Love it or hate it, twice a year we change the clock. In a few days we “fall back,” giving us back that extra hour we lost in the switch to Daylight Savings. While it’s no fun to get home from work in the dark, it’s really just an hour and shouldn’t cause too much confusion or difficulty. Unless you’re a baby.
The slight time change can actually disrupt a baby’s sleep schedule, making for some pretty cranky babies and very tired parents. The clock on your nightstand might say “5,” but the clock inside your little bundle of joy thinks “6,” and if that’s her regular waking time, your day has just begun! You can just accept it, knowing that it’s usually temporary and that your baby will probably readjust to the time change within a couple of weeks. But if you want to take charge and help things along, there are some things you can do to make it easier on the baby and the rest of the family.
- Change bedtime slowly. Starting a few nights before the clock change, make bedtime 10 minutes later each night. This gradual change will make it easier and by the end of a week your baby should be caught up.
- Gradually change meal times and nap times, too.
- Give your child an especially active and energetic day the day before the clock change.
- Put yourself to bed earlier. You know you’ll be up earlier, so you might as well get to bed earlier to make sure you get enough sleep.
- If your kids are waking up before sunrise, you can tell older children they must stay in bed until the sun comes up. If they’re old enough, put a clock in their rooms and tell them what time they can come out.
- Be patient. Hopefully it will all work itself out in a short time and you’ll all be back on track soon.