Just when your family has
finally settled into some sort of sleep rhythm, daylight savings
time sabotages your Zzzzs. This fall, daylight savings time ends at
2:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 3rd. So be prepared with this expert
advice on how to help your kids make the transition.
Pro advice
Adjust your child's schedule gradually-make bedtime about
15 minutes earlier each day for four days before daylight savings
time ends and try to wake your child up 15 minutes earlier each
day. The same approach works in the spring when daylight savings
time begins, just gradually adjust sleep and wake times later.
Mom translation
Spend an extra 15 minutes yelling at your kids to "Get back
in bed!"
Pro advice
A blackout shade is always helpful when encouraging sleep
and they definitely come in handy when adjusting to daylight
savings time.
Mom translation
A dark cave wouldn't induce your child to go to sleep early
but, sure, throw a dark curtain up and see if that helps.
Pro advice
This is one of the many times when a consistent bedtime
routine pays off. Stick to your normal pattern of bath, reading,
cuddling, etc. to help your child's body get the message that it's
time for sleep.
Mom translation
If by routine you mean, the whack-o-mole game of putting
your kids to bed then having them get up endlessly for a cuddle,
potty or their 89th glass of water then, yes, stick to the
routine.
Pro advice
If your child is waking up too early put a fun digital
(easy-to-read) clock in their room so they can monitor when it's OK
to get up.
Mom translation
Having a clock in your child's room means that now he can
yell, "Mom, it's 4 o'clock. I can't sleep!" so loud that the entire
neighborhood is awake.
Pro advice
Despite your best efforts, everyone will likely be a little
tired and grumpy for a few days. So give yourself, and everyone
else, an extra dose of patience.
Mom translation
Give yourself a break. Everyone will fall into a routine
eventually-just in time for the clocks to change again!