How to Survive the Summer Holidays (Without Losing Your Routine)

The school holidays are full of magical moments. Lazy breakfasts. Ice creams before dinner. Long evenings in the garden.

But alongside the fun often comes something parents know all too well: a routine that quietly disappears.

Bedtimes creep later. Screens stay on longer. Children become overtired. Parents rarely get a moment to themselves.

If this sounds familiar, you're certainly not alone.

In fact, 88% of UK parents say the summer holidays place emotional and financial pressure on family life, while 59% describe it as the most challenging time of the year ahead of Christmas.

Many also report feeling stressed (40%), overwhelmed (31%) and anxious (29%) during the six-week break. 

The good news?

You don't need to recreate the school timetable.

Small, consistent evening rituals can make a huge difference.

Why Routine Matters

Children thrive on predictability.

While summer is meant to feel more relaxed, research shows that parents naturally become less consistent with sleep routines during the holidays. A recent study of more than 1,000 families found significantly fewer sleep rules and routines during summer compared with term time, suggesting that the structure of the school day plays an important role in supporting healthy habits.

Sleep experts agree that flexibility is healthy, but consistency is still key.

Rather than sticking rigidly to school-night schedules, aim to keep bedtime and wake-up times within around an hour of your normal routine where possible. An occasional late night for a family BBQ or holiday is nothing to worry about, it's consistency over time that matters most. 

That doesn't mean saying no to summer fun.

It simply means keeping the building blocks of bedtime familiar.

Think:

✓ Bath

✓ Story

✓ Massage

✓ Lights low

✓ Cuddles

✓ Consistency

Why Touch Matters at Bedtime

After a day of excitement, children don't simply switch from play mode to sleep mode.

That's why bedtime rituals are so important.

A warm bath, a story and a gentle massage all act as cues that tell the body it's time to slow down.

Research suggests that nurturing touch can help children feel safe, secure and relaxed. Gentle massage has been associated with lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and can encourage the release of oxytocin, often called the "feel-good" hormone, which supports feelings of comfort and connection.

Studies have also found that "bedtime massage may improve relaxation and contribute to better sleep quality in children" (Mindell et al.).

One simple way to introduce this ritual is with a gentle foot and calf massage using Dreem Melt Magnesium Butter.

The silky, lavender-scented butter glides effortlessly onto the skin, transforming a two-minute massage into a calming bedtime ritual that both parents and children look forward to. Night after night, this familiar moment becomes another cue that bedtime is approaching.

Sometimes, the most powerful routines are also the simplest.

The Dreem Evening Routine

Instead of trying to get everyone asleep at once, think of bedtime as two separate routines.

One for them.

One for you.

Step One

The Children's Bedtime Ritual

Children don't suddenly switch from an exciting day of swimming, soft play or garden games into sleep mode.

Creating the same calming cues every evening tells their body that bedtime is approaching, even when the days feel different.

Our favourite bedtime ritual looks like this:

   - Warm bath

   - Story time

   - Massage Dreem Melt Magnesium Butter into little feet and calves

   - Dim the lights

   - Bedtime

That gentle massage quickly becomes more than skincare, it becomes a comforting signal that the day is coming to an end.

Experts also recommend avoiding stimulating activities and screens close to bedtime, replacing them with quiet, calming rituals that children begin to recognise night after night.

Step Two

Now It's Your Turn

Once the toys are away...

The dishwasher is on...

And the house finally falls quiet...

It's tempting to scroll until bedtime.

Instead, spend just ten minutes doing something for yourself.

Start with a bath

Add Anchoring Bath Salts or a few drops of Into The Deep Bath Oil.

The warm water, botanical aromas and simple act of slowing down help create a clear transition between the busyness of the day and the calm of the evening.

Soothe tired legs

Whether you've spent the day chasing little ones around the park, carrying toddlers or walking for miles on holiday, massage Dreem Melt Magnesium Butter into your feet and calves as part of your evening wind-down.

It's a simple ritual that encourages you to slow down before bed.

When tomorrow matters

Big meeting.

Early flight.

Busy day with the children.

Whenever you want to wake up feeling your best, take our award winning Night Drops, 20 minutes before bed for a better and deeper sleep. 

Sometimes knowing tomorrow starts well begins the night before.

Wake Looking Refreshed

Sleep hasn't been perfect?

No one needs to know.

Apply Moonlit Mask before bed and wake to deeply hydrated, radiant-looking skin, even after a busy day.

Because self-care doesn't have to stop when the children finally go to sleep.

Be Kind To Yourself, Too

Parents spend so much of the summer making magical memories for everyone else that it's easy to forget about themselves.

But looking after yourself isn't selfish.

Research shows the emotional load of the school holidays is significant, with many parents reporting increased stress, anxiety and feeling overwhelmed throughout the six-week break.

A calmer evening routine doesn't just benefit your children.

It gives you permission to pause, recharge and prepare for tomorrow too.

Remember...

Summer isn't about perfection.

It's about making memories.

One late bedtime won't undo months of healthy habits.

Sleep experts agree that flexibility is part of enjoying the holidays. Focus on creating calming routines you can return to each evening, rather than worrying about the occasional late night.

References and Further Reading:

• Field, T. (1998). Massage therapy effects. American Psychologist, 53(12), 1270–1281. A review showing massage therapy can reduce cortisol levels and promote relaxation across different age groups.
• Mindell, J. A., et al. (2009). Bedtime routines for young children: A dose-dependent association with sleep outcomes. Sleep, 32(5), 599–606. Found that consistent bedtime routines are associated with better sleep in young children.
• The Sleep Charity – Summer Holidays and Sleep: How to Keep Healthy Routines Without Missing Out on the Fun. Guidance on flexible routines, bedtime consistency and healthy sleep habits during the holidays.
• The Sleep Charity – Helping Your Child Reset Their Sleep Before the School Term Starts. Advice on easing children back into routine after the holidays.
• The Sleep Charity – Why You Should Add Sleep to Your Back-to-School List. Practical tips for gradually re-establishing healthy bedtime habits.
• PubMed – School's Out, Rules Out: Changes in Parent Rules and Routines Over Summer. Research showing that parents naturally relax sleep and screen-time routines during the school holidays.
• Save the Children UK – Summer of Stress: What the School Holidays Really Cost UK Families. Survey findings on the emotional and practical pressures many parents experience during the summer break.