WHY THE BIG FUSS
IDEAS FOR A SMOOTH TRANSITION

- KEEP A BEDTIME ROUTINE- The most important thing is making sure our kids get enough sleep so that they aren’t overly tired. One of the best ways to ensure this is to keep a consistent bedtime routine. Provide them with a comforting and relaxing bedtime routine every night. This could consist of giving them a soothing warm bath, reading a bedtime story or two and snuggling together before lights out. Be sure to keep this structured and the same each night so they know what to expect and kind comfort in the routine.
- MOOD LIGHTING- We all have a natural hormone in our body called Melatonin, it’s what regulates the body’s circadian rhythm. Day light effects Melatonin levels. Daylight savings can throw this natural cycle out of whack. You may notice that your kids get tired sooner now that daylight saving time is ending and the sun is setting sooner. The major goal is to make sure your child doesn’t go to bed too early or wake up early! A way to fix this is by make sure your child has plenty of light exposure in the early evening. You can also prevent the room from being too bright in the morning by using black out curtains.
- BABY STEPS- Keep in mind that you don’t have to make a huge leap in changing bedtime by a whole hour. One option is to gradually shift bedtime by 15 minute incriminates to prepare for daylight saving time. By taking a step-by-step approach it will put less stress on the adjustment than an abrupt change.
Remember you are not alone. No parent out there is excited about this change. Keep in mind that some children will adjust to the change easily while others will need extra empathy and support. Hang in there and know that this is just a phase and everyone will adapt to the new normal soon.
October 27, 2021 at 5:31 pm
Thanks for the tips. Our son is an ok sleeper since the training but I’m a bit afraid of the change. I guess I’ll try to play it delicate in few days.