Crisp cool air, the sound of rustling leaves, soft smell of cinnamon, ahhh fall. As a parent, the idea of the days growing shorter and the nights longer can be scary when you have a little one. Commonly this is an indication that it’s time to prepare for the end of daylight saving time. For parents, this shift can bring both excitement and dread. While we look forward to that extra hour of sleep, we also know that our kids’ routines might get thrown off balance. And if you already have an early riser, that wake up is only going to come earlier. But fear not! In this blog post, I will share some practical tips and tricks to help parents navigate falling back with daylight savings and ensure a smooth transition for the whole family.
Let’s get real…. There are two people in this world, the planners and those who adjust in the moment (last minute). I am the latter. But don’t worry, no matter which camp you “fall” into (pun intended), I have an approach for you.
FOR THE PLANNERS
If you like to plan or start early I would begin by making these adjustments a few days before the clock changes. You will gradually shift your kiddo’s wake time and bedtime by 15 minutes every day until you have reached your new schedule. This subtle approach will help the whole family adapt more easily.
On the first day of this approach (about 4 days prior to the change) I would put your little one to bed 15 minutes later than their usual bedtime..
On the second day I would try to wake them 15 minutes later than their normal time (try the best you can to keep them in bed) and then base their naps/awake windows on this new time. When it comes to bedtime, I would shoot for putting them to bed 15 minutes later than night one, so 30 minutes later than their original bedtime.
On day three, I would do the same as day two, but add another 15 minutes to it. So you will be waking your child, 30 minutes later, and putting your little one to bed 45 minutes later than the original bedtime from the start of night one.
On day four (last day before time change), you will add your last 15 minutes, which will mean that you are now waking your kiddo up 45 minutes later than their original wake up time and going to bed an hour later than their original bedtime.
The hope with this plan or approach is that come day five, the day of daylight savings, your kiddo will be mostly adjusted to the new time. So then, given the loss of an hour, they will be back at their 7 am wake and 7 pm bedtime.
FOR LAST MINUTE FOLK
If this is you, there is no shame in your game. I am with you. I have my ducks in a row in many aspects of my life, but being able to pre plan my kiddos sleep schedule at their age ,currently, is hard to do. As parents, we are more hyper aware of our kiddo’s sleep schedule and their naps when they are newborn or infants, but as they grow and become toddlers and school age, their schedule just isn’t has “strict.” So if you have toddlers and older, this method may be more your speed.
On the morning of daylight savings, try to start your day as late as possible. Meaning, if you have a kiddo that usually wakes around 7:30 am, that will then be 6:30 am on daylight savings, YIKES!!! So you will want to try and keep them in bed as long as possible before you all start getting up for the day. I know this is easier said than done, but tips to encourage your child to stay in bed a little longer can be extra cozy snuggle time or reading books in bed before you start the day.
Once you “wake” for the day, then you would want to base their naps/awake windows off of that wake time, i.e. within their normal time frame they had prior to the time change. You may find that you have to adjust forward 15-30 minutes as their body is thinking it is later than what the clock shows. I would operate under this model after daylight savings, until you find yourself and your kiddos falling back into the old rhythm. For some, it could take a few days to adjust where as others may only need one to two days to adjust. Many people also find that they will wake as late as they can on the morning of daylight savings and operate as if it is a normal day, meaning the timing of everything, and their kiddos are able to fully adjust.
YOU GOT THIS!
No matter the approach or method you choose, you have to do what is best for you and your family. Be patient with yourself and your kiddo. Some children adapt quickly, while others may take a bit longer. Navigating the end of daylight saving time with kiddos might seem daunting, but with a little preparation and a lot of patience, you can make the transition smoother for your family. Remember, it’s a temporary adjustment, and soon enough, everyone will be back to their regular schedules. So, take a deep breath, follow these tips, and savor that extra hour of sleep and family time!
