Time Change - How to Adjust

Updated on March 06, 2009
T.S. asks from Waterford, MI
10 answers

Ok, this weekend we are losing an hour. How do we adjust my daughters sleeping schedule. She normally goes to bed 7 or 730 and sleeps 12 hours. I would like this transition to be as smooth as possible. Do we adjust her schedule now or wait for the time change on Sat/Sun? What have you moms done to keep things semi normal for your baby?

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C.M.

answers from Detroit on

I usually start about a week or two before and adjust her by 10 minutes every few days, then by the time the change comes around she is already on the change. So I would start now and slowly get her readjusted to the change. I also move breakfast, lunch, and dinner by the same amount as her bedtime.

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C.S.

answers from Kalamazoo on

I have found that the spring time change is easier for my kids to adjust to than the fall one. Getting them to go to bed earlier is easier than trying to get them to stay up later. But we usually start a week before and gradually move their bedtimes by 10 or 15 minutes each day. You could try doing it now or just wait, I don't think it will matter either way. Good luck!

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S.S.

answers from Detroit on

It won't be too bad. I used to transition by 15 minutes every day when my son was really little. Now I find that he transitions himself with the sun. The hardest thing is eating on a different schedule that you used to for us!

Good luck! The good news is that if we "spring ahead" spring must be coming!

S.

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S.K.

answers from Detroit on

I've been thinking about this too...and my 21month daughter is on the same sleep schedule as your little one. My current "plan" is to allow bedtime to be 8pm (which will feel like 7pm anyway) and allow her to "sleep in" in the morning. I imagine that over a few days, due to our normal timed activities (like dinner) her bedtime will eventually creep back a half hour or so. I just know if I try to put her to bed at 7pm immediately she's probably not going to be ready since she'll feel it's an hour too early...but then again, I'm not going to wake her up in the morning as some moms may need to do in order to get out of the house on time etc...if you need to wake her up at a certain time, that one hour less of sleep may make her nap earlier and thus need an hour earlier bed time. I'm all new to this, too...so I'm really not sure the best plan...ask me in two weeks how my ideas have panned out! Good luck to you! :o)

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P.H.

answers from Detroit on

We've always phased it in - when they were younger, about 15 minutes a day for wo or three days at a time over a week or so. Now that they're older, it doesn't really effect them as much so we don't worry so much about it.

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L.J.

answers from Detroit on

well my 22 month old already did the time change on her own. she used to get up at 6:30 in the morning and this week she has been getting up at 5:30, so really after this weekend it will be 6:30 again. i think they adjust better than we do anyway.

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L.O.

answers from Detroit on

most kids wake up at the same time of the day no matter when you put them to bed..

so expect her to get up at the same time...(the old time) if she was getting up at 7 am.. after the time change she will get up at 8... so you have to adjust bedtime and naptime a bit.. try to to it over 3 or 4 days.. or even longer..

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K.M.

answers from Detroit on

For me personally 7:30 is way too early. But If thats what you and your husband agree on than. This is an idea. Around 715 start shutting all the curtains in the house to make it dark and than get her ready like normal and put her to bed at 730. Or your husband and you may want to change her bed time to 830. But eventually will have to do the same thing because before long it will be light till 830-9. good luck!

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M.F.

answers from Detroit on

Hey there,

Somehow our kids just adjusted accordingly. I can't pin-point EXACTLY how but here are a few things we did.

One-Two days prior to the switch start bed time routine earlier.

Stick to your usual bed time routine...bath, story, whatever yours may be.

If the room seems too bright...a dark sheet or light blocking curtains will help a great deal.

These are the things we did and to this day...they are 3 and 5 now. They still adjust pretty well. It may be tricky for the first few days but just keep with it and your baby's body will adjust!

Good luck!

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M.W.

answers from Kalamazoo on

I didn't sweat it. Just put her down a little early and get her up at the new time, unless she's still sleeping. She'll adjust fine, it might take a day or so, but its not like a 3 hour difference like jet lag can be.

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