As daylight savings approaches, it can be tough to adjust to the time change, especially when you have a baby or young children in the mix. However, with a little preparation and patience, you can make it through this transition without too much disruption to your daily routine. Here are some tips from Amy to help you survive daylight savings:
Option 1: Do Nothing
If you forget about daylight savings until the day of (like Amy), or if you prefer to take a more laid-back approach, you can simply go to bed at your usual time and let the morning wake-up happen naturally. Be prepared for some chaos in the first couple of days as you and your baby adjust to the time change. You may need to adjust nap and meal times to fit the new schedule.
Option 2: Adjust Bed and Wake Times
If you have a sensitive baby or child that doesn't adjust well to change, you may want to consider adjusting their bed and wake times gradually.
Spring Forward:
Wake your baby/child at the new time. For example, if they normally wake at 7am before the time change, wake them at the new 7am time after the change. For extra sensitive kiddos, you can take a few days before the time change to adjust their wake time in small increments. For example, if they normally wake up at 7am, wake them up at 6:45am, the next day 6:30am, the next day 6:15am, then on the day of the change you will be waking them at the 'new' 7am.
Fall Back:
Start moving bedtime forward by 15 minutes a few days before the time change. This will help your baby or child adjust gradually to the new time.
No matter which option you choose, remember that change is hard for everyone.
Give yourself and your baby some grace during these times and ride out the tough times together.
Make space for their (and your) emotions, cancel plans if you have to, and adjust your expectations.
Just take a deep breath and ride it out!
With these tips, you can make daylight savings a little easier for you and your family.
Remember to be patient, flexible, and kind to yourself and your baby during this time of transition.
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