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5 Holiday Toddler Meltdown Tips That Work!

If you need holiday toddler meltdown tips then I’ve got you covered!

I love the holiday season and I love spending time with my family. What I do not love are holiday meltdowns. They are pretty unavoidable when it comes to babies and toddlers.

Let’s be real, Christmas and the like are kind of the perfect storm for holiday toddler tantrums, but there are for sure some things you can do to help prevent them and keep them to a minimum.

That way everyone can truly enjoy the holiday festivities and so can your toddler.

holiday toddler tantrums

5 Tips for Dealing with Holiday Toddler Tantrums (mostly how to avoid them)

Dealing with an actual tantrum when you’re in a large group or even just hanging out with family is challenging. You alone know the best way to care for your child, but I do have some helpful tips for the time of year when there are lots of late nights, fun events, big emotions, and meltdown triggers!

When I have little ones who are melting down here are some things I try:

  • Removing them from the situation
  • Providing a place to rest
  • Distractions
  • Lots of cuddles

These are the things I try when my kid is actively melting down. However, prevention is where I really like to focus, which is what the tips below will cover.

Related: 20 Simple Christian Easter Activities for Kids

#1 Provide Some Consistency

toddler melting down

Holidays inevitably come with a change in daily routines. Boundaries tend to expand a bit and parents often say ‘yes’ to things that they would usually say ‘no’ to.

This is fine (within reason) but for babies and toddlers, there still needs to be some amount of consistency. Be flexible and allow them to have fun, but try to incorporate at least a little of their usual routine, especially around bedtime.

This is even more important if your holiday is longer than just one day. A day out of routine isn’t a big deal at all, but as soon as those days become consecutive things can start to fall apart.

It may not be possible to stick to their regular schedule, but young children do still need rest.

The combination of going out in public places, meeting family members, standing in long lines, and extra sugar, can all lead to sensory overload.

I mean, I know that I struggle with it and I’m a grown adult! It’s no wonder little kids have a hard time processing it all. The resulting temper tantrums are hard on them and everyone around them too.

With all the schedule changes and resulting big feelings, it’s really important to find a way to have some points during the day that your kid can count on.

#2 Make Rest Time Compulsory

toddler sleeping to avoid holiday toddler tantrums

This is super important for young babies but still important for toddlers. An overtired baby/toddler is often a ready invitation for a meltdown. Think of rest time as an early intervention.

Often I’ve found it to be the best thing to prevent a lot of emotions from getting way out of control.

Rest time is often a safe place for little ones. Away from all the bright lights, loud noises, and busyness of the holiday.

For little babies, wearing them in a wrap can be enough to provide them with the rest they need, but for older babies, you may need to find a quiet corner to set up a sleeping space for them.

I know that my toddler finds it almost impossible to nap when we are away from home now, so instead of enforcing a nap, I just put him in his bed for an hour with some books.

It is SO important to enforce rest time. Holidays are typically fun, full, and overflowing with stimulation. It can be a lot for little minds to process, so allowing them some rest time will go a long way in preventing meltdowns.

It’s also important that preschoolers get rest time too. Just because your child no longer naps doesn’t mean they don’t need that downtime anymore. In fact, I tend to make a point of having all three of my kids have an hour of quiet time because it benefits them ALL so much (even my 7-year-old).

Children’s needs don’t just disappear when it’s a holiday. They still need rest even with the busy schedules.

I also recommend bringing a white noise machine with you. Find a safe space for your child and use the white noise to create a quiet place for them to have some alone time and get some rest.

#3 Know When To Say ‘No’

toddler having a holiday toddler tantrums

Again, let your kids have fun. Maybe let your toddler skip their nap, but be sure to have a reasonable bedtime.

Let Aunt Agatha hold the newborn for a nap, but then put the baby in the carrier or bassinet for the next one.

Grandpa may very well be handing out sweets to the grandkids, but don’t be afraid to say ‘no’ when you know it’s time to reign it in.

Families love to participate in the lives of little children, and understandably so.

However, newborns become easily overstimulated, and toddlers can too when everyone is in their faces, so don’t be afraid of being assertive and putting some boundaries in place.

It will ultimately make the holidays so much more enjoyable for everyone.

I’ve found that in a large crowd my kids either become very emotional or hyperactive in response to all the stimulation. Family dinner can be a lot when that’s what you’re dealing with.

Don’t be afraid to feed your little ones ahead of everyone else when necessary and then put them to bed a little early.

#4 Don’t Take it Personally

mom holding toddler with gingerbread man

It can be difficult during challenging moments not to take your child’s behavior personally. Even more so when you have an opinionated relative sharing their two cents over your shoulder as you’re trying to talk down your screaming toddler.

The reality is that younger children often struggle during the holiday season. Their behavior is not a reflection of your parenting. You can only do your best, but there are so many variables!

Give them time to rest, provide regular meals, and that’s really the best you can do.

If your child has a meltdown then that’s just life. You’ve done nothing wrong and Aunt Nancy’s opinion on the matter really doesn’t count.

#5 Show Grace

kids sitting in front of christmas tree

Lastly, have a little grace. This may be the most important tip in this blog post. Be expectant of meltdowns and tantrums.

Remember that your child is going to be in a highly stimulating situation and out of their normal routine. The most magical time of the year is pretty challenging for little ones.

Do your best to create the optimum environment for them, but if they do lose the plot, then show grace. 🙂 And remember to see their behavior in context.

You are their calm and their anchor. When we have too high expectations of behavior we set ourselves up for failure.

Large family gatherings, loud music, and loads of food are both amazing and exhausting.

Navigating the holiday season with little ones doesn’t come with an instruction manual but, I hope these tips were helpful and that you’re as excited about the upcoming holiday season as I am!

Final Thoughts

​Use these tips when you’re at holiday parties this year. Honestly, it doesn’t matter if it’s a holiday or just a family gathering, these tips are still relevant.

We’re part of a big family. In fact, my children have loads of very little cousins which makes get together pretty overstimulating even for extroverts.

Thankfully, the whole family is pretty much on the same page and so we all try and manage our children in a way that makes sensory meltdowns less likely to take place.

We’ve had lots of practice over the years. Things are definitely easier as my children get older but that doesn’t mean that meltdowns don’t still happen.

In fact, it’s pretty common for all of my kids to be out of sorts after spending the day with their cousins or friends. It’s busy and loud and full. All good things, but things that take a fair bit of energy, even if we’re not aware of it.

​We have boundaries but I do always enforce them with the context of the situation my children have been in. Sometimes instead of punishment, our kids just need rest.