Just a one hour difference, not that big of a deal, right? Those with young children know that even moving the schedule by one hour can wreak havoc on a perfectly timed day. So how can you adjust with as little upset as possible? Meet you in Dreamland has listed some key tips and tricks to keep everyone well rested!
– Make sure that your child isn’t overtired before the change happens. Kids who have built up a sleep debt have a much harder time adjusting to any sort of schedule change, especially daylight savings. The week before the time change, make sure your child (three and under) is napping and bedtimes are at a decent hour.
– If you are a planner you can slowly start adjusting your child’s schedule beforehand. About three days before the change just adjust naps and bedtime by 15 minutes each day. Then when the day arrives you are just about there!
– If you didn’t get around to adjusting beforehand, never fear! Once the change happens just jump right into the new times. Keep to your child’s regular sleep, wake and nap times.
-Try not to compensate for the lost hour by holding off 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.
-Think like a bear! Make sure your child’s room is just like a cave, dark and cool! As we enter into the spring and then summer months it will be very important to get their room nice and dark! We want their body to fully release all of the sleep hormone Melatonin. Melatonin is nick named the “vampire hormone” because it only comes out in the dark. So let’s give our children’s body a helping hand by keeping their room nice and dark, for naps and nights!
– When they do get up for the day, open those windows and try to get some outside time if you can. Our children’s body clock is set by the sun. Exposing your child to lots of light in the morning hour will help set their body clock!
– Last but not least, just relax! The “spring forward” is much easier for little ones to deal with. So if you made it through “fall back,” your little one will be ready to bounce into spring!
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