How To Enjoy Canada Day With Your (Still Napping) Little One
Canada Day is just around the corner and that means a day full of fun and celebration of our amazing country! This is a holiday that has many traditions for family’s everywhere and keeping those traditions going with our own children can be very important to us. While we would really like to make sure we can carry on all the traditions we adopted from our loved ones, some of them may not be as easy to do when you have a little one, specifically a newborn or baby - but even a toddler has their limits - and especially if they are still napping.
As parents, we need to be sure that everyone is going to enjoy this special day and in order to do that we need to make sure our little one’s are having their needs met. If they are having their needs met it is more than likely that the whole family will have a good time! If your little one is tired, hungry, too hot or overstimulated this can cause meltdowns and crankiness and that can definitely kill the mood! Read on for some tips on how to keep Canada Day enjoyable for the little one’s - which will help make sure it’s enjoyable for everyone else too!
Tips for Newborns
When it comes to newborns, you have to be particularly strategic and careful because they are so fresh and new that they can become overstimulated, hungry, hot or tired very easily. I would suggest these things to ensure that they are having their needs met:
Baby wear! Trust me, if you will be out and about all day baby wearing will be a life saver and will help you with most of the naps (I do recommend doing at least one nap in their crib though). I suggest making sure your little one is covered from the sun, but that they aren’t dressed too warm either. Baby wearing can get hot so I suggest you aren’t dressed too warmly as well. Make sure to take breaks out of the baby carrier to feed and get some awake time in - this can also help prevent getting too overheated.
If you will be outside with them during the fireworks, it is especially important to put ear protection on them. Their hearing will still be extremely sensitive and the loud noises from the fireworks will protect them from the loud noises, not to mention it may help prevent them from getting overstimulated or scared.
If they will be inside during the fireworks, make sure to double up on the white noise to drown out the sounds (from loud guests as well as from the fireworks).
If you will be staying at a friend or family members house, make sure to bring a pack and play for your little one to sleep in.
Tips for Babies
Babies are very similar to newborns where it may not take much to overstimulate them, for them to get hungry, tired or hot so it is smart to make sure to plan ahead. Here are some tips I have for babies:
Work your schedule around their naps. At this age, you don’t really want to be skipping naps or baby wearing them for naps (that can create a habit that may need to be broken, so in my mind isn’t worth the risk - but in the end that’s your call to make). Work your schedule around their longer nap of the day, but the short ones could possibly be done on the go (in the car or stroller) if they will fall asleep like that. If you know they won’t, then don’t risk it. Nap them and then go and do activities. Trust me, having to deal with a cranky, overtired baby will not be worth it. Do the naps.
It is super important to keep your baby hydrated, especially if the day is a hot one.
Bring snacks! Lots of snacks! Trust me when I say you will need them and it will keep you both sane.
If you choose to bring your little one to the fireworks, be prepared to have a backup plan if they become too frightened or overstimulated. Fireworks may not seem like a big deal to you, but they are actually a very big deal to a little one - especially if it’s their first time seeing them. They are loud, scary, overstimulating and bright. That’s a lot for a little one to handle! Be cognizant of that and make sure to have a back up plan if they can’t handle it.
Tips for Toddlers
It may seem like todders are capable and ready to handle a day of celebration, but in all actuality most are just as overstimulated, tired, hot and hungry as their younger counterparts. In fact, toddlers may be more at risk of these things happening because a lot of parents think they can handle it when they just truly can’t. But, like the other ages you can prepare ahead to ensure all their needs are met and that they have a fun time too! Here are my tips for toddlers:
If they are still taking a nap, work your schedule around that. Trust me - they need it. Especially on a day that is busy, hot and overstimulating.
Make sure to keep them hydrated! Even if you have to chase them down and make them sit for a bit to get a drink. This is super important on hot days!
If you think you needed a lot of snacks for the baby age… you’ll need more for the toddler age. Bring TONS of snacks! You will most definitely need them.
If this is going to be their first time watching the fireworks, make sure to have a discussion with them beforehand about what it will be like. Inform them on the fact that it will be loud, bright and talk to them about general safety. It is smart to have a backup plan for kids of this age as well, just in case they can’t handle the fireworks, which is normal!
Tips for Little Ones of All Ages
Regardless of age, make sure your newborn, baby or toddler is wearing ear protection. Not only will this protect their hearing, but it can also help with any fears or overstimulation they may get from the fireworks.
Give them a little extra time to nap the day of, that way they aren’t too tired or cranky by the time the fireworks start.
Let them sleep in an extra 30-45 minutes the next day to make up for the later bedtime (if they stayed up to watch the fireworks or for whatever reason)
Canada Day (or any other big busy day that is similar to it) can be very overstimulating and busy for a little one. It’s wise to make sure that you really plan ahead so that you can ensure that they have a good day along with everyone else! Sometimes that means skipping the fireworks, for little one’s who need to be in bed on time, until they are older and can handle the situation better. Sleep is a very important thing for a growing and developing little one so making sure that they are getting that is much more important than keeping them up to watch some fireworks. They will eventually be old enough to do that and the fireworks aren’t going anywhere, so there is no problem or shame in holding off until they are truly ready! Once they are old enough, they will have so much fun and you will too so do what you need to do now - they have tons of years of life left to enjoy the fireworks and fun!
If you liked this blog, please be sure to share it with other parents who may find it helpful. Spread the love! If you want more sleep tips and tricks from me, come join my sleep group called Sleep Little One where I give weekly sleep tips and advice to exhausted parents, like yourself, who are in need. I hope to see you there!!
If you’re looking for a more individualized 1:1 plan for your little one, I can help with that too! I have some amazing packages I offer that are sure to suit your specific little one’s needs so that you can all get on the road to better sleep. Not only do I come up with a plan for your particular little one, but I also will be there to help you along the way with any issues that arise and to congratulate you when you succeed! I will help your little one start sleeping better, be your guide along the way and help you succeed on this sleep training journey so you always know what to do if future issues arise! So what are you waiting for? Let’s get you on the road to better sleep!
