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Your Guide to the Fall Time Change

The fall time change is rapidly approaching when Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 6. While those without children will enjoy an extra hour of sleep, those with children may be reaching for an extra cup of coffee.

Restfully has you covered based on your child’s temperament.

Is your child easy-going?

Great! You’re the lucky parents that don’t have to do any sort of preparation. Follow your child’s schedule by the clock on Sunday, November 6. If you find that your child is a little tired prior to their normal nap or bedtimes, go ahead and put them down 20-30 minutes earlier. You can slowly push them back to their normal schedule over the course of a few days.

Is your child sensitive to schedule changes?

You’re not alone! Studies show that children thrive on schedule and routine. For many children this means that any slight change to their schedule can cause sleep disruption. Never fear! You still have time to prepare your child. Assuming a 7 p.m. bedtime you can follow the schedule below (and adjust based on your child’s bedtime):

  • Wednesday, November 2 7:15 p.m. bedtime
  • Thursday, November 3 7:30 p.m. bedtime
  • Friday, November 4 7:45 p.m. bedtime
  • Saturday, November 5 8:00 p.m. bedtime
  • Sunday, November 6 7:00 p.m. bedtime

Remember, if your child is still napping you’ll want to shift their naps 15 minutes later each day. This can pose a problem for children who don’t actually wake up 15 minutes later when they go to bed 15 minutes later. In that case, avoid the stress of an overtired child. Instead, you can offer naps and bedtime 30 minutes earlier for a day or two (6:30 p.m. bedtime in the case above) as they adjust. You can push back to their normal schedule after a few days of adjusting.

The best thing you can do is get your child out into the sunshine! Our circadian rhythms are controlled by exposure to light, so get outside and play!

Remember, if things completely fall off the rails you can schedule a free appointment with a Restfully pediatric expert.

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