Top Tips to Help Babies and Toddlers Adjust to Daylight Saving Time
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Thank you to Pampers for sponsoring this post. All thoughts are my own.
When I was a first time mom, I remember staying up my first night in the hospital to keep an eye on my newborn. I was afraid something might happen or he would need to nurse and I wouldn’t hear him. Three kids later and I feel like an expert at trusting myself as a mom. By the time I had my third kid, I knew I’d wake up at the slightest noise. My sensitive “mom hearing” would let me know when he needed me. My sleep was precious and I took every opportunity to sneak some in because I learned that more sleep made me a better mom.
Besides getting into a rhythm with a new baby, one of the hardest sleep transitions for my family has always been Daylight Saving Time. Even though my kids are now getting older, we still feel the effects with kids that struggle to get out of bed or can’t fall asleep at night. When Pampers gave me the opportunity to ask licensed clinical social worker and sleep specialist Kim West anything, I decided I wanted to know her top tips to help babies and toddlers adjust to Daylight Saving Time.
Top Tips for Young Babies to Adjust to DST
Slowly shift bedtime earlier in 10-15 minute increments leading up to this Saturday night when we move our clocks forward an hour. The next morning you may need to wake them 10-15 minutes earlier if they don’t on their own to help them shift their entire day schedule a bit earlier.
Good news….if prior to DST your baby was an early riser (waking for the day before 6am) then this time change may fix that! Their new wake up time on Sunday morning will be an hour later. If they were not an early riser and you liked your baby’s schedule then continue to wake up them up at their previous time to keep their schedule consistent. Shift naps the next day according to the new time.
Once you and your baby are awake in the morning, go for a walk or open the blinds. Exposing your baby to a minimum of 30 mins of sunshine can help their body’s (and yours) adjust to the time change. Remember, this disruption to your baby’s sleep pattern can take up to a week to adjust to.
Top Tips for Toddlers to Adjust to DST
If your toddler was an early riser prior to the upcoming time change then don’t change anything beforehand. Put her down at her regular bedtime (usually between 7-8pm depending on your toddlers age) and turn your clocks ahead 1 hour before you go to bed. If you toddler used to sleep until 5:30am they will now sleep until 6:30am. Yipee! Shift her nap time and bedtime one hour later on Sunday (same time clockwise).
Once you and your toddler are awake in the morning, go for a walk or open the blinds. Just like with a young baby, exposing your toddler to a minimum of 30 mins of sunshine can help their body’s (and yours) adjust to the time change. A toddler who is well rested when they enter into this time change will be able to adjust quicker.
If you would like to keep your toddler’s current sleep schedule then put him down at his usual bedtime on Saturday night. If your toddler usually slept until 7am then set your alarm to go off at 6am (which will feel like 5am). I know…everyone will be tired. Keep naps the same according to the new clock time. Make sure she is awake at least 4 hours from afternoon to bedtime so she is tired enough for her new earlier bedtime (although it’s her usual bedtime according to the clock). Even though the clock won’t say it’s earlier it will feel earlier.
— Kim West, “The Sleep Lady“
So what has been your experience with Daylight Saving Time as a parent?
We’ve followed a lot of this same advice to try and minimize the adjustment, but it’s always tougher on parents with babies and toddlers. It is no wonder since Daylight Saving Time causes a disruption to circadian rhythm. To help your little one stay dry all night, Pampers Baby Dry diapers can offer peace of mind that a wet leaky diaper isn’t the adding to any sleeping problems. No wonder parents have trusted Pampers to care for their babies for more than 50 years. I’ve been a loyal Pampers user since I had my first child 10 years ago and I never experienced nighttime leakage issues with any of my boys.
Overnight Protection Features
Pampers diapers feature 3 Absorbing Channels that pull and store mess away from baby’s skin for up to 12 hours.
The 3 Absorbing Channels include:
- Absorption Layer – Sit above the top sheet of the diaper, attracts wetness and pulls liquid away.
- Distribution Layer – Locks in and distributes the wetness into the super absorbent core, which tightly stores the liquid.
- Super Absorbent Core – Made of super absorbent polymers (SAPs), often called absorbent gelling material, the absorbent core absorbs and locks away liquid to help prevent rewetting. SAPs also help prevent redness and irritation by reducing skin wetness.
Pampers diapers are specially designed with blanket-like softness to maximize comfort while keeping baby dry overnight.I
I’ve put together this Pinterest board filled with more sleep tips for your little one for Daylight Saving Time and beyond!
Giveaway:
I’ve got Pampers free product and high value product coupons to give away to readers! Simply re-pin anything from my Daylight Saving Time Pinterest Board to a related board and enter below.
THREE WINNERS: Free Pampers Diapers (Jumbo) + Free Pampers Wipes
FIVE WINNERS: Two high value $5 off Pampers coupons
a Rafflecopter giveaway
