Time Change with a Toddler

Sleep patterns and young children.  If you have a young child you might be so unlucky like I am to have a little one who doesn't really care for sleep. She's somewhat inconsistent in her sleep patterns and we haven't been super strict on getting her to bed within 10 minutes of her typical bedtime.  Bedtime is usually 8:30 but lately it's been closer to 9:00.  With the time change this weekend, that's bad news for all of us.  In order to prepare Addie and us for the time change we've slowly started shifting her bedtime back each night.  If you're a newer parent, you may not have even thought about the time change and how it affects kids but trust me it does.  If you're not prepared for it, it can affect their sleep for several weeks.  So here's how to slowly adjust and be prepared.

Night 1 - Sunday night - In bed by 8:45

Night 2 - Monday night - In bed by 8:30

Night 3 - Tuesday night - In bed by 8:30

Night 4 - Wednesday night - In bed by 8:15

Night 5 - Thursday night - In bed by 8:15

Night 6 - Friday night - In bed by 8:00

Night 7 - Saturday night - In bed by 8:00

Night 7 is when the time change happens so that 8:00pm bedtime is really like a 9:00pm bedtime so we'll have to slowly adjust next week as well to get her closer to 8:30.

Night 8 - Sunday night - In bed by 9:00

Night 9 - Monday night - In bed by 9:00

Night 10 - Tuesday night - In bed by 8:45

Night 11 - Wednesday night - In bed by 8:45

Night 12 - Thursday night - In bed by 8:30

This would be our target bedtime so moving forward we would continue to make sure she's in bed by 8:30 each night.  It's important to slowly shift bedtimes versus what adults naturally do because we're able to quickly adjust.  Kids need routine so make sure the change is gradual.  It'll be much easier slowly adjusting versus a sudden change.

Also, make sure to remember that if your child usually wakes up at 6:30 like mine, for example, this is now a 7:30 wake up time.  So wake up time will slowly adjust as well.  By shifting the bedtime routine you'll also slowly shift the wake up routine which can be just as scary if you have a cranky toddler like mine.

Good luck & be prepared to do it all over again in 6 months!

-stephanie