Tips to help your baby or toddler sleep through the clocks altering
When the clocks change here are some ways to help your baby or toddler be less affected
When the clocks change, we’re going to gain an hour or lose an hour, but how do you explain that to a baby or toddler? You can’t. But if your baby usually wakes early and likes to start the day at 5.30am or 6am you will not be keen for this to become 4.30am or 5am.
There are a few things you can do to help smooth the transition in time. Here are our top tips.
Does your baby need help to adjust?
If your baby is able to settle themselves as a rule and can wake early but entertain themselves in the cot until a reasonable time, there is no need to worry too much about the clocks changing.
Is your baby sleeping well but used to certain sleep triggers?
If your baby is generally sleeping well but has sleep associations such as a calm bath and bedtime story before bed but is used to waking up and crying to get someone to come in first thing, you may want to try a few things to prepare them for the clocks changing.
If this is the case, it is worth adjusting your baby’s sleep in the lead up to the clocks changing. In the week or so before they change, if you can encourage your baby to nap earlier in the day and wake earlier - or you to put your baby to bed a little earlier (or later) depending on where the clocks are going forward or back this can help. Slighting adjusting this by a few minutes each day for a week or so leading up can help them readjust their body clock in time for the clock change.
This is not a guarantee, after all, your baby will sleep and wake according to their body clock, but these subtle changes can help minimise the effect on them when the clocks change, after all, no one wants to be woken for the day at 4am so it’s worth a shot!