5 Expert Tips for a Smooth Daylight Saving Time Transition with Kids

At Cura Sleep Group we love making sleep easy, natural, and enjoyable, which is our goal when it comes to daylight saving time. We’re here to guide you through the process and ensure a smoother transition for your child.

Step 1: Choose Your Time Frame and Increment

The first step in preparing for the daylight saving time shift is to select the time frame and increment by which you want to adjust your child’s sleep schedule. If you have some flexibility, it’s perfectly okay to continue transitioning after the time change has already occurred.

For Nappers: Shifting Nap Times

If your little one still takes naps, the strategy here is to gradually delay their nap and bedtime. Let’s say you’ve chosen a 20-minute increment. Over the three days leading up to daylight saving time, start by putting your child down 20 minutes later for each sleep time. If you opted for a 10-minute increment, you might want to begin the transition six days ahead of the time change. The idea is to ease your child into the new schedule.

However, it’s important to note that when you start this transition, your child might initially wake up earlier than usual. This is a common response to the change, as their body tries to adapt. The body often compensates for the later sleep time by producing more cortisol, which can lead to early rising.

For Non-Nappers: Adjusting Bedtime

For children who no longer take naps, the process is quite similar, but there are no naps to adjust. In this case, you’ll be shifting their bedtime by the increment you’ve chosen. Just like with nappers, expect your child to wake up earlier initially.

Moreover, it’s essential to understand that your child may become a bit fussier and more irritable during the transition. Shifting sleep times affects the entire body’s systems and requires a lot of energy and effort. So, patience is key, and know that irritability is a normal part of the process.

Extra Tips

• If your child typically sleeps in, start the shift by allowing them to sleep a little longer each morning. This delay helps reset their circadian rhythm to a later wake time.
• If your child usually needs to be woken from a long nap, allow them to nap for a bit longer and move bedtime in tandem with the extra sleep time.

In conclusion, preparing your child for daylight saving time doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By selecting the right time frame and increment, you can ease the transition for your little one. Remember, some early waking and irritability are normal during this process as your child’s body adapts to a new sleep schedule.

If you have any questions or need further guidance, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to support you on your journey to better sleep.

If you are traveling during the holidays this year, check out our blog on our “7 top tips for maintaining your child’s sleep during travel”

Listen to the Daylight Saving Time Blog in Podcast form on YouTube!