Sorry if this has already been posted by someone else, but for those with older LO's, how do you deal with changing the clocks in terms of affecting sleep? LO is 4 months and tends to go to sleep around 8:30PM, which has slowly been getting earlier but tends to stick around there. I'm worried about 8:30 becoming 9:30 and that we won't be able to get back to an earlier time! I find it really hard to "force" a bedtime at this age, he can't really go to sleep unless he's ready, and he's pretty clockwork. Any tips? How did you deal?
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For time changes, I put the boys to bed either earlier or later (depending on the season) in small increments over the course of several days. So if they usually go to bed at 8, and I want them to go to bed an hour earlier, I will put them to bed at 7:45, then 7:30, then 7:15 and then 7. It works better for us to do it gradually like that.
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@aprild: This was my intended plan but totally backfired because his sleep has been super weird this week... possibly 4 month regression or growth spurt or who knows. I just hate the idea that he'll start going to bed closer to 10PM, it feels like it took forever just to get to this point. And I usually love daylight savings/spring forward!
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DS is 4 and we've never done anything for time changes. We just go with the flow for a few days and then his bedtime usually goes back to whatever normal is at that time.
This year we will probably not give him s nap Sunday and put him to bed early which will be normal time.
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Our boys are scheduled so bedtime is 730pm and we get them at 730am.
For fall back, I have them stay up and go to bed a little later with the hopes that they will sleep in a bit. So they might go down at 8-ish and we get them around the new 7am (which will feel like 8am to them). We might also push naps 30 minutes (so if DS1's one nap is at 1pm usually, we will have him go down at 130pm). And then wake them a little early from nap so that they will be more tired for bedtime.
For spring forward, we just put them to bed at the same time but wake them up at the new 730am (which feels like 630am). They will probably want to nap about 30 minutes early, meaning they will wake a little earlier from nap, and then bedtime will be no big deal since they are tired from having a longer waketime before bed.
So long story short, we sorta split the difference and deal with things being about 30 minutes off for a few days.
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@Goldengirl: wow that's this weekend _ I had no clue!
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I've had pretty good luck with just ripping off the bandaid for my two. Once the time changes, we just follow the new time and do things at the time we normally would. Most of the time it hasn't been an issue at all.
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I JUST got an email from a local sleep consultant/night nurse with her recommendation for DST. In short - just do it! We've always followed her recommendations and aside from being ready for nap a bit early on the first day, DS has adjusted within 24 hours every time. Everything below is copied from her email --
Step by step:
-On March 11th, put baby to bed at regular time.
-Move clocks forward one hour.
-The next morning, get baby up within 15-20 minutes of normal wake up time per the updated time on the clock.
-Do everything according to the updated clock on Sunday. This means all meals and sleep times.
-The younger they are the more important it is to start the day at the same time.Tips:
- Try to get outside on Sunday. Getting fresh air and exposure to bright light first thing in the morning will help reset the internal body clock.
- Black-out curtains are so nice! This time of year mornings will be brighter and evenings lighter. You don’t want sunlight waking your child in the morning or causing any bedtime battles.
- Avoid any screens like the TV, computer, or iPad two hours prior to bedtime. -
Can I just say I am READY for daylight savings time... not just because i LOVE it being light out later, but both of my boys (1 & 4) have been waking up at 5:30/5:45, and I need them to "spring ahead"!
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@hellobeeboston: omg yes!!!! My 16 month old has been getting up at 5:30, or before, for weeks.
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I always just keep the same routine and LO adjusts within a few days. Agree with @hellobeeboston -- my son is an early riser so if he would sleep til 7 am for a week I would be pumped!
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I've pretty much followed the recommendations @mrslonghorn outlines with good success! A little off with wake times and naps the first few days, but all was well withing a week.
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@gingerbebe: Makes sense! Although it would be so hard for me to wake up LO since I am soooo happy when he's sleeping
@Mamaof2: I know, totally snuck up on me too!
@kiddosc: Good to know! I really hope we can get away with that. Although I'm not sure if his brain will be like "why is it still sunny out when it's bed time all of a sudden?!"
@MrsLonghorn: Thanks, that's really helpful! I've been meaning to get some blackout curtains but we're moving soon so figured I'd wait until we figure out the new setup. For now his room is always pretty dark because it's north facing.
@hellobeeboston: Definitely understand that! I'd love him to sleep in longer in the morning, but also worried about the later bedtime. But 5:30AM... ugh! -
Not really gonna do much... DD1 is 27 mo so we have been through 2 years of it and we just kinda rolled with it. DD2 is 2 months and I will just roll with it too...
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@snowjewelz: appreciate the relaxed perspective!
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@Goldengirl: I mean I was anxious about it with my first but eventually you realize this happens twice every year and I guess you can try to help them adjust but it's up to them! DD2 wasn't an amazing sleeper anyway so I had the mentality of "eh what's one more thing" lol
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@snowjewelz: For sure! I assume one way or another he will adjust, unless he just becomes some weird dude who is constantly an hour ahead/behind for the rest of his life.
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