The holidays with little kids can feel magical…and completely exhausting.

Late bedtimes. Skipped naps. Travel. Sugar. Family gatherings. Daylight saving time. And, of course, the well-meaning relative who says, “Just let them stay up—it’s a special occasion!”

In this episode of The Running Wine Mom, Samantha welcomes back Chrissy Lawler, licensed marriage and family therapist, newborn sleep specialist, and founder of The Peaceful Sleeper, for a realistic conversation about protecting your family’s sleep without missing the holiday magic.

Chrissy reminds parents that the goal isn’t a flawless schedule. In fact, when traveling, she suggests thinking in terms of roughly an 80% routine—protecting some important sleep while allowing room for real life. She also shares why most kids can recover from holiday sleep disruptions within a few days.

Samantha and Chrissy talk about handling grandparents and relatives who challenge bedtime boundaries, creating a familiar sleep environment while traveling, navigating overtired babies and toddlers, and deciding when staying late at a holiday gathering simply isn’t worth it.

And this conversation isn’t only about the kids.

Chrissy explains why protecting mom’s sleep matters too—including recognizing the impact of late-night holiday prep and alcohol on sleep. Sometimes choosing rest means skipping the Pinterest-perfect wrapping, saying no to another event, or showing up with store-bought treats instead of putting more pressure on yourself.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How to handle baby and toddler sleep schedules during the holidays
• Why overtiredness can be especially difficult for babies under two
• How much flexibility to allow around bedtime
• Holiday travel sleep tips for babies and toddlers
• White noise, blackout shades, and bringing familiar items from home
• How to recover after a late bedtime or missed nap
• Setting boundaries with grandparents and extended family
• Navigating daylight saving time with kids
• Why parents need to protect their own sleep, too
• Letting go of holiday perfection and unrealistic expectations
• Choosing meaningful traditions instead of trying to do everything

Chrissy’s biggest reminder for overwhelmed parents? “It is not that deep.” Your kids don’t need 27 holiday events or a perfectly curated December. Love, warmth, responsiveness, and a handful of meaningful moments matter far more. Peaceful-Sleeper---Holiday-Spee…

Because sometimes the best holiday memories come from the moments that went completely off-script.

Connect with Chrissy Lawler

Chrissy is a licensed marriage and family therapist, newborn sleep specialist, and founder of The Peaceful Sleeper. Find her at ThePeacefulSleeper.com and on social media at @the.peaceful.sleeper, as shared in the episode.

Connect with The Running Wine Mom

Follow The Running Wine Mom on Instagram at @therunningwinemom_ for conversations about motherhood, parenting, wellness, and finding a little more joy in the chaos.

If this episode helped you feel a little less stressed about the holidays, send it to another mom who needs permission to loosen the schedule and enjoy the season.