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Many parents prepare for the inevitable turmoil daylight saving time brings to their toddlers’ daily schedules. Although adults may adapt quickly, children can be slower because they benefit from routines. Minor changes to their routine will disturb their sleep patterns. Your Toddler and Daylight Savings!
When your child’s sleep pattern is disrupted, they may become cranky, have poor-quality sleep, or find it more difficult to relax for a nap or at bedtime.
Don’t panic! Your toddler’s transition will be more seamless if you plan and use some sensible ideas.
Here’s how to help your child handle the time shift and modify their daily calendar for daylight savings:
Starting a few days in advance can help you gently introduce your child to the new time. Change their daily schedule in little increments over a few days rather than all at once.
Here is the method:
Start each day in the week leading up to the time change by changing your toddler’s bedtime. Move wake-up time and meal times by 10 to 15 minutes earlier (or later if it falls during daylight savings). This gentle transition lets your child’s internal clock adjust gradually, reducing the effect of time change.
For instance, if their current bedtime is 7 p.m. and daylight saving time will shift it to 8 p.m., move the bedtime to 7:45 p.m. a few days before the change. Then move it to 7:30 p.m. the following day, and continue until the new time feels natural.
Toddlers are creatures of habit and adore regularity. Maintaining your current bedtime schedule as much as possible can help you adjust to daylight saving time. Even with the clock change, these familiar activities—bathing, brushing teeth, reading a bedtime story, or singing a song—will help your child know it’s bedtime.
Maintaining the same schedule will give them peace of mind and enable them to enter their new life more gently.
Toddlers are no exception; light is essential for controlling our body’s internal clock. Making the most of natural light will help your child adjust after the clocks change:
Open the curtains in the morning to let as much sunlight into your space as possible. Early natural light signals that it’s time to start the day and helps reset your child’s internal clock.
Using blackout curtains in your toddler’s room will help to create a dark, cosy environment. This will help if the time change means they are going to bed in still light outdoors. Though the sun hasn’t set, a gloomy area will signal to their body when to relax.
Sometimes, toddlers get overstimulated with activities or screen time immediately before bed. If the timing change disrupts their internal rhythm, these activities make it significantly more difficult for them to fall asleep.
Help your child relax more readily- Parenting Styles
Naps can be challenging during daylight savings. The time change might make your toddler seem overtired or make them object to napping. Changing their nap schedule is crucial to keep things constant and align with their bedtime.
Like bedtime, you can gradually change nap timings by 10 to 15 minutes daily as daylight savings approaches. Your toddler’s nap pattern will align with their new bedtime.
Don’t Skip Naps: It could be tempting to skip a nap to make your child weary, but this will backfire. An overtired toddler may struggle to fall asleep and remain asleep at night.
Try allowing your child some quiet time in bed or a cot if they are reluctant to nap. Resting helps replenish their energy for the day, even if they don’t fall asleep.
Toddlers may find the time shift challenging, and you could observe a few days of irritability or disturbed sleep. This is quite natural, and your child may need extra comfort and patience from you during this change.
Should your child wake up throughout the night or struggle to fall asleep, provide them with extra care and reassurance. It could take a few nights for them to adjust, but keeping calm and consistent will help ease the change.
Remember that your toddler’s body may not thoroughly adjust to the time shift for up to one week. Stick to your schedule, provide many cuddles, and tolerate any obstacles during this period.
Daylight saving time can influence your toddler’s feeding routine, much as sleep does. Gradually change their meal timings and sleep patterns.
If your children’s bodies expect lunch at 12 p.m., but the clock says otherwise, they could get irritable or restless. Gradually changing dinner hours will help your children feel more at ease and prevent meltdowns related to hunger.
Most toddlers take three to seven days to get used to the new timing. While some children might take longer to adjust to the new schedule, others might adjust faster. Continue to be patient, keep your habits regular, and avoid stressing if things do not go smoothly during this time.
Although changing your toddler’s routine for daylight saving time can feel overwhelming, these ideas will help you navigate the time shift more efficiently. The secrets are starting early, keeping consistency, and providing additional comfort as your child adjusts. Though it may take a few days, your child will eventually return to their usual schedule.
Be patient; family life will return to normal.
Don’t overlook your own needs either! Parents find the time change challenging, so try to get some rest whenever you can. Ask family members for support if you need it.
Parenting Genie provides Live Expert consultations. It also offers 24/7 support via Genie Chat for more personalised help with toddler sleep. It supports parents from pregnancy to raising 5-year-olds.
Raising children has additional tips on Daylight savings.
