How to Prepare Your Baby or Toddler for Spring Daylight Saving Time
Spring forward can feel like a big step back when you have a baby or toddler with a carefully crafted sleep schedule. Losing an hour overnight can lead to overtired, cranky little ones and stressed-out parents. The good news? A little preparation can help make the transition much smoother. Here’s how you can adjust your child’s sleep schedule to ease into the time change without too much disruption.
1. Gradual Shift Approach
Instead of making a sudden adjustment, ease into the time change by shifting your child’s schedule gradually. Start about four to six days before the clock moves forward by putting your child to bed 10–15 minutes earlier each night. Do the same for naps and meal times. By the time daylight saving time arrives, their body will already be adjusted.
2. Use Natural Light to Your Advantage
Sunlight plays a big role in regulating our internal clocks. In the mornings, expose your child to plenty of natural light to help their body recognize it’s time to wake up. In the evening, start dimming the lights and limiting screen exposure to encourage melatonin production and prepare them for bedtime.
3. Maintain a Consistent Bedtime Routine
A predictable bedtime routine signals to your child that it’s time to wind down. If you don’t already have one, start a calming routine that might include a warm bath, gentle rocking, reading a book, or singing a lullaby. Consistency is key in helping their body adjust to a new sleep pattern.
4. Be Flexible with Wake-Up Time
If your baby or toddler sleeps a little later in the morning after the time change, that’s okay! Allowing them to sleep in by 30 minutes can ease the transition without throwing off the whole schedule. Gradually wake them earlier over the next couple of days if needed.
5. Keep Naps on Track
If your child still naps, stick to their regular nap schedule as closely as possible. Overtired children have a harder time falling asleep at night, so making sure they get enough daytime rest is crucial.
6. Adjust Mealtimes
Just like sleep, eating schedules can influence your child’s body clock. Gradually shift meal and snack times by 10–15 minutes leading up to daylight saving time so their hunger cues align with the new schedule.
7. Give It Time
It can take about a week for babies and toddlers to fully adjust to the new time. Be patient, and try to stay consistent with their routine. If there are a couple of tough nights, don’t stress—things will settle soon!
Final Thoughts
While daylight saving time can be an adjustment, preparing ahead of time can make a huge difference in how smoothly your child transitions. With a little planning and consistency, you’ll help your baby or toddler adapt with minimal disruption—and hopefully, get everyone’s sleep back on track quickly.
The best news in all of these changes is that warmer weather and longer, sunnier days are on the horizon. And as you all know, as parents to little ones the warmer weather, allowing us all to be outside is beneficial for everyone!
