afternoon period—especially with no wet or soiled nappy and cluster feeding afterwards—may just be part of her natural fussy phase.

Preparing for Overseas Travel

When it comes to travelling overseas, there are a few things you can do both now and during the trip to make the experience smoother for your baby.

Things to Work On Now:

1. Establish a Consistent Wake-Up Time: Aim for the same 30-minute window each morning to help regulate her internal clock.

2. Create a Bedtime and Nap Routine: A consistent routine will cue your baby’s brain for sleep, making it easier to replicate this routine when you’re overseas.

3. Follow the Wake-Feed-Play-Sleep Cycle: During the day, use the wake-feed-play-sleep routine, and at night, follow the wake-feed-sleep routine. Keep lights low or off during nighttime wakes to reinforce the difference between day and night.

The goal is to make these routines familiar so you can use them to help your baby adjust to the new time zone.

Before the Flight:

1. Simplify Your Sleep Routine for the Plane: Create a mini version of your nap/bedtime routine that you can replicate in a limited space. For example:
   • Put her in her sleeping bag.
   • Sing a lullaby while gently rocking her in your arms (standing still, as walking around the plane might not always be an option).
   • Lay her down and use the settling pyramid technique to help her fall asleep.

When You Arrive in Singapore and London:

1. Start the Day Between 6:00 and 8:00 am Local Time: This helps maximise sunlight exposure and set your baby’s internal clock. If she wakes before 6:00 am, keep lights dim to signal that it’s still nighttime. If she won’t go back to sleep, keep activities calm and low-stimulation.

2. Expose Her to Natural Light: Once she wakes, get her into natural sunlight as soon as possible. This will help adjust her circadian rhythm.

3. Manage Nap Lengths: Initially, she might want to sleep for long stretches during the day because of the time difference. However, avoid letting naps go over 2 hours to help her adjust to sleeping more overnight.

4. Time the Last Nap Carefully: Make sure her last nap ends with enough time for a full wake window before aiming for a 7:00-8:00 pm bedtime in the new time zone.

5. Stick to Your Usual Nap and Bedtime Routine: This will continue to signal to her that it’s time to sleep, even in a new environment.

6. Expect Nighttime Wakes: Jet lag might lead to wakeful periods at night. Keep lights dim, play quietly, and help her settle back to sleep as soon as she seems ready.

I hope that helps!

Emma