Clocks going back: How will it affect my baby or toddler's sleep?

You wake up and it’s pitch black, you get ready in the dark and come down for breakfast in the dark; it’s always a relief when the clocks go back to give you that extra hour of daylight in the morning. However, what if you have kids? Is the extra hour of daylight a good thing or does it mean your child’s bedtime routine is turned upside down.

This year we have the double whammy of it being Halloween on Sunday, so kids will be staying up later then usual to trick or treat, but it’s also the last day of half-term which means that most kids will have had a week of lie-ins. So, what does this mean for your little darlings and ultimately your sleep?

Babies
Babies love routines and getting them into one is a struggle in itself. If your baby is settled into a good routine, the thought if it being disturbed is terrifying enough. If you have a young baby it might not be such a big impact since small babies spend much of their days sleeping anyway, but older babies may object to being woken up an hour earlier. If you are well prepared it’s a good idea to make gradual changes to your baby’s routine rather than expecting him to adapt in one go. Start putting your child to sleep 10-15 minutes earlier every night in the days leading up to when the clocks change, this way it won’t be a huge shock for your child. Don’t try to stop your child’s daytime naps in a bid to make them sleepier an hour earlier at night; it will very often leave them cranky and overtired and less willing to go to bed than normal. Instead, let him have his daytime sleep but cut it short by ten minutes.

If your baby keeps waking an hour earlier than you would like, don’t get up with him and start the day, try to resettle him back to sleep for an hour so he wakes up at a time you think is acceptable. If you get up with him he’ll learn that an early wake up is perfectly fine; when we all know it’s not!

Toddlers
You can treat toddlers in the same way as babies; putting them to bed 10-15 minutes earlier each night leading up to the clocks changing and making sure you are gradually changing his routine over time.

Early wake ups
Toddlers will adjust to the clocks changing after a few days, but you may have a few more earlier starts than normal. There are many alarm clocks available with gentle bells and sounds which are suitable for children. Set the alarm for a reasonable hour and tell your toddler not to disturb you until the alarm has gone off. If they have enough to do in their room, you may find that this approach works well, and can even help to reinforce their ability to tell the time later on. Again, try not to let your toddler get up at an earlier time, but encourage them to stay in bed until an acceptable wake up time – otherwise they will get used to the earlier wake ups and it will become habit.

Keep your bedtime routine
It is important to remember that whatever age, children love routines so keep bathing them, putting their pyjamas on, reading them a story and giving them milk if that’s what they like, this way you are keeping all the same bedtime habits and adjusting slowly by bringing their sleep forwards by 10 – 15 minutes each evening.

Last Modified: 27/10/2010

Comments

By cheery_chick 1 years ago

I try and adjust the time by half an hour or so the couple of days in the lead up, but somehow I always go the wrong way lol! I think they should do away with it x

By proudmummyxx 1 years ago

aww im still struggling with it lol my LO saying its not dark yet! its still morning! i wouldnt mind keeping him up for another hour but as hes in nursery the next morning and i have to wake him up at half 7 he has to be in bed at 7.30pm! otherwise hes not waking up at all lol x

By Beastie1988 1 years ago

My lo was fine with the clocks going back, don't think he noticed it was still light out! When putting him to bed his curtains are already closed with black out blinds so he doesn't notice. He is only 2 tho so next year he'll prob be wise to this and want to stay up later! x

My son was the same, never noticed. Though he woke what would have been his usual time just an hour later on the clock, he still went down for the night at the normal time. I adjusted his meals according to the time and it was fine. He also has black out blinds on his window and never notices that its light out.

By princessldf 1 years ago

My little boy took it upon himself that being put to bed when it's light means getting up and playing with his toys! x

By Laura7985 1 years ago

Yes i know its only an hour but my godness it took my LO a week to get back to normal! Why cant we just leave them alone? I like being given the hour but omg taking a hour from me well thats just unfair lol ! :-)