FALL BACK!

Daylight savings time is quickly approaching! While the majority of the population will receive a blissful, extra hour of sleep, most children will be experiencing a whole hour less overnight sleep, usually accompanied with an early morning!

Every year I get a TON of questions asking for the best way to handle daylight savings and a child’s sleep. For this reason, I have written a blog post to help you navigate the sleep interruptions that can accompany Daylight Savings Time.

If you have children four months and older, my advice is to start adjusting your child’s schedule by 15 minute increments, for the four days leading up to Daylight Savings Time. I suggest starting this change at bedtime and continuing these adjustments for morning wake-up time and naps the following day.

If you’re on a 7pm-7am schedule, here is an example of how your schedule will look as you move towards daylight savings time. This is an example schedule for a 5 month old.

• Tuesday, November 1st (no change/regular schedule)

  7:00……………..Wake

  9:15-10:45…….Nap

  1:00-2:00……..Nap

  4:15-4:45………Catnap

  7:00………………Bedtime

• Wednesday, November 2nd (15 minute change)

  7:00……………..Wake

  9:15-10:45…….Nap

  1:00-2:00……..Nap

  4:15-4:45………Catnap

  7:15………………Bedtime

• Thursday, November 3rd (15 minute change)

  7:15……………..Wake

  9:30-11:00…….Nap

  1:15-2:15……..Nap

  4:30-5:00………Catnap

  7:30………………Bedtime

• Friday, November 4th (15 minute change)

  7:30……………..Wake

  9:45-11:15…….Nap

  1:30-2:30……..Nap

  4:45-5:15………Catnap

  7:45………………Bedtime

• Saturday, November 5th (15 minute change)

  7:45……………..Wake

  10:00-11:30…….Nap

  1:45-2:45……..Nap

  5:00-5:30………Catnap

  8:00………………Bedtime

  -DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME-

• Sunday, November 6th (new time + back to original schedule)

  7:00……………..Wake

  9:15-10:45…….Nap

  1:00-2:00……..Nap

  4:15-4:45………Catnap

  7:00………………Bed

Although, I usually recommend that this adjustment happens before Daylight Savings Time begins, you can also make these adjustments after Daylight Savings Time too! Push your child’s schedule back in 15-minute increments each day until your child is back on their previous schedule.

Another common question around Daylight Savings Time is, “do I need to adjust my newborn’s schedule?”. Not at all. Since a newborn’s circadian rhythm is not fully developed, no change needs to be made.

Although “falling back” at Daylight Savings Time can cause some anxiety for parents, applying these adjustment will make this transition seamless. You’ll hardly notice the Time Change at all!