It’s that time again!
Right when your kids were finally sleeping well, we get to throw another wrench into their system and change their schedule.
Since Daylight Savings Time happens twice a year, we are knowledgeable, we will prepare for it and we will get on with it.
Susie Parker, a certified sleep consultant, shares some facts about Daylight Savings Time and tips for your child’s sleep schedule.
Daylight Savings Time starts Sunday at 2 a.m. by moving the clocks ahead one hour.
What does it mean to spring forward?
On Sunday 6 a.m. is now 7 a.m. — and 6 p.m. is really 7 p.m. In Parker’s opinion, this is the better of the two daylight saving times — since early risers will actually wake up at a bit later (even if it’s just because of some clock magic and even if it only lasts a day or two). And, for the parents, you get an extra hour of sleep assuming your children go along with the plan to sleep an hour, too. This is the time of year when it will stay darker in the morning and lighter at night.
Here are some fun facts about Daylight Savings time:
There are many areas of world that either no longer or never have followed Daylight Savings Time.
In Europe, Daylight Savings Time is on March 30 — different from U.S. Daylight Savings Time
The idea of Daylight Savings Time originated in 1784 by Benjamin Franklin, but it wasn’t adapted in the U.S. until 1918, mostly to preserve coal during World War I.
Tips to adjust
A shot of light in the morning will help adjust your child’s body clock. Open your curtains and let light in.
Since it will be brighter at night, use blackout shades to help keep the light out.
Keep your routine and schedule the same - offer the same nap and bedtime routine to signal to your child that it is time to sleep.
If your toddler uses a tot clock, you can set the new wake-up time an hour later with the plan that they will stay in their room until the clock turns green (this requires a discussion of expectations in advance).
As great as a later bedtime and wakeup schedule sounds, usually after a few days your child will revert back to their old schedule without doing anything (just like we adjust when traveling to a new time zone).