The days are getting shorter and we all know what that means: every parent’s worst nightmare — the end of Daylight Saving! Now that we’re parents, all this means is that our kids wake up at the regular time — except now it’s technically an hour earlier.
Sometimes we’re lucky and they adapt quickly to their “new” bedtime and wake-up time, but sometimes you need tips for how to adjust to Daylight Saving Time ending.
When is Daylight Saving Time ending?
How to help kids adjust to DST
Of course, there are ways to help ease the end of DST. And if you’re the type of parent to plan ahead, some of these tips may help.
Shift their bedtime gradually
Just like when you’re preparing your kids to travel across multiple time zones, you can push back your kids’ bedtime by about 15 minutes each day. Dr. Lee recommends starting about four days before DST ends. “This way, their natural internal clock will be used to sleeping at a later time,” she said. “Make sure to explain the change and prepare them for the switch in routine, especially if they can read clocks, since their bedtime hour doesn't actually change once daylight saving ends.”
Have a consistent bedtime routine
Just like when they were babies, consistency is key. “Stick to a consistent bedtime routine,” said Dr. Lee, “something your child finds calming, such as showering or reading a bedtime story together, to try to minimize how disruptive the time change will be.”
Have appropriate expectations
Give your children grace and expect them to be cranky, tired, and unusually temperamental. Don’t make a ton of plans the next day — especially later in the evening around their bedtime. “Be prepared for a period of adjustment and be patient with yourself too — usually the restless sleep won't last more than a week,” assured Dr. Lee.
Use lights to your advantage
If your child is groggy early in the morning or when it hits their previous bedtime, turn the lights on! Make sure they get a lot of sunlight so their bodies are cued to wake up and shift their circadian rhythm.
Don’t worry too much, though. Some of us parents, like Miranda Wicker, don’t make any accommodation at all. “You just know that it’s going to suck for a few days and soldier on,” she told Mom.com.
