CityMommy

Daylight Savings Tips By Dream Team Baby

Submitted By :

JenniferL

Dream Team Baby, Infant & Toddler Sleep Consultation

www.dreamteambaby.com

Ah, autumn. Your family is settled into a nice, predictable routine. Halloween costumes are purchased (or sewn if you’re crafty). The gorgeous fall foliage calms your senses.

Just when life seems to be settling down … enter Daylight Saving Time. Don’t fret! This weekend’s fall back of the clocks doesn’t have to bring sudden disorder to your family’s life.

We prefer to keep things simple when it comes to helping children adjust to daylight saving weekend. Here a few of our tips.

IF YOU HAVE A MORE FLEXIBLE SLEEPER:

On Saturday night, simply put your child to bed at their normal bedtime. No pregame adjustments necessary.

Sunday morning, your child will most likely wake up at their normal time, which according to the new time, will be an hour early. Just for this day, allow your child to get up “early” this first morning. However, if your little one sleeps that extra hour and makes it to the new wake-up time, great. You’re all set.

If your child wakes up at their usual time (which was an hour early, according to the new clock), use your child’s naps to help him or her adjust to the new time. Put your little one down at their normal nap time(s) throughout the day. This may be a challenge the first day or two since it will feel an hour later. Try your best to stretch your child to this “new” nap time. Getting plenty of fresh air and introducing some fun, novel activities to will help energize everyone.

At the end of the first day (Sunday), try your best to help your child make it to this or normal bedtime. If they are utterly exhausted that first evening, it’s okay to let him or her fall asleep 30 minutes early.

IF YOU HAVE A MORE “SENSITIVE” OR CHALLENGED SLEEPER:

Start working on the time change adjustment on Saturday. This way, you will have your partner’s help on Sunday to continue working on the transition.

During the day on Saturday, use your child’s nap and bedtimes to help him or her pre-adjust to the new schedule in 15 or 30 minute increments. For instance, a 1:00 p.m. nap and 7:00 p.m. bedtime would turn into a 1:15 nap and a 7:30 or 7:45 bedtime. Doing this homework ahead of time will give your child a head start on Sunday.

**Please remember that all children are different. Some may make the jump in time change seamlessly, and other may take a few days to fully adjust. Just be patient and it will all “fall back” into place.**