Sleep can still be a roller coaster for parents at 3-6 months. Then again, if you have to deal with up-and-down baby sleep, it could be best to do it in a beautiful vacation destination!

Sleep regressions

Sleep is still a rocky road at 3-6 months, unless you’ve landed yourself a baby who just loves to sleep.

  • You may get your first sleep regression during travel during this age. A sleep regression is common “around” 4 months and can be killer.
  • The 4-month sleep regression can happen as early as late in the 3rd month, or toward the 5th month. It varies from baby to baby.

Rejection of sleep environments

Your child may start to reject the sleep environment you’ve created, whether that’s the bassinet they’ve had since birth, or things they have always loved, like dozing off in the car seat. Oh boy!

  • It could be time to start experimenting with total darkness vs. some light, a later bedtime (or earlier), cutting out the sound machine (or changing the sound) or moving from a tight swaddle to a regular sleep sack.
  • It’s tough to be first doing these experiments while away from home, but it could work.
  • Be prepared for changes along the way, even if you are away from home. Being thrown off by a new environment is tougher for some infants than for others.
  • It might be time to start changing from a bassinet to a crib: come prepared on your trip with the current preference and need, in your travel gear (travel bassinet vs. travel crib).
  • You can practice at home with naps or play time in a travel crib, if you’ll be making that permanent switch at 3, 4 or 5 months.

Room-sharing during travel

We noticed a lot of changes in sleep for our 3-6 month old infant. These types of things followed us on vacation and always kept things, well, interesting.

  • 3-6 month old infants may be turning into lighter sleepers!
  • This means a very eventful night in the hotel room with parents.
  • If you sense it’s time to move the baby out of your room, book an accommodation with flexible space, or 2+ bedrooms.
  • If one bedroom is what it’s going to be, with your accommodation, start to bring things like Pack ‘n Play “blackout covers” or SlumberPod tents.

At this age, wow! You can start to employ tips for accommodation with a baby that will carry you through the next year.