“OMG! The time change is coming! What are we going to do?”
This is the message that Iʼm getting on my voice mail and in emails as well as from moms and dads all across the country. Okay letʼs take a deep breath… and remember that we go through this every year. It comes and goes and we get through it just fine. You really donʼt need to worry about it. This is what you need to do:
Napping children:
- Naps: Start the naps 1/2 hour earlier than the normal nap time. For example, if your childʼs original nap time was 8:30 am, then make it 8:00 am instead.
- Bedtime: Since the naps are starting earlier and probably ending earlier, then you will also need to make the bedtime earlier. A 5:00 pm bedtime might be necessary especially for the younger babies taking two naps a day.
- Transition complete: As the wake time inches closer to the original, the nap times will also start occurring at the normal times once again.
Children who are not napping:
- Bedtime: make it a little bit earlier, maybe a 1/2 hour if they too are getting up earlier. Once the wake time gets back to normal, so can the bedtime.
Some Useful Soothing Sleep Routines
Soothing routines before sleep is a cue to your baby that sleep is coming soon, it’s not a means to sleep. The actual act of going to sleep is the job of your baby. When babies become more socially aware (ie smiling) they are also making connections and follow patterns. If we are consistent about our soothing routine, the baby will learn to make that connection. It doesn’t have to be long and complicated. It can be as simple as going into the room, pulling the shades, holding and rocking for a few minutes and then laying your baby down. When you feel that you have successfully provided a cue to sleep and are ready to lay your baby down, make sure that you commit to it. If you hesitate when you put your child down to sleep or quickly pull your baby back into your arms when your child resists, you are sending a negative cue and your baby will react negatively. If you follow through and put your child down to sleep irregardless of the reaction, the child quickly learns that going to sleep is secure, safe and simple.
Overall it takes about a week for the older kids and a little more for the younger ones to come together. The only advice for the moms and dads; get yourselves earlier to bed as well.
By: Deborah Pedrick, familysleep.com
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