Get Ready to Spring Forward Into Daylight Savings Time!
- The kids don't usually get the time change memo.
The days are growing longer and the commute home from work is getting brighter. You know what that means… it’s almost time to “spring forward” into Daylight Savings Time, and that might mean some wrecked sleep schedules for Huntsville area parents until the kids make the adjustment.
Springing Forward Into Daylight Savings Time 2024
Set yourself a reminder to turn the clocks forward an hour at 2:00 AM on Sunday, March 10, 2024.
Take it from sleep expert, Dana Stone:
“An hour can be a very large adjustment for the circadian rhythm. For example, it usually takes about 4 months (15 mins a month) for a babies body to gain an extra hour of awake time. During daylight savings we expect the body to make this change overnight.”
What’s the best advice about how to get your child adjusted to the time change? Below are the three best tips for how to make daylight savings time easier for everyone in your family.
#1 – Stick to Your Routine
As you will often hear over and over again when it comes to sleeping issues, a strong and consistent bedtime routine is key to many sleep problems. When trying to get your child to adjust to going to bed, parents might want to offer extra “help” falling asleep. More back rubs, more books, or any additions to their normal routine are going to have the opposite of the desired effect. So keep it simple and consistent.
#2 – Start Early
Plan for the time change by adjusting your child’s sleep schedule by 15 minute increments each day. If you start Thursday, by the time Sunday comes around your little one will be well on their way to adjusting to the time change.
#3 – Don’t Skimp on the Schedule
It can take time, but eventually your child’s internal clock will reset with the sun. While you wait for this to happen, you may be tempted to let them skip a nap in hopes they will be more tired in the evening. Here again, consistency and keeping to a schedule are key. Be flexible but only to a point. If you find they are sleeping well beyond their normal nap, wake them up. Not tired at bedtime? It’s okay for them to lie in bed awake for a little while.
What successes (and failures) have you had with adjusting your child’s sleep schedule when the time changes? Share your experiences in the comments to help out other parents in the trenches.
You Might Also Like…
- Daylight Savings Time: A Parent’s Guide to Surviving the Time Change
- Huntsville’s Spring Activity Guide for Kids & Families
- How to Connect Boys & Books
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Rocket City Mom is a website about raising children in and around Huntsville, Alabama. Started in late 2010 by a local mom and newcomer to Huntsville, Rocket City Mom has grown into a thriving community of local parents and now boasts a staff of four, thirteen regular contributors, and tens of thousands of Tennessee Valley readers making it the #1 Parenting Resource in North Alabama.