Hey there! How is it already time to change the clocks again?! Didn’t we just go through this? I know daylight savings can elicit feelings of panic in parents of little ones, but don’t worry- this is usually the easier one! And, bonus, it means warmer, sunny days are well on their way.
As with the time change in the fall, there are a few ways to handle the “spring ahead” change. Essentially, you do the same thing, you just adjust the schedule the opposite direction.
Here are your options!
1. DO NOTHING AT ALL ( no prep)-
· Ah, sweet denial, right? Kidding, kidding. But in all seriousness, just change the clocks, and then the next day adjust schedule to the “new normal” times.
· Wakeup, naps, meals, bedtime- all done by the normal time on the clock. This may take a couple days to fall into place, but it will smooth itself out.
· Best for- parents who couldn’t be bothered to deal with tweaking schedules, easy going kiddos, or if you simply forget!
2. 30 MINUTE SHIFT ( 2 days of prep)-
· Two days before the change, adjust entire schedule ( wakeup, naps, meals, activities, bedtime) 30 minutes earlier.
· One day before change, adjust an additional 30 minutes earlier ( so you have now shifted the full hour)
· Change the clocks, and your little one will be setup to continue on normally with the new time.
· Best for- kids who don’t do great with a huge change, but can handle schedule change without completely derailing, parents who like to like to plan ahead, but like to be super efficient.
3. 15 MINUTE SHIFT-(4 days prep)
· Four days before change, push back full schedule 15 minutes earlier.
· Three days before change, push another 15 minutes earlier.
· Two days before… another 15 minutes.
· One day before, you guessed it, another 15 minutes earlier. Now you have caught up and your child will be used to the new time when clocks are changed.
· Change clocks, continue business as usual with your normal schedule times!
· Best for- sensitive littles who really don’t adapt well to changes in their schedule, parents who are straight up panicked about the time change and want to act on it as soon as possible.
And there you go! Easy peasy. Also, as an added bonus for those of you who have been dealing with your children waking up at the crack of dawn, this time change can actually help get them back on track with normal waking time. Hooray!
As always, if you find you are struggling after this time change, always feel free to reach out to me for support!
Janet