Daylight Savings and Your Baby's Sleep
Daylight savings in New Zealand marks the beginning of summer! The days get longer, the evenings warmer, and with that extra sunshine, everyone seems to shake off the winter blues.
When the clocks spring forward, we gain an hour of daylight. But if you're like me, that small shift can take a few days for your body clock to adjust. So, what happens to our little ones' body clocks during this time?
Good news for newborns: daylight savings is unlikely to affect them much, so enjoy those longer evenings! And if your little one is waking early (around 5/6am), don’t change a thing—enjoy the fact that their early starts will now shift to 6/7am!
For children aged 16 months and up, the start of daylight savings might disrupt their sleep. But don’t worry—there are several strategies you can try to minimize the impact.
Preparing for the Clock Change
You can begin adjusting your little one's sleep schedule in the days leading up to daylight savings. Starting the Wednesday before the clock change, gradually shift their bedtime earlier, so by Sunday, they’ll be in sync with the new time.
Here’s an example if their usual bedtime is 7pm:
Wednesday: Keep bedtime at 7pm as usual.
Thursday: Start the day 15 minutes earlier, adjusting feeds and naps accordingly. Bedtime will be 6:45pm.
Friday: Shift the day and bedtime another 15 minutes earlier (now 30 minutes earlier than Wednesday). Bedtime will be 6:30pm.
Saturday: Again, shift the day earlier by 15 minutes (45 minutes earlier than Wednesday). Bedtime will be 6:15pm.
Sunday: Start the day at 7am, and by evening, your little one should be ready for bed at 7pm on the new time.
The "Wait and See" Approach
Another option is to wait until after daylight savings to address any sleep disruptions. If their usual bedtime is 7pm, after the time change they’ll technically be going to bed at 8pm. If they struggle to fall asleep at the new 7pm, try putting them down at 7:30pm, then move bedtime forward to 7:15pm the next night, eventually returning to 7pm.
It’s completely normal for it to take a few days, or even up to a week, for their sleep to fully adjust.
Stay Calm and Consistent
It’s important to remember that your little one hasn’t forgotten how to fall asleep—they’re just adjusting to the new schedule. Stay calm, remain consistent with your bedtime routine, and things will settle down.
Also, with lighter evenings, be sure to check that their room is as dark as possible to help them fall asleep and stay asleep.
Need Extra Help?
If your child’s sleep hasn’t returned to normal after daylight savings, or if you want to establish a better sleep routine, send me a DM today! Book your free 15-minute discovery call to find out which Hello Sleep package best fits your needs.
