Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 1, 2020 at 2:00 a.m. For many people, this means getting a much needed extra hour of blissful sleep! However, the idea of setting the clocks back an hour causes many parents to worry about how it will affect their child's sleep. This can be especially concerning for parents who already struggle with having a child who wakes up too early.
Here are some suggestions on how to handle the upcoming time change:
Option 1:
Simply do nothing. Starting on Sunday, follow your child's same schedule according to the new time. You will still put your child to bed and down for nap at their usual time, even though it will feel like an hour later according to the "old time". Stay consistent and stick to your child's normal routine as best you can. Although keep an eye on your child's sleepy cues and avoid letting your child get too overtired while making the time adjustment. If your child is having a hard time making it the full hour longer before going to bed or going down for nap, adjust his schedule by 15-30 minutes. Within a few days, your child should re-settle into their same sleep schedule.
*This option is typically best suited for children who are older than 2 years and tend to handle change/transition fairly easily.
Option 2:
Gradually adjust your child's schedule leading up to the time change. About a week before, start putting your child to bed 15 minutes later than their normal bedtime. Every few nights, adjust their bedtime 15 minutes later until the night of the time change. So, by the time the clock changes, you will have shifted your child's bedtime by an hour and will be back to their normal schedule. For example, if your child normally goes to bed at 7pm, start putting them to bed at 7:15 about a week before the time change. Then, every few nights, extend their bedtime by 15 minutes (7:30, then 7:45) until they are going to bed at 8:00 the night of the time change. Once you set the clock back, your child will be back on their normal schedule. You can also shift nap time by 15 minute increments as well.
*This option is typically best suited for children who are younger than 2 and/or don't respond well to change.
Regardless of which option you choose, understand that your child (and even you!) may be a little cranky and tired the first few days of the time change. Stay consistent, make sleep a priority and within a week or so, you should see your child's sleep patterns get back on track.
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Through her Gentle Sleep coaching, Erin Anderson helps tired families get better sleep
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