End of Daylight Saving Time: Your Baby’s Schedule
It’s that time of the year again- the end of Daylight Saving Time is right around the corner (*audible groans from parents).
This means that at 1:59 am on the morning of Sunday, November 6, the clocks will go back to 1:00 am instead of moving to 2:00 am.
For adults without children, this is the best time change out there; it means you get an additional hour of sleep!
For adults with children, it’s a very different story. The time change often means a baby who wakes one hour earlier than usual, according to the new time on the clock. Let’s say your baby typically wakes at 7:00 am. Once the clocks change, that same baby will begin waking at 6:00 am, because it will still feel like 7:00 am to them.
(And right when you thought you had your child’s schedule down, you have to go and change things…argh!)
As a caregiver, there are two options when it comes to dealing with the end of Daylight Saving Time; a cold turkey plan or a plan that allows for a gradual transition. Neither option is better than the other; choose based on what works best for your family!
Option 1: The Cold Turkey Change
For some families, a gradual adjustment just isn’t possible (families with children in daycare, families who are traveling, etc…). If this is you, simply wait until the clocks change and continue on with your child’s normal schedule the morning of Sunday, November 6 (after changing the clocks).
Often, this temporarily leads to a little one who wakes earlier than normal, fights naps, and is overtired by bedtime. The saving grace is that they should adjust in about a week.
If you choose the Cold Turkey Plan, you must allow them to fuss in their crib in the morning until it’s their normal waketime. I promise you, they will be fine! They are simply frustrated and will need time to adjust to the new schedule.
I would recommend making a promise to yourself that you’ll stay out of their way until it’s time to get up for the day. If instead you begin getting them up earlier than normal, you will be (unintentionally) reinforcing early wakings.
The same goes for naps and bedtime. Do your best to keep them on a normal schedule based on typical wake windows or based on the clock, depending on how you typically schedule the day.
Help! My baby is too overtired to make it to bedtime…
If you feel they are simply too tired to make it to their normal bedtime (based on the clock), you can slowly adjust their bedtime the week following the time change.
For example, here is the earlier bedtime plan for a baby on a 7:00 am-7:00 pm schedule. You will adjust the times based on your baby’s typical waketime and bedtime.
*Sun 11/6 (clocks change)
7:00 am waketime
6:15 pm bedtime
Monday 11/7
7:15 am waketime
6:15 pm bedtime
Tuesday 11/8
7:30 am waketime
6:30 pm bedtime
Wednesday 11/9
7:30 am waketime
6:30 pm bedtime
Thursday 11/10
7:45 am waketime
6:45 pm bedtime
Friday 11/11
7:45 am waketime
6:45 pm bedtime
Saturday 11/12
8:00 am waketime
7:00 pm bedtime
Sunday 11/13
7:00 am waketime
7:00 pm bedtime
And on those days that your baby is especially overtired and fussy, remind yourself that they should adjust in about a week.
Option 2: The Gradual Shift
The second option is to gradually adjust their schedule the week prior to the clocks changing, so that by the time Sunday, November 6 rolls around, they are prepared for the time change.
This is not possible for everyone of course, but if you are able to plan ahead it can save you some headaches down the road.
Morning Waketime Adjustment
Get your baby out of the crib 15 minutes later every two mornings, the week prior to DST.
The key is to WAIT to get them out of the crib in the morning until it’s time to get them up. Most likely your baby will get fussy, but you must stay out of their way if you want them to adjust in time for the time change.
Bedtime Adjustment
Based on the adjusted waketime each morning, bedtime should naturally fall 15 minutes later every 2 nights, the week prior to DST.
Example Schedule for Gradual Shift
This example is based on a 7a-7p schedule. You will change the times below based on your child’s typical waketime and bedtime.
Sunday 10/30
7:15 am waktime
7:15 pm bedtime
Monday 10/31
7:15 am waketime
7:15 pm bedtime
Tuesday 11/1
7:30 am waketime
7:30 pm bedtime
Wednesday 11/2
7:30 am waketime
7:30 pm bedtime
Thursday 11/3
7:45 am waketime
7:45 pm bedtime
Friday 11/4
7:45 am waketime
7:45 pm bedtime
Saturday 11/5
8:00 am waketime
8:00 pm bedtime
*Sunday 11/6
7:00 am waketime
7:00 pm bedtime
*Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday morning at 2:00 am. You will return to your baby’s normal schedule starting Sunday, November 6.
Nap Adjustments for a Wake-Windows Schedule
For those of you who schedule your baby’s day using wake windows, you will follow wake windows as you normally would. However, the first wake window of the day will be based on the adjusted waketime (see the chart above).
This means that even if your child is AWAKE prior to the adjusted time, you will still count the first wake window off the time you actually take them out of the crib. This will help you avoid reinforcing earlier wakings.
For example, on Monday your baby is awake at 7:00 am and fussing. You will wait to get them until 7:15 am. You count the first wake window from 7:15, not from when they woke at 7:00.
Base the remaining wake windows of the day off when their naps end, as you normally would.
Nap Adjustments for a Clock-Based Schedule
For those of you who follow a clock-based schedule you will shift all naps later by 15 minutes every two days, the week leading up to DST.
For example, if Nap #1 is typically 9:00 am, adjust the schedule as follows:
Sunday 10/30
9:15 am
Monday 10/31
9:15 am
Tuesday 11/1
9:30 am
Wednesday 11/2
9:30 am
Thursday 11/3
9:45 am
Friday 11/4
9:45 am
Saturday 11/5
10:00 am
Sunday 11/6*
9:00 am
*Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday morning at 2:00 am. You will return to your baby’s normal schedule starting Sunday, November 6.
Help! My baby is too overtired by bedtime!
A baby who is overtired typically becomes fussy and often becomes worked up to such a degree that their cortisol levels rise.
Higher cortisol levels at bedtime means a baby who may have a harder time falling asleep, experience a false start bedtime, wake up more frequently through the night, and wake up earlier in the morning. (GULP.)
One of the ways you can help your baby make it to a later bedtime during the adjustment period is to keep them entertained, while still avoiding overstimulation. This means if your baby becomes fussy prior to bedtime, change up activities.
If they’re doing tummy time and they start to get fussy, you could switch to a water-play activity, or read them a book, or maybe you take them outside so they can watch the leaves.
Avoid anything that is too intense (cue loud rock music) that will lead to overstimulation. You should also avoid anything that is motion-based, like a stroller walk or car ride.
At the end of the day…
As with any schedule change, it will take time for your baby to adjust. For some babies, this means only a week before they get the hang of it. For other babies, it could take up to two weeks before they are used to the time change.
In those moments when your baby is fussy and you’re close to losing it, remind yourself that this may be our last Daylight Savings time change…
