Family Vacation SOS

"I don't know whether to look forward to our family vacation or to dread it. Our kids are such terrible sleepers."

Here are some parent-proven strategies for helping kids get the sleep they need while you're on vacation.

Pack a piece of home. Your kids will find it easier to settle down for a good night's sleep if you've brought along your two year old's favourite stuffed animal, the storybook you always read to your four year old, or the music CD that the two of them like to listen to after "light’s out."

Stay on schedule. While you might be tempted to scrap everyone's schedules while you're on holiday, being too laissez faire about bedtimes and mealtimes can bring on the biological equivalent of jet lag. So stick to normal wakeup and eating times as much as possible.

Avoid overtiredness. Once kids get overtired, the quality and quantity of their sleep deteriorates because they are so revved up. The result? Grumpy kids and even grumpier parents! So stick to a kid-friendly travel itinerary that allows for daytime naps and reasonable bedtimes and the entire family will have a much more restful (and a much happier) holiday.