If keeping to a routine isn’t tricky enough, there is the added struggle of daylight savings. This time of year we can expect to move our clocks back an hour on Sunday 6th of November.
This can be a time many parents dread especially if you already have an early riser. Your child’s body clock doesn’t care what time it says on your phone. As far as they are concerned, it is time to rise and shine.
How can we plan this time change so you are not dealing with an early riser?
3 options for the time change!
1. Start preparing your baby’s schedule the week before the time change. An easy and gentle way to move your child’s schedule an hour is to move it in 15-minute increments.
This method will work for any age child but probably best suited for babies on 2 or more naps, as they are more sensitive to schedule changes. If your child is older or a bit more easygoing, I have other methods coming this week.
Start this change Monday before the clocks change.
Begin on Monday by taking your baby out of the crib 15 minutes later than they would typically start their day. So if morning wake up is 7:00am every morning, take your child out at 7:15am. Offer all naps and bedtime 15 minutes later than their regular schedule and repeat the same schedule on Tuesday.
On Wednesday make another 15 minute change. Start the day at 7:30am and all naps and bedtime are 30 minutes later than their usual schedule. Repeat the same schedule on Thursday.
Friday make another 15 minute change to your baby’s schedule and repeat that schedule again on Saturday.
Sunday your baby would start the day on their usual scheduled time.
Check out the sample schedule below.
2. For many parents with a baby or toddler still in daycare the option to adjust the nap schedule the week before is not possible. Adjusting the schedule 3 days before the time change maybe the best option. Starting this on the friday or saturday before the chnage so baby is adjusted for Monday for daycare. This schedule is also suitable for older babies and toddlers who are more flexible with their sleep schedules.
3. The last option is to do nothing.
For parents of older children and easy going toddlers and babies this maybe the best option. Try not to start the day until it is the usual time to get up on Sunday morning.
Whichever option you choose by patient as it takes a week to fully adjust.