What should you know about jet lag for infants?

An infant’s body clock is still developing, and a long journey adds unfamiliar light, noise, movement, and feeding times. After crossing time zones, a baby may wake more often, nap at unusual hours, feed at different times, or be unsettled in the evening. These changes can overlap with hunger, teething, illness, ear discomfort after flying, or the normal variation of infant sleep, so the pattern and the baby’s general condition matter.

Use the local day and night gently: offer daylight and calm activity during the day, then dim lights and reduce stimulation before the intended night sleep. Keep feeds responsive to the baby’s needs and offer fluids through usual breast or formula feeds; do not give water, medicine, melatonin, or sleep products unless a clinician advises it. Keep the infant’s safe sleep arrangement unchanged, with a firm flat surface and no loose bedding. Share care with another adult when possible, because an exhausted caregiver can make unsafe decisions.

Seek prompt medical advice if the infant is feeding much less, has fewer wet nappies, is unusually difficult to wake, has persistent vomiting, fever, breathing trouble, or cannot be comforted. Get urgent help for blue or grey lips, severe breathing difficulty, a seizure, marked limpness, or sudden unresponsiveness. Babies with medical conditions, very young infants, and babies who travelled while unwell may need personalised advice sooner.

How should we shift naps and bedtime for this trip? Are feeds and wet nappies adequate? Is my baby’s age or medical history a reason to call sooner? Which medicines or travel products should we avoid?