sleepy child
As a parent, long gone are the days of looking forward to Daylight Saving Time; which is happening November 2, 2014; and means we turn our clocks back an hour. We often look forward to Daylight Saving in spring when it means it stays lighter for longer and gives us more time outside. In the fall it seems less useful as it just means it gets darker earlier. The other main downside is that it can interfere with our kids sleep schedules. For most parents Daylight Savings Time in the fall does not mean an extra hour of sleep, it means children waking up an hour early. If we don’t plan ahead and adjust our kids then it may mean a lot of early mornings and fussy overtired kids until they adjust. Julie Miller, Certified Child Sleep Consultant and founder of Mountain Dreams Family Sleep Consulting in Squamish, British Columbia, offers five tips for parents to easily adjust to turning our clocks back an hour.
“Although adults can usually quickly adapt to a new wake up and sleep time, it can be more difficult for kids. Younger children’s sleep schedules are more tied to their internal clocks and not what time a watch says it is,” shares Miller.
Here are a few suggestions to make the “Fall Back” a bit easier.
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1. Start early: It is best to be prepared and start adjusting a week out. Consider shifting your child’s entire schedule (including wake times, eating times, naps and bedtimes) 15 minutes later. Repeat this 15-minute shift every other day for the next 3 days. By the time Sunday rolls around, their body will be fully prepared for the new time adjustment.
2. Follow a routine: Children cannot read a clock so your routine is how they know what time it is. Every part of your routine gives children a chance to know what time it is. Mealtimes, snack times, play, naps, bedtime and wake up help children to know what to expect and what is coming next in their day. Follow your daily routine on the new adjusted schedule not just sleep times; all of your schedule will need to change so they understand the cues to the routine shift.
3. Adjust sleep times earlier: You will need to adjust to an earlier bedtime gradually. You may find your child’s usual 6:30am wake up is now 5:30am on the morning after the time change and for a few days following. You will want to compensate with an earlier nap and bedtime schedule and continue to stick to your consistent routine until your kids internal clock adjusts. Often when young children are overtired they wake up even earlier so make sure they are getting their naps and going to bed on time at the new time. The arrival of fall means shorter days with fewer hours of sunlight when you wake up your child in the morning the more exposure they have to bright light will allow them to naturally regulate their circadian rhythms and help them adjust to the new schedule.
4. All children are unique: Remember that every child is different and they will adjust differently to changes in their sleep schedule. It takes several days to adjust to the new times, so be prepared for your baby to wake up earlier than usual on occasions, to be crankier than usual during the afternoon, and to be sleepier during the first days of the transition.
5. Check Safety Measures: Also keep in mind that the start and end of daylight saving time are good reminders to get caught up on safety measures around the house, such as changing the batteries in your smoke detectors and cleaning out your medicine cabinets.
Julie Miller, founder of Mountain Dreams Family Sleep Consulting lives in Squamish, BC Canada with her husband and two girls, Sola and Yale. Julie is a Family Sleep Consultant trained by the Family Sleep Institute. This is complimented by her background of a Masters degree in Social Work and extensive experience working with children and families. She is confident addressing a complex set of issues and is comfortable working with individuals from all backgrounds. For more information please phone Julie at 604.377.0682, email[email protected]
