Helping Your Baby Adjust to Daylight Saving Time
Whenever Daylight Saving Time (DST) rolls around, it can throw everyone’s sleep off-balance. But this is especially true for babies. Their normal routine can quickly become disrupted during and after the time change. If you have a baby, you’re probably noticing this already. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help your baby adjust to DST.
This isn’t a one-time fix that you can do and then forget about. Adjusting your baby’s sleep patterns to fit with the new time change is an ongoing process that will require a bit of patience on your end. Fortunately, these tips can make the entire process a bit easier on both of you.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed at the thought of adjusting your baby’s sleep schedule to accommodate Daylight Saving Time, don’t worry. You’re not alone. But with the right tactics and a little patience, you can get your baby sleeping on a proper schedule once again.
Break the Night Feeds
During and after the transition to DST, chances are your baby is going to wake up earlier than they would normally. To prevent multiple night feedings during this time, start limiting the amount they eat during their evening feeding. Opt for fewer ounces in the evening, or even reduce the feeding altogether. This will encourage your baby to sleep through the night, instead of waking up early with hunger.
Be sure to give your baby enough calories during the day, as opposed to allowing them to eat more in the evening. This will help your baby stay awake longer during the day, so that they’ll be tired enough to make it through the night.
Introduce Small Time Changes
Once you’ve settled into the new time change, start introducing small changes to your baby’s schedule. For instance, if your baby normally awakens at 6 a.m. after the time change, try to push their wake-up time back to 7 a.m. Gradually working back to earlier wake-up times can be difficult, but it’s far more effective than attempting to do it all in one go.
When introducing a new sleep schedule for your baby, help them develop healthy sleep habits by regularly doing things like:
- Creating a calming bedtime routine
- Putting them down drowsy but still awake in their bed
- Avoiding overexciting activities before bedtime
- Making sure they have a comfortable sleep environment
By doing these things, your baby will associate going to bed with safety and comfort, and will help them stay asleep for more of the night.
Be Patient and Consistent
Perhaps the most important thing to remember when adjusting your baby’s sleep to Daylight Saving Time is to remain consistent. Make sure your baby’s bedtimes and wake-up times remain consistent despite the time change. This also goes for you – don’t give into the temptation to stay up late. This will only disrupt your baby’s own sleep patterns.
It may take a few days to a few weeks to fully adjust your baby’s sleep back to a regular schedule. Don’t feel discouraged if it doesn’t happen overnight. The key is to remain patient and consistent with your efforts. With the right amount of dedication, your baby will be back to their normal sleep routine in no time.
Conclusion
Time changes like Daylight Saving Time can be trying for the whole family, especially for a little one. But with proper precautions and a consistent sleep schedule, you can help your infant adjust quickly to the time difference. Just remember to be patient, and don’t give up!