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FAREWELL TO DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME:
FALL BACK INTO A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP WITH THESE EASY-TO-FOLLOW STEPS
Oh no! It’s that time of year again! Yes, it is daylight saving time.
I can hear you all groaning now. Turning the clock back (this year
on Nov. 1) can wreak havoc in your child’s otherwise normal sleep
patterns. For most children, additional sleep deprivation is not something they can afford. The good news is that there are steps you can take to minimize these disruptions. In fact, by making a few simple lifestyle changes, most children can achieve the sleep they need to feel alert, refreshed and ready to take on the day.
Here are two of the best ways to tackle the fallback—tried and true, of course.
TIME WILL TELL
So, let’s say that on Mondays, your child generally gets up at 7 a.m.—then on Monday, Nov. 2, you should wake him at 7 a.m. It doesn’t matter if it is not “really” 7 a.m. Also, put your baby down at the regular time for his naps—don’t put him down earlier because he is tired. I know this will be difficult to do, but it is in his best interest.
Remember to maintain your child’s regular sleep, wake and nap times. Try not to compensate for the lost hour by delaying bedtime or allowing your child to sleep in. This will increase the time it takes to transition. There may be some crankiness from being tired, but this should last only a day or two.
TAKE 15
Another option is to adjust your child’s schedule by 15 minutes every night for a few nights prior. Let’s say, for example, that your child goes to bed at 7:30 p.m. On Wednesday, Oct. 28, put him to bed 15 minutes earlier than usual at 7:15 p.m., on Thursday at 7 p.m., then Friday at 6:45 p.m., and then on Saturday night, Oct. 31, another 15 minutes, so he will be in bed at 6:30. By this time, you have already adjusted your child’s schedule by the full 60 minutes just in time for the clock switch. Be sure to wake your child at his regular time on Monday morning. This should alleviate any crankiness or tiredness.
One of these ways will definitely work for you and your baby—as I said, I have been using these two strategies for years and they have never failed me yet.
Kathy Sinclair, CNCS, CPD, CLE, CHBE, graduated from Australia’s prestigious Charlton Brown Nanny College and began her professional career as a nanny in 1993. Kathy developed her specialty with infant sleep while working as a newborn care specialist in Los Angeles. Currently the founder of Baby Sleep Solutions, Kathy provides one-on-one individualized sleep consultations, leads Mommy & Infant groups for new moms, and lectures on sleep in and around Los Angeles. She lives in Ventura, Calif., with her husband and three dogs. She may be contacted through her website at www.babysleepsolutionsla.com.
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