Life With A Baby - The dreaded daylight savings change

Tuesday, October 26, 2010 10:06 AM

Message # 451513

Debbi

Hi wise moms and dads

With the "fall back" coming up soon, how can you prepare your baby/ toddler for the big change? Last year the end of daylight savings was a complete nightmare with sleep - not just the DST change itself, but it happened to coincide with a development growth spurt, teething etc. Thanks heavens I was not back at work yet!

The "spring forward" was fine - I did not mind being able to sleep in a bit! However, I am *dreading* the earlier wake up time...

Please share your strategies to get your baby/ toddler to adjust their schedule and sleep times!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010 1:12 PM

Reply # 451589 on 451513

Narie

Hi,

I took and baby class at Becoming Maternity and Parenting centre and the woman who taught the class said to keep the baby up and put them to sleep at the new time. So for fall, if ur baby goes to bed at 7 pm, try to keep them up until 8pm and it'll help ease them into the new time change. We're going to try this with E this year but it's my first child and he's also teething so we'll see how it goes.

Good luck!

Narie

Wednesday, October 27, 2010 11:09 PM

Reply # 452536 on 451513

Kimberly

So far I have survived all the time changes the same way...gradually. Instead of waiting til the day of and trying to force my guy to stay up an hour or go to bed an hour earlier I start a week or so in advance and do like 15 mins earler or later (depending on the change) and I just feel out when hes ready to add another 15 mins....it has worked every time.

Thursday, October 28, 2010 5:38 PM

Reply # 452959 on 451513

Sandra

I am not worried about the time change. We just returned from a vacation where we travelled over 2 time zones and our daughter adapted pretty well.

Friday, October 29, 2010 8:18 PM

Reply # 453601 on 451513

Nicole

The "funny"thing is that keeping up L is not very hard to do. So in this house Im sure the play time will be welcomed by her, exhausting for me. But we will manage. Good luck to you all.

Monday, November 01, 2010 9:32 AM

Reply # 454613 on 451513

Tunde

When is the time change? :)

Monday, November 01, 2010 10:50 AM

Reply # 454665 on 451513

Debbi

Daylight Savings schedule:

Clocks turn back: 1st Sunday of November i.e. this weekend! (November 7, 2010)

Clocks go forward: 2nd Sunday in March (March 13, 2011)

Thursday, November 04, 2010 3:06 PM

Reply # 456455 on 451513

Jenn

Hi

I agree with a lot of the comments above, but i start my 'plan' the day before. So on Friday pretend that the clocks have changed already.. my daughter goes to bed at 8pm, so on Friday i put her to bed at 9pm and so on..... the last 3 years have worked for us :-) Wish me luck that they work this weekend too. thanks Jenn

Wednesday, November 10, 2010 11:57 PM

Reply # 460758 on 451513

Debbi

So the actual day of the time change was not too bad (I guess that's why the change is always on a weekend!) However we've seen the effects in the days following. This week she's been tired much earlier than before and consequently is very cranky by the time she gets home from daycare. On the plus side, she is going to bed earlier and of course waking a little earlier, too - though that means she gets to daycare in time for morning circle time!
How did it go for everyone else?

Thursday, November 11, 2010 7:27 AM

Reply # 460866 on 451513

Michelle

My 6 1/2 month old isn't a great sleeper to start with so the fact this has caused some disturbances is no surprise. He has been going to sleep according to the clock but waking to the old time. This morning he was awake at 6am but was ready for his nap at 7am. I am hoping that if I just follow his cues and ignore the clock a bit it will pan out. 6am is a little too early for my liking :)