Daylight Savings doesn’t only affect your car or microwave clocks. Your baby will also need to adjust their internal clock. In the spring, your baby will be going to bed an hour earlier than his/her body clock is used to, and in the fall, an hour later than they are used to. It’s the end of October, and moms and dads are probably starting to panic about their baby waking up early. If your child is currently waking up at 5 or 6am, that could mean a 4am wakeup call. It might be only an hour, but it will have a big effect on everyone. Babies and kids have a set bedtime and wake up time. Continue reading to learn how to adjust your baby's schedule.
Fall Back
In reality, your baby will wake an hour earlier if the scheduled time isn’t shifted. Parents should shift the entire schedule in increments, and give your baby about a week to adjust. If you’re ahead of the game, you can adjust your child’s sleep schedule 10-15 minutes every day. For example, if he/she goes to sleep at 7:00 PM, you can start with putting them to sleep at 7:15. Same goes with naps. Whether you have a little one who naps twice a day or not at all, you should be adjusting all sleep times. The next day or two, adjust another 15 minutes, and so on.
Babies Not on a Schedule
If your baby is under 9 months, or takes 3 or more naps, chances are the naps vary. All you have to do is stick to a strict Wake Window Schedule.
Babies Not on a Schedule
Follow a Wake Window Schedule
0-6 weeks: 45-60 minutes
7-12 weeks: 60-90 minutes
3-5 months: 1.5-2.5 hours
6-8 months: 2-3 hours
Babies will wake up at their usual times, even if it is now an hour earlier. Follow the Wake Window for naps, including a cat nap before bed if needed so the bedtime isn’t too early.
Two Nap Schedule
When your baby goes to bed around the same time each night and their sleep schedule is a little more predictable, you can change their bedtime by 15 minutes every 2 nights, or 30 minutes for a faster approach. It will take about a week for their bodies to adjust.
Current Schedule | Day 1-2 | Day 3-4 | Day 5-6 | Day 7 |
7:00 AM Wake up | 7:15 AM Wake up | 7:30 AM Wake Up | 7:45 AM Wake Up | 8:00 AM Wakeup (this will be the new 7AM) |
9:30-11 AM Nap 1 | 9:45-11:15 AM Nap 1 | 10-11:30 AM Nap 1 | 10:15-11:45 AM Nap 1 | 10:30-12 PM Nap 1 (New 9:30-11) |
2-3:30 PM Nap 2 | 2:15-3:45 PM Nap 2 | 2:30-4PM Nap 2 | 2:45-4:15PM Nap 2 | 3-4:30 PM Nap 2 (New 2-3:30) |
7:00 PM Bedtime | 7:15 PM Bedtime | 7:30 PM Bedtime | 7:45 PM Bedtime | 8:00 PM Bedtime (New 7PM) |
One Nap Schedule
If your baby only takes one nap, the adjustment should be relatively simple. I recommend shifting bedtime for 2-3 days at a time. Naps should be treated the same.
Current Schedule | Days 1-3 | Days 4-7 |
7:00 AM Wake up | 7:30 AM Wake up | 8:00 AM Wakeup (new 7AM) |
12-2PM Nap | 12:30-2:30PM Nap | 1-3PM Nap (New 12-2PM) |
7PM Bedtime | 7:30 PM Bedtime | 8PM Bedtime (New 7PM)) |
Other Helpful Tips
Babies and adults sleep best in a dark room. Darkness helps increase melatonin, which is what helps us fall asleep at bedtime. Exposure to light and sunlight will help your baby's body clock adjust during the day.
If your baby isn't currently an independent sleeper, Daylight Savings can be an additional challenge. I create unique sleep plans for your child's needs!
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