Three top tips for the clock change
If the ‘new’ time your little one is waking up works for you as a family, there is nothing you need to do to change it. If, however, you would prefer your little one keeps on waking at the same time these tips are for you!
1. Once the clocks have changed, try not to rush in as soon as you hear your little one waking up, especially if they are happy. We want their little body clocks to adjust to the ‘new’ time rather than staying on the ‘old’ time.
2. For babies between 4-12/18 months, bedtime and naps will need a little bit of work to get back to ‘old’ time. To do this, increase your little one’s awake time, for bed and nap time, by 10-15 minutes on day 1, 20-30 minutes on day 2 etc so within a week they should be back on track. This means, if your little one usually wakes at 7am, their ‘new’ wake up time will be 6am. You would then keep them up 15 minutes longer than you would usually, but this will be around 45 minutes ‘earlier’ on the new time.
3. For slightly older children (and toddlers who still nap), our advice is to “split the difference.” This means you pop them to bed 30 minutes earlier on the ‘new’ time. For example, if your little one usually goes to bed around 7pm, put them to bed around 6.30pm for the first three days. This will feel like 7.30pm to your child but should avoid too many overtired tantrums at bedtime. After those three days, move bedtime to the ‘usual’ time of 7pm. This approach will also work for naps. Just ensure they have a way they know it is time to wake up (eg a Zeepy or Gro clock) and set the wake time to half an hour earlier, for those first three days.
For all of us
Ensuring our children, and us, get plenty of outside time and daylight during the day, especially in the winter months, will really help regulate circadian rhythms and just know that it can take everybody roughly one week to adjust any kind of change in sleeping habits so give it time!
If these changes are causing you concern, or if they will just add to your little one’s sleep problems, just get in touch!
Want to know more about Little Dreams Consulting?
Jenna Wilson founded Little Dreams Consulting in 2016 whilst pregnant with her third child. She had been a childcare solicitor for 12 years and, after realising she was no longer in love with the law, she was searching for something where she could still make a difference, whilst being flexible around the needs of her own family. Fay Smith (a mental health social worker) came on board shortly afterwards and, together they have launched an award-winning, BFA accredited, APSC approved franchise, which has now worked with over 1250 families.
1. Once the clocks have changed, try not to rush in as soon as you hear your little one waking up, especially if they are happy. We want their little body clocks to adjust to the ‘new’ time rather than staying on the ‘old’ time.
2. For babies between 4-12/18 months, bedtime and naps will need a little bit of work to get back to ‘old’ time. To do this, increase your little one’s awake time, for bed and nap time, by 10-15 minutes on day 1, 20-30 minutes on day 2 etc so within a week they should be back on track. This means, if your little one usually wakes at 7am, their ‘new’ wake up time will be 6am. You would then keep them up 15 minutes longer than you would usually, but this will be around 45 minutes ‘earlier’ on the new time.
3. For slightly older children (and toddlers who still nap), our advice is to “split the difference.” This means you pop them to bed 30 minutes earlier on the ‘new’ time. For example, if your little one usually goes to bed around 7pm, put them to bed around 6.30pm for the first three days. This will feel like 7.30pm to your child but should avoid too many overtired tantrums at bedtime. After those three days, move bedtime to the ‘usual’ time of 7pm. This approach will also work for naps. Just ensure they have a way they know it is time to wake up (eg a Zeepy or Gro clock) and set the wake time to half an hour earlier, for those first three days.
For all of us
Ensuring our children, and us, get plenty of outside time and daylight during the day, especially in the winter months, will really help regulate circadian rhythms and just know that it can take everybody roughly one week to adjust any kind of change in sleeping habits so give it time!
If these changes are causing you concern, or if they will just add to your little one’s sleep problems, just get in touch!
Want to know more about Little Dreams Consulting?
Jenna Wilson founded Little Dreams Consulting in 2016 whilst pregnant with her third child. She had been a childcare solicitor for 12 years and, after realising she was no longer in love with the law, she was searching for something where she could still make a difference, whilst being flexible around the needs of her own family. Fay Smith (a mental health social worker) came on board shortly afterwards and, together they have launched an award-winning, BFA accredited, APSC approved franchise, which has now worked with over 1250 families.
