It's already tough enough to get your stubborn sleeper to hit the hay. But if your little one is also adjusting to daylight saving time ("falling back" in November), he may have an even tougher time winding down — and could morph into an extra early riser.
Either way, there are some simple things you can try to get your baby or toddler back on the sleeping track.
How will daylight saving time affect my baby?
Making the switch to "spring forward" or "fall back" only involves a time change of one hour — but even that can affect your little one's sleep. Different babies have a range of sleep needs, which means daylight saving time (DST) starting or ending may not affect some very much. Others, however, may be grumpier as parents strive to match what's happening on the clock with their tots' normal sleep routines.
Babies, toddlers and changing clocks can be a tough mix. A few early birds may wake up even earlier in the morning than usual when the clock shifts. And when it's time to head to bed, some babies and toddlers might end up overtired as they struggle to keep pace with the new hour.
How long does it take for babies and toddlers to adjust to or from daylight saving time?
As with any shift in a set routine, adjusting to the clocks changing is a process. It may take just a few days before your baby or toddler is back to his normal sleep schedule, while others with more sensitive body clocks can take longer.
Fortunately, the switch to or from DST is a temporary setback in a tot's sleep routine — and even if yours is having a harder time adjusting, most kids tend to settle into the time change within a week or two.
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How do I prepare my baby or toddler for daylight saving beginning and ending?
There are a few different ways to help babies and toddlers stay in sync with their body clocks, so try these to see which one is best for your child:
Stay the course
That means changing the clocks as you normally would and nudging your tot to wake, eat, play, nap and go to bed at the usual times according to what the clock says. He may be grumpy for a while, but the more you stick to your routines, the faster he'll adjust to the time change.
Keep bedtime habits the same
Babies and toddlers thrive on a solid bedtime routine, including a feed, books, cuddling and songs, so follow yours as usual to show your tot that it's time to settle down, even during daylight saving time.
Make the room dark
Unfortunately, you can't explain to a baby or toddler what daylight saving time is or why it's still light outside at bedtime (or the reverse when it ends). But you can try to fool your little one's internal body clock by blocking out the light in his room. Use room-darkening shades, curtains or blinds, and hopefully they'll help speed up sleep.
Let the sun shine
On the other hand, light exposure is important in the morning, as it signals to babies and toddlers that it's time to wake up. Open the shades in your baby's room or turn on the lights when you greet him to start the day.
It's tempting to shorten, lengthen or even nix a regular nap in order to help your infant or toddler adjust to or from DST, but it isn't recommended. Instead, continue to keep any naps your child normally takes.
If your little one is sensitive to time changes, slowly shift bedtime and wake-up time a few days before "springing forward" or "falling back." For example, if he typically wakes up at 7 a.m., he'll be awake at 6 a.m. after the fall change. So on day one, put him to bed 15 minutes later than usual to encourage him to sleep 15 minutes longer, until 7:15 a.m. On day two, put him down 30 minutes later so he's up at 7:30. By the time DST ends, he'll (hopefully) be up at 8 a.m. (7 a.m. when you change the clocks) — right on schedule!
Shorten the routine as needed
Got a tot with droopy eyelids? It's fine to streamline your daylight saving baby sleep routine on some nights if it makes sense. Skip that extra book or the long song in favor of heading to bed more quickly.
Try not to worry too much in the face of daylight saving time beginning or ending. With patience and a few micro adjustments, coaxing your baby or toddler to match the clock's new hour is a process that nearly every tot comes through with flying colors.
Ni vigumu kutosha kupata kulala yako mkaidi kugonga nyasi. Lakini kama mtoto wako pia ni kurekebisha kwa muda wa majira ya joto ("kuanguka nyuma" katika Novemba), anaweza kuwa na wakati hata ngumu winding chini <unk> na inaweza morph katika riser ziada mapema. Kwa hivyo, kuna njia kadhaa rahisi ambazo unaweza kujaribu kumrudisha mtoto wako kwenye njia ya kulala. Wakati wa kupumzika wa mchana utaathirije mtoto wangu? Kubadilisha "kushuka mbele" au "kurudi nyuma" kunahusisha tu mabadiliko ya wakati wa saa moja <unk> lakini hata hiyo inaweza kuathiri usingizi wa mtoto wako. Watoto wana mahitaji tofauti ya usingizi, na hivyo wakati wa majira ya joto (DST) huanza au kuisha kwa watoto wengi. Hata hivyo, huenda wengine wakawa wenye hasira zaidi kwa sababu wazazi hujitahidi kulinganisha kile kinachotokea saa na utaratibu wa kawaida wa kulala wa watoto wao. Watoto wachanga, watoto wachanga na mabadiliko ya saa yanaweza kuwa mchanganyiko mgumu. Ndege wachache wa mapema wanaweza kuamka mapema hata asubuhi kuliko kawaida wakati saa inapoanza kubadilika. Wakati wa kulala, watoto wadogo wanaweza kuwa na uchovu mwingi na wanajaribu kukabiliana na saa mpya. Watoto wadogo huchukua muda gani ili kuzoea au kuacha kutumia saa za kiangazi? Kama ilivyo na badiliko lolote katika utaratibu uliowekwa, kurekebisha mabadiliko ya saa ni mchakato. Inaweza kuchukua siku chache tu kabla ya mtoto wako kurudi kwenye ratiba yake ya kawaida ya usingizi, wakati wengine wenye saa za mwili nyeti zaidi zinaweza kuchukua muda mrefu zaidi. Kwa bahati nzuri, kubadili saa za mchana na za kiangazi ni hatua ya muda katika utaratibu wa usingizi wa mtoto mchanga - na hata kama mtoto wako ana wakati mgumu wa kurekebisha, watoto wengi huelekea kukubali mabadiliko ya wakati ndani ya wiki moja au mbili. Soma hii: Jinsi ya kuandaa mtoto wangu kwa ajili ya siku ya kupumzika? Kuna njia kadhaa za kusaidia watoto wako kukaa katika usawa na saa zao za mwili, kwa hivyo jaribu hizi kuona ni ipi inayofaa zaidi kwa mtoto wako: Endelea na njia hiyo, ikimaanisha kubadilisha saa kama unavyofanya kawaida na kumsukuma mtoto wako kuamka, kula, kucheza, kupumzika na kwenda kulala kwa wakati wa kawaida kulingana na kile saa inasema. Huenda akawa mwenye hasira kwa muda, lakini kadiri unavyoendelea kufuata utaratibu wako, ndivyo atakavyobadilika haraka. Watoto na watoto wadogo hufaidika na utaratibu thabiti wa kulala, ikiwa ni pamoja na chakula, vitabu, kukumbatia na nyimbo, kwa hivyo fuata yako kama kawaida kuonyesha mtoto wako kwamba ni wakati wa kukaa chini, hata wakati wa kuokoa nuru ya mchana. "Kufanya chumba giza: ""Kwa bahati mbaya, huwezi kumweleza mtoto mchanga au mtoto mchanga ni nini wakati wa majira ya joto au kwa nini bado ni mwanga nje wakati wa kulala (au kinyume chake wakati unamalizika)." Unaweza kujaribu kuwadanganya watoto wako kwa kuzuia mwanga wa chumba chao. Tumia vivuli, mapazia au mapazia ya giza katika chumba, na tunatumaini kwamba yatakusaidia kupata usingizi haraka. "Kupitia mwangaza wa jua, mtoto anaweza kupata mwangaza wa asubuhi, na hivyo kuwa na ishara ya ""wakati wa kuamka.""" Fungua shades katika chumba cha mtoto wako au taa wakati wewe salamu yake kuanza siku. Ni rahisi sana kupunguza, kupanua au hata kuondoa usingizi wa kawaida ili kusaidia mtoto wako kujipatanisha na au kutoka kwa DST, lakini haipendekezi. Badala yake, endelea kulala usingizi kwa muda mrefu kama vile mtoto wako anavyofanya. Ikiwa mtoto wako ni mzio wa mabadiliko ya wakati, hatua kwa hatua badilisha wakati wa kulala na kuamka siku chache kabla ya "kuinuka mbele" au "kuanguka nyuma". Kwa mfano, kama wewe ni kawaida kuamka saa 7 asubuhi, wewe ni kuamka saa 6 asubuhi baada ya kuanguka mabadiliko. Siku ya kwanza, mweleze kitandani dakika 15 baada ya kawaida ili kumtia moyo kulala dakika 15 zaidi, hadi saa 7:15 asubuhi; siku ya pili, mweleze kitandani dakika 30 baadaye ili awe amesimama saa 7:30. Kufikia wakati DST inapoisha, atakuwa (na matumaini) ameamka saa 8 asubuhi (7 asubuhi unapoibadilisha saa) <unk> sawa na ratiba! Kufupisha utaratibu kama inahitajika Got tod na droopy eyelids? Ni vizuri kuharakisha utaratibu wako wa kulala mtoto usiku wa manane ikiwa ina maana. Usisome kitabu hicho cha ziada au wimbo mrefu ili uende kitandani upesi. Jaribu kutokuwa na wasiwasi sana kwa sababu ya kuanza au kumalizika kwa wakati wa majira ya joto. Kwa subira na marekebisho machache madogo, kumshawishi mtoto wako au mtoto mchanga kufanana na saa mpya ya saa ni mchakato ambao karibu kila mtoto mchanga huja kupitia kwa rangi za kuruka.