Whether you are ready for it or not, Daylight Savings time begins this Sunday, March 12 and for new parents, this can be a source of anxiety. The time change to “spring forward” can be especially worrisome for parents who have been working hard to get their child on a schedule. So how should you handle the schedule disruption caused by daylight savings? While there are several options for addressing the issue, below we provide you with three tips to help your baby adjust to daylight savings time.
Early Risers
If your child is waking up earlier in the morning than you would like, daylight savings may be an excellent opportunity to adjust their schedule to something more pleasant for you. The early riser approach requires you to do absolutely nothing other than following your baby’s lead. If your infant typically wakes up at 6 am, allowing them to follow their regular sleep pattern will result in your child waking up at 7 am after the time change. Your child will not know the difference but the extra hour of sleep you will be getting each day can make a big difference.
The More Things Change
The next approach is to maintain your schedule through the time change. As an example, if your baby normally goes to bed at 7 pm before the time change, then you will put them to bed at 7 pm after the change (what was 6 pm). While this approach may be convenient for parents who require a more structured routine, it can sometimes be a difficult adjustment for your baby. Give them a few days, and they will get the hang of things.
Ease Into It
Our final recommended option for dealing with daylight savings time’s effect on your baby’s sleep schedule is to make smaller incremental changes until you establish your desired schedule. For some families, this may mean splitting the difference for a week or two before completely switching or even changing their schedule by a few minutes each day. For some infants, this approach provides the best solution for getting them onto the new schedule with minimal fuss.