September 24, 2024

Prepare for daylight savings

Prepare for daylight savings

Entering Daylight Saving Time can be a stressful thought for parents of babies and toddlers. 

As we know, little ones thrive on routine and consistency which means changing up the time on the clock can throw them for a loop!

You’ve likely heard of your little one’s circadian rhythm which is their internal biological clock that powers their sleep / wake cycle.

As the clocks change, their circadian rhythm is still on the old time so you may be battling against the readjustment of this internal shift.

ADJUST GRADUALLY OR JUMP STRAIGHT IN?

 

This is going to be entirely dependent on your bub’s temperament and personality.

  • Are they flexible with being out of routine?
  • Are they very touchy to their exact awake windows?
  • Are they sensitive to change?

If so – your child will likely respond better to adjusting slowly and we suggest starting to make adjustments to your child's schedule up to a week before the time change.

Option 1:

Over the space of the week you are going to be bringing their entire routine forward or back by 15 minutes every two days.

This means that you would wake them up 15min earlier / later to start the day.

See the chart below to see what time you should wake them up each day the week leading up to the time change.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

6.45am or 7.15am

 

Same as Monday

 

6.30am or 7.30am 

 

Same as Wednesday

 

6.15am or 7.45am

 

Same as Friday

 

6.00am (new 7.00am) or 8.00am (new 7.00am)

 

 

Option 2:

Still adjusting ahead of the time change, but expedited. You will not make any changes until Thursday, and each day you'll adjust by 15 minutes.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

6.45am or 7.15am

 

6.30am or 7.30am

 

6.15am or 7.45am

 

6.00am (new 7.00am) or 8.00am (new 7.00am)

 

 

If your child is quite adaptable and tends to go with the flow, you may be able to work with zero prep and just allow your child's circadian rhythm to sync naturally!

Option 3:

Make absolutely no changes and deal with it when the time comes! This method is really good for babies that adapt extremely well to change and fall into it without any hassle.

STICK TO ROUTINE

Consistency is key, and we can expect that adjusting to time change may cause some temporary setbacks. It is common to see difficulty settling for naps, some night waking and overall just a more fussy, unsettled child. Shifting to a new time can often leave your child feeling in a state of "jet lag", so expect a few days to get back to normal!

Keeping your day as predictable as possible is huge for establishing your little one on the new time so offer meals and naps as you normally would. As mentioned, you may notice some nap protest or some short naps but they will adjust soon!

Lastly - maintain your usual bedtime routine! Keep consistent with your same wind-down routine to help transition their mind from play to sleep-mode, you may even notice that having a longer wind-down during this adjustment can be helpful.

OPTIMISE SLEEP ENVIRONMENT

As the seasons change, light exposure may vary and the sun may be shining through earlier or at a different angle causing the room to get quite bright. Ensure their room is still conducive to sleep in the wee hours of the morning.

Once of the most common sleep disruptions we see leading into summer is early morning rising and bed time battles so triple check that light. 

Thankfully, entering Daylight Savings Time is typically an easy adjustment, and can even be a welcome relief for those struggling with early morning rising! Make sure you embrace the extra sunlight and take in the beauty of the changing seasons.

  • For small tweaks to routine, have a look at our Quick Chat - 15min  option
  • For parents struggling with several things such as catnapping, frequent night waking, early morning rising or things that simply no longer work, have a look at our Phone + One Week Support option.
  • Check out the 3-12 Month Sleep Guide for more information & so much more!