Post Holiday Routine Tips for Infants and Toddlers

The holiday season is full of joy, family gatherings, and exciting activities. Once it ends, though, many parents with young children and toddlers find it difficult to resume a schedule. With disrupted nap times, late nights, and plenty of holiday excitement, it can be challenging to re-establish the rhythm of daily life. Routine Tips for Infants and Toddlers!

This blog will discuss simple, helpful advice for parents and children on returning to a schedule following holidays. With persistence and consistency, your family will be in a pleasant rhythm once more.

1.Start with a Flexible Mindset- First Time Parents

Maintaining composure and adaptability will help one to start on the right path. Though at first they may object, babies and toddlers thrive on routines.

• Be Patient: Your child may take many days (or even several weeks) to acclimate.
• Go Slow: instead of modifying everything at once, reintroduce routines one step at a time.

Starting with the correct attitude will help your child and make the process go more smoothly.

2. Re-Establish Sleep Routines- First Time Mums

The holidays may mean late evenings or disturbed nap times. Infants and toddlers need sleep; hence, returning to normal sleeping habits should be the first concern.

• Choose a bedtime that fits your child and keep to it every night.
• Establish calm surroundings. Help your youngster unwind before bed with blackout curtains, white noise machines, or soothing lullabies.
• Follow a nightly ritual. Your child will know it’s time to sleep from a basic schedule, including a warm bath, storytime, and cuddling.

Give your child time to adjust if they struggle to fall asleep instead of pushing it.

3. Reset Mealtime Routines: Parenting Challenges

Holiday dinners can upset your toddler’s feeding pattern. Returning to regular mealtimes will aid in their digestion and energy level control.

• Serve breakfast to your child at the same time every day to help ground her calendar.
• If your child is accustomed to festive fare, substitute healthy choices, including fruit, yogurt, or crackers.
• Family meals at the table can teach young children structure and make mealtime fun.

If your child turns away from particular foods, be patient; it’s natural following the holiday indulgences.

4. Get Nap Times Back in Order: Routine Tips for Infants and Toddlers

For the development and mood of young children, naps are vital. Should your child’s nap pattern be disrupted, here’s how to restore balance:

• Look for signs/cues of exhaustion, such as yawning or wiping eyes, then utilise those to suggest when nap time should begin.
• Create a routine. Follow the same pre-naps procedures, such as turning down the lights or reading a short novel.
• Be consistent: Following nap times can help your youngster adjust even if they object.

5. Simplify Your Daily Agenda: Routine Tips for Infants and Toddlers

The holidays can be overstimulating for small children, so settling back into a basic schedule helps them feel safe.

• Emphasise one or two daily activities, such as afternoon walks and playing.
• Steer your toddler away from too many toys or activities all at once.
• Let them relax by allowing quiet time—that is, by hugging or reading a book.

Simplifying your daily activities gives your child a consistent flow that calms her.

6. Use Visual Cues: Routine Tips for Infants and Toddlers

Visual clues help young children who are starting to grasp time follow routines more quickly.

Examples of Visual Cues:

• A picture chart showing activities like brushing teeth, eating meals, and taking naps.
• A simple clock with colored sections for different parts of the day (e.g., green for playtime, blue for bedtime). You can use a tracker to monitor your baby’s sleep patterns.
• Fun reminders like a song or timer to signal transitions between activities.

These cues can make routines more fun and engaging for toddlers.

7. Limit Your Screen Time

Screen use usually rises around the holidays as families use devices to keep children occupied or watch movies. Setting screen time limitations helps to restore good habits following the holidays.

Ways to Control Screen Time:

• Plan particular times of the day, perhaps after lunch or before supper, for screen time.
• Replace screen time with engaging pursuits like building blocks or puzzles.
• To help with healthier sleep, avoid screens one hour before bed.

Clear boundaries enable your youngster to concentrate on other activities and raise their mood.

8. Promote Outdoor Activities

Spending time outside is one of the best ways to help your youngster reenergize and encourage a good schedule.

Outdoor play has several advantages:

• It helps young children burn off energy, simplifying nap and bedtime routines.
• It provides natural light and fresh air, which control their internal clock.
• Promotes exploration and innovation.

If it’s cold, bundle up and head to your backyard or the park for fun outside pursuits.

9: Talk to your Toddler: Bonding with Baby/Toddler

Toddlers respond effectively to clear, positive speech even if they need help understanding procedures. It’s always a good idea to pay attention to your child.

How should you approach your toddler?

• Say basic sentences like “Let’s have breakfast together” or “It’s nap time now.”
• Describe changes ahead; say, “After we play, it’s time for lunch.”
• Give options inside the routine, such as “Do you want to read this book or that one before bed?”

Clear communication lowers toddlers’ resistance to changes and allows them to feel involved.

10. Celebrate Small Wins

Getting back into a routine can feel overwhelming, but celebrating small victories will keep you motivated.

Celebrate by:

• Praising your child for following part of the routine, like taking a nap or eating at the table. This has positive results in the long term.
• Rewarding yourself for sticking to the plan—enjoy a cup of tea or a favorite show during downtime.
• Recognizing progress, even if it’s slow. Every little step counts!

Conclusion: Routine Tips for Infants and Toddlers

Returning to a regimen following the holidays is a process you and your child can negotiate together. By being patient, consistent, and somewhat creative, your family will soon find a rhythm that suits everyone.

Remember, that one step at a time is reasonable. Emphasise the fundamentals—sleep, food, and play—then leave the rest to fall together organically. Above all, relish these times with your child. Though they seem drawn out, the days are valuable and fleeting.

How can your newborn baby or toddler adjust following the holidays? We would love to hear from you; share your ideas in the comments below! 😊

Online Parenting Support- Positive Parenting -Parent Child Relationship

Parenting Genie has comprehensive resources for a smoother journey from pregnancy to raising 5-year-olds. Genie Chat and Parenting Live Expert are available 24/7 to provide instant parenting answers.

You can also book a Zoom or Telehealth consultation with a maternal and child health nurse or a certified lactation consultation.

You can also enroll in online parenting courses or online parenting classes for more support. The online courses include newborn care basics, managing tantrums, toddler behaviours and baby sleep or baby sleep training.

Parenting tools like Genie Chat are helpful in guiding you through this phase.

The Raising Children website has more tips and insights on routines.