Christmas Eve

[scucci1979]

We always come home in time to put Madison to bed at 8pm. This year hubby and I want to stay at my parents place a little longer for Christmas Eve.  We were thinking of leaving at 10pm and of course by this time Madi will be OT.  I know she won't sleep at my parents place as we have too many nieces and nephews running around.  I was going to let her nap an extra 30 min that day(if she wants to) and just go with the flow and let her catch up the next day.

I am a little nervous to mess up her routine b/c we have never stayed out past her bedtime. I am not worried about Alyssa as I am sure she will sleep in the crib. 
Forgot to mention, as soon as she wakes up from her nap, we are going to my MIL's house for a couple of hours. It will be an eventful day and I would expect an EW. 
Funny that I am not worried about her routine as opposed to her baby sister.

Any advice? 

[*Becky*]

I think on these occasions you just have to go with the flow really. She is a good sleeper so yes she may be a bit OT the next day but am sure she will be fine. I think letting her have a slightly longer nap is a good idea.
Have fun!
bx

[okinawamama]

I agree, there is more to life than sleep! During the holidays I have to prioritize things a little more carefully, and more often than normal, sleep takes the back burner....and I think that is exactly how it should be. She'll recover from the OT, and I'm sure it's a night that you and your family will cherish! Have a very happy holiday!!!

[Duckie]

I would recommend that you bring her jammies with you and change her before you leave for home.

And have fun.  She might be so caught up in the cousins and sugar and party that she won't "notice" she's tired!

And drive safely.

[mamatolevi]

It's nerve wracking, isn't it! As soon as I start to think about it, I stop myself and say "it's just a couple of days. We'll have fun and he'll probably surprise me with how well he does." Have a ton of fun, and take loads of pictures. A few years from now, the pictures and memories will mean so much more than a messed-up routine

[betsysmum]

i used to be quite OTT about the routine, but what i've learned from Tracy's books are that we can't become hostages to the routine (otherwise we'd all be doing gina ford!)

What we did last christmas, and will repeat this year, is to still do betsy's nighttime bath, books, milk routine and try to put her down at my in-laws at her normal time.  if she doesn't want to go to sleep we will let her stay up until our planned time of leaving at 10pm.  Last year she was 10 months and fell right asleep.  This year I suspect she may not want to sleep, but she will do the minute the car pulls out the drive.  Then we'll transfer her into her cot.  It took about a day to get her back on her pattern, but like PP said, it's worth it.

We travel to the states 2 times a year and I always stress about the 5 hour time difference, yet Betsy always amazes me.  Within 2 days she's on US time and doing her normal pattern to the day.