Daylight saving time (DST) is a hard adjustment for kids, and adults, the days feel shorter, our routines are confused and most of the time our kids can't seem to get back on track! Even though we are gaining an extra hour of sleep, making the Fall transition easier than Spring, it is still important to prepare and be ready to help our kiddos adjust. 

Nowadays the clocks on our phones change automatically for DST and sometimes we don’t even think about the time change, but even if we aren’t thinking about it our bodies are still affected. Not preparing for the time change can lead to some early mornings for you and your kiddos, routines thrown off, no naps, and making everyone just a little bit crabby. 

The good news is we don’t have to keep dreading this bi-annual event; there are ways to make this transition easier!

Adjusting Bedtimes: 

The easiest way to transition your children to their new sleep schedule is a slow change. A few days or even up to a week before DST, begin adjusting their bedtime by ten or fifteen minutes. 

For example, this November you would start putting your children to bed ten to fifteen minutes earlier. In the Spring you can do the same thing just pushing their bedtime ten to fifteen minutes later each night. These smaller increments will help the kids slowly get used to the time switch making it easier for their circadian rhythms to re-set instead of trying to adjust an change hour all at once. 

Meal Time: 

Talks about Daylight Savings Time usually center on our sleep schedules but what about meal times? Just like sleep, our meal times need to change as well. Your kiddos may be hungrier earlier in the day and it’s especially important to think about infants and toddlers who may not be able to explain their hunger which is making them so grumpy. Be aware that the time change might affect your meals and if your kiddos seem crankier earlier in the day maybe try to make small adjustments to meal times or even give them an extra little snack. 

Naps:

For younger children not only do we have to think about bedtime, but nap time as well. Following the same plan as above, for kids on one nap you can slowly adjust nap time by ten to fifteen minutes the days prior to the time change. With infants and toddlers who are still on a 2 or 3 nap schedule it might be too confusing to shift all of the nap times beforehand. In that case, consider supplementing a 3rd or 4th short nap on the first few days following DST. An extra 20 minute snooze could help your baby re-adjust and re-set their circadian rhythm!

What About You?

Parents, don't forget to prepare yourselves! Make some time for you. Exercise, meditate, take an extra nap, whatever you need to give yourself some extra energy so that you are mentally ready for Daylight Savings Time.

At the end of the day it is so important to remember that even when using these tips to prepare your kids there may still be more tantrums/meltdowns those first few days. Practice patience! Both you and your kids will be out-of-sorts so give your kids and yourself some grace! 

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