Daylight Savings Time is just around the corner. When we “spring ahead,” we lose an hour of sleep. That may not seem like a big deal, but it affects our body’s internal clock. As you probably know, the effects of that lost hour are hard on little ones – which means havoc for parents and caregivers!
Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help your child adjust to DST.
- Week Before DST: Start making bedtime a little earlier. If your child normally goes to bed at 8:00, on Monday night, put them to sleep at 7:50. On Tuesday, make it 7:40. You get the idea. When you make the change gradually, it helps them prepare for the main event.
- The Day Of: It’s okay to let your child sleep in for a bit on Sunday morning. (Though they may have other ideas!)
- The Week After: Even if you tried to ease them into the time change, your kids’ sleep schedule may be out of whack. To get them back on track, make sure to wake them and put them to bed at the same time each night so they get used to it.