The End of Daylight Saving Time: How to Adjust Your Baby’s Schedule
It’s almost that time again — when the clocks fall back and parents everywhere collectively sigh.
This year, Daylight Saving Time ends at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2025. At that moment, the clock will jump back one hour to 1:00 a.m.
For adults without kids, it’s the best kind of time change — a “bonus” hour of sleep. But for parents? Not so much. That extra hour often means your baby’s internal clock is now running early. So a baby who normally wakes up at 7:00 a.m. may suddenly start chirping happily (or not so happily) at 6:00 a.m.
And just when you thought you finally had their schedule under control… here comes Daylight Saving Time to shake things up.
The good news? There are two simple ways to handle it — a gradual adjustment plan or the cold-turkey method. There’s no right or wrong choice; it’s all about what works best for your family.
Option 1: The Cold-Turkey Plan
If your week is already packed — daycare, travel, work, or you just don’t want to think about it — this option is for you.
Simply wait until after the clocks change on Sunday morning and stick to your baby’s usual schedule according to the new time.
Your little one may wake early, nap poorly, or seem tired by bedtime for a few days, but most babies adjust within about a week.
The key here: don’t start the day earlier just because they’re awake. If you usually get them up at 7:00 a.m., keep it that way — even if they’re chatting (or fussing) at 6:00. By waiting until their normal wake time, you’re helping their body clock reset faster.
After the clocks change, you may notice your baby seems too tired to make it all the way to bedtime. If this is the case, you can gently work bedtime back over the following week:
Example (for a baby on a 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. schedule):
Sun 11/2 (clocks change): 7:00 a.m. out of the crib / 6:15 p.m. bedtime (6:15 pm will still feel like 7:15 pm to their bodies until they have adjusted)
Mon 11/3: 7:00 a.m. / 6:15 p.m.
Tue 11/4: 7:00 a.m. / 6:30 p.m.
Wed 11/5: 7:00 a.m. / 6:30 p.m.
Thu 11/6: 7:00 a.m. / 6:45 p.m.
Fri 11/7: 7:00 a.m. / 6:45 p.m.
Sat 11/8 & moving forward: 7:00 a.m. / 7:00 p.m.
Even if your baby is crankier than usual, try to stay consistent — things typically smooth out by the end of the week after the clocks change.
Option 2: The Gradual Adjustment Plan
If you’d rather help your baby ease into the new schedule, start Tuesday, October 28, and shift things in small increments leading up to the time change.
The goal is to move your baby’s wake time and bedtime slightly later each day so they’re already aligned when Sunday rolls around.
Wake-Up Time
Starting Tuesday, get your baby out of the crib 15 minutes later every two mornings. (The plan below is for a baby on a 7:00 am - 7:00 pm schedule.)
Tue 10/28: Wait to get your baby out of the crib until 7:15 am/wake them at 7:15 am
Wed 10/29: Wait to get your baby out of the crib until 7:30 am/wake them at 7:30 am
Thu 10/30: Wait to get your baby out of the crib until 7:30 am/wake them at 7:30 am
Fri 10/31: Wait to get your baby out of the crib until 7:45 am/wake them at 7:45 am
Sat 11/1: Wait to get your baby out of the crib until 7:45 am/wake them at 7:45 am
Sun 11/2 & moving forward: Get your baby out of the crib at 7:00 am/wake them at 8:00 am (this will feel like 8:00 am to them because the clocks just shifted!)
Bedtime
As your morning wake time shifts, move bedtime later in the evening by the same amount. (The plan below is for a baby on a 7:00 am - 7:00 pm schedule.)
Tue 10/28: Put your baby to bed at 7:15 pm
Wed 10/29: Put your baby to bed at 7:30 pm
Thu 10/30: Put your baby to bed at 7:30 pm
Fri 10/31: Put your baby to bed at 7:45 pm
Sat 11/1: Put your baby to bed at 7:45 pm
Sun 11/2 & moving forward: Bedtime is back to 7:00 pm (this will feel like 8:00 pm to them because the clocks just shifted!)
*Caveat: One thing to keep in mind is that while the time you get your baby out of the crib during this transition is very important to stick to, you still want to adhere to normal wake windows for your baby during the day. What this means is that you may need to put your baby down earlier than I have listed above to prevent overtiredness at bedtime. It’s counterintuitive, but when it comes to babies, overtiredness from overly long wake windows or too little daytime sleep actually leads to disrupted nighttime sleep and more importantly, earlier morning wake times (both of which we want to avoid!).
Naps
Wake Windows Schedule: Normally I recommend counting wake windows from when your baby wakes up (not when you take them out of the crib). However, during the schedule adjustment this week, you can count the first wake window closer to when you get your baby out of the crib, not when they first wake.
Clock-Based Schedule: You will shift naps later each day based on the time you get your baby out the crib each day:
Tue 10/28: 7:15 am “waketime” —> Eg. Nap 1 is usually 9:00 am, but starting Tuesday 10/28, you will put your baby down for their first nap at 9:15 am.
Wed 10/29: 7:30 am “waketime” —> Eg. Nap 1 @ 9:30 am
Thu 10/30: 7:30 am “waketime” —> Eg. Nap 1 @ 9:30 am
Fri 10/31: 7:45 am “waketime” —> Eg. Nap 1 @ 9:45 am
Sat 11/1: 7:45 am “waketime” —> Eg. Nap 1 @ 9:45 am
Sun 11/2 & moving forward: Back to a 7:00 am “waketime” —> Eg. Nap 1 @ 9:00 am
When Overtiredness Hits
It’s normal for babies to get cranky as their body clocks catch up. Keep them occupied with low-key but engaging activities — reading books, going outside for some fresh air, taking a walk etc.
Final Thoughts
Whether you go cold-turkey or plan a gradual adjustment, remember — this shift is temporary. Most babies are back on track within a week or two.
Hang in there — you and your baby will adjust just fine!
