Daylight Savings Time and Your Baby's Sleep Schedule

Just when you have your baby on a great sleep schedule, Spring Daylight Savings Time hits. Yes it’s that time of year again; we lose an extra hour by moving the clocks forward. We have to remember moms and dads; this is the GOOD time change. The one where we can possibly get an extra hour of sleep in the morning. I know! Hallelujah!

You can slowly introduce your baby to the new time change, by waking him up slightly later than usual. If his usual wake time is 6:30am push out wake time to 7am. You should start this a few days before the actual time change so that once the clocks spring forward he will already be adjusted to the new times.

If you’re happy with your babies sleep schedule then my advice is to keep wakeup and bedtimes the same using the new adjusted time. You would wake your child at his usual wakeup time on the Sunday morning of the time change and carry on the day as usual. It will take a few days for your little guy to adjust but he will fall into it.

Parents of an early riser, start your happy dance now! This time change could be that little miracle you’ve been looking for. To achieve your desired wake time you want to make sure you move the entire day forward by at least one hour, including meal times. It shouldn’t take more than a week for your child to adjust to the new time change.

With any kind of sleep transition your child can begin to give you battles at bedtime and earlier wakings in the morning. Here are some tips to encourage morning sleep-ins and relaxed bedtimes:

• Black-out blinds - Keeps those early sunrises banished from his room.
• White noise machine – Goodbye early morning bird chatter!
• Toddler alarm clocks – You can set it to your desired bedtimes and wake times, making it easier for him to understand and follow the schedule.
• Quiet Time Box can be used for bedtime as well and not just naps – Have him choose a puzzle or book that he can relax with until he falls asleep.