Daylight Savings: Spring Ahead
It’s that time of year again! Okay, we need to switch the clocks BUT, you guys, this is the easy one. Typically our babies, toddlers, and preschoolers are on an earlier schedule… like, too early. The clocks move later. Even if things don’t go smoothly, we end up with children we need to wake up in the morning, which, tbh, sounds like a dream.
For the purposes of this blog, we’ll pretend every child is on a 7am-7pm schedule. I totally understand that’s the dream and not necessarily reality, but it’s easier to explain and follow along.
The options.
Are there options? Yes.
Do you need them all? No.
Am I going to give them to you anyways? Yes again.
I am going to give you all the options because I know you want them. Because we are all different. Because I would want to (and do) read any and all information before making a decision, especially if this was my first time.
*AND*
You can do nothing. I recommend you do nothing.
Wait, are you really telling me not to prepare?
Yes. I am! This is usually the last option I go over with daylight savings- I call it the “oh, shoot!” option, as in “oh, shoot! I forgot!” For Spring ahead, in my opinion, it makes the most sense! Especially if
Your child currently wakes up between 6:00-7:00am (or earlier!)
You child is a toddler or preschooler on 0-1 nap.
You dread thinking about this every year.
Sunday morning, let your child “sleep in.” Once everyone is awake, aim for typical meal and nap times. Bedtime may push a little later, let it slide- go with their cues and their mood.
If you are a daycare or preschool family, voila! You’re done. Monday, get everyone up at the typical time and go about your day. The end. Easy right? Because it is!
Stay at home family? Enjoy a few days of a later start. If your family doesn’t naturally adjust after a few days, start waking your kids up by 7:00am to help get their schedule back on track. Or, keep their schedule later if you want to! If you are trying to keep this later schedule, remember that meal times as well as sleep times should shift.
If your child is on more than one nap, or ages 5-16 months, you can absolutely still use this option, just know that naps and bedtime may be funky for a few days. Waking your child at their typical wake time is the best way to get back on track if needed. In the meantime, you can shift their schedule a tad later for the first few days and see what happens.
So, what are the other options?
A moderate approach is the next option I would recommend. Remember, we are using a 7pm-7am schedule as the example.
Saturday morning, wake your child at 6:30am (30 minutes early.) Pull meals, snacks, naps, and bedtime all 30 minutes earlier as well. Bedtime will be 6:30pm.
Sunday morning, let your child sleep 30 minutes “late” on the clock (the new 7:30am), but it will feel the same as Saturday morning to their body. Everything on Sunday will be pushed 30 minutes later on the clock, but again, will feel the same to their body as Saturday. Bedtime Sunday night will be the new 7:30pm.
Monday morning, wake your child at 7:00 am and get back to regular programming.
Aren’t we forgetting one?
If you reallllyyy must know, yes- you can also do a gradual approach. This may be for you if
You really like your current schedule.
You have a sensitive sleeper with a consistent schedule.
You are a stay at home family and/or have a nanny.
This is very similar to the moderate approach, except you would start Wednesday, waking your child at 6:45am (15 minutes early.) Pull meals, snacks, naps, and bedtime all 15 minutes earlier as well. Bedtime will be 6:45pm.
Continue to shift their schedule 15 minutes a day. Saturday wake time and bedtime will be 6:00am/6:00pm. Sunday, wake time and bedtime will be the new 7:00am/7:00pm. Yay! You’re done!
Details and fine print.
Last section, I promise. A few more things to keep in mind.
Mealtimes are also important for our circadian rhythm (body clock.) Make sure you are shifting mealtimes as well as
sleep times.
Sunlight. SUPER helpful for so many aspects of sleep, and now there will be more of it! Get outside in the early morning and early evening to help shift.
Blackout curtains. It will be lighter at night now, and we are technically trying to get our kids to bed earlier. Don’t think too hard about that one, just trust me, I did the thinking for you. Now would be a great time to double check the level of blackout in your child’s room.
If your toddler/preschooler was previously struggling with late bedtimes and bedtime battles, this time change can be tricky! Stick to those loving boundaries, but always, if you need more help, check out our services page.
Enjoy the sunlight, friends!