Preparing for the Fall Time Change
It’s almost time to turn those clocks back! I remember I used to love this time change before kids - it meant an extra hour of sleep! But after becoming a mom, that changed. I began to dread this time change because without fail, one or more of my kids would be up an hour earlier, and the days following the end of daylight savings felt long and exhausting with overly tired kids. Here are a few tips to help make the transition easier, and to help prepare for the Fall time change with your little ones!
1. Start Making Adjustments 4-5 Days Before the Time Change
If your baby is sensitive to schedule adjustments, start adjusting the schedule about 4-5 days before the time change, pushing the daily routine by about 15min later each day so by the weekend they will be doing everything about one hour later than usual. When you turn the clocks back, they will right back into their normal scheduled routine.
2. Dark Room
Make sure your child’s room is DARK - so dark that when all of the lights are off and the curtains are closed, it is hard to read words in a book. Darkness can block out distractions and help increase melatonin (sleep hormone) production and release, making it easier for babies to connect sleep cycles and/or fall back asleep when they wake up. Darkness can also help keep your little one’s room free of distractions, stimulation, and light.
3. Encourage Toddler Quiet Time in Bed
Encourage your toddler to stay in bed if s/he wakes up early. Put a few books or a puzzle next to your toddler’s bed for a quiet, independent activity until it’s time to get up. “OK to Wake” clocks and incentive charts/rewards can be good for this age and transition if you have an early riser!
4. Patience and Flexibility
Be patient, as I always encourage parents to do after a shift in schedule, routine, travel, development leaps, illness…it can take some time for everyone to adjust but after a week or so everyone should be back on track.
If the time change has really thrown you or your little ones off, and you need help with schedule adjustments through this transition, book your a la carte coaching call, or reach out to us directly for package options that best suit your family’s situation. We’d love to help!
