Tips to Get You Through Daylight Saving Time
Sunday, November 7 marks the end of Daylight Saving Time, which means it’s time to set the clocks back by one hour. Some kids roll right through a time change without a disruption in sleep, while others struggle with the slightest shift in routine. If you have an adaptable kid, lucky you. Doing nothing other than sticking to a normal naptime and bedtime routine may get your child (and you) through the adjustment unscathed. Most kids, however, need a little help with the adjustment.
Here are some tips:
- Start now. As the end to Daylight Saving Time approaches, start getting your child to bed a little later each night. Start a relaxing routine rather than trying to wear your child out before bedtime. An overtired child is usually more difficult to get to sleep.
- Gradually start shifting nap and bed times a few days in advance to help them adjust to the new schedule. You can start on Thurs. night by moving your child’s bedtime later by 15 minutes each night.
- If your child is waking too early, tell your child that it’s too early to start the day and encourage her to doze, or stay in bed doing a quiet activity until time to get up. You might put a clock by the side of the bed and show your child how the clock will look when it’s time for him to get up.
- Turn off the screens. It is always a good idea to turn off electronic screens at least one hour before bedtime. But if your child has been watching TV, playing on the iPad, etc., up until bedtime, now is a great time to start putting away the screens early.
- Be flexible. It generally takes about a week for everyone to adjust to a time change, so be patient with your grumpy child or cranky baby.
*Also, Daylight Saving Time is a good time to check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
