Home » Sukkie’s Sleep Blog » Spring Forward with a Spring in Your Step

Spring Forward with a Spring in Your Step

Sukkie

I find Spring is such a rejuvenating time of year! I love seeing the trees blossoming, the grass getting green and people becoming magnolia-trees-556718_1920
happier. Everything starts to come ALIVE.

One thing that happens in the Spring, that parents either love or hate, is Daylight Saving Time.

Some parents love it because their baby who has an early bedtime (6pm) will now have a later bedtime (7pm). This can be awesome for social reasons of course – parents don’t have to rush home so early to get their baby to bed – or the working mom and dad can now spend more evening time with their baby before whisking them off to bed for sleep.

Other parents hate it because they now will have to put their children to sleep later. Moms and Dads get used to routine and having down time – just as much as children do! So the thought of your child being in bed at 8pm, instead of 7pm can lead to a FULL-ON-PANIC-MODE for parents. And yes, I’m one of those parents that go into FULL-ON-PANIC-MODE when my self time is cut by one hour, I’ll admit it. Parents need that time to rejuvenate, get organized and reconnect with their partner – it’s crucial to your well-being as a parent!

Don’t worry I have solutions to get bedtime back to 7 – I got you covered! Here’s some pointers:

For Toddlers and Young Children: On Sunday night your child may be falling asleep at their regular body time of 7pm (new time will be 8pm). Put them to sleep 7:30 (new time) for three days, then on the fourth night switch them to their regular bedtime of 7:00pm (new time). Keep in mind they will be going to bed ½ hour earlier.

For Babies: As I stated, for babies that go to sleep really early, you don’t need to do a thing. Their 6pm bedtime will now become a 7pm bedtime –likely better for everyone. But if your baby has a 7pm bedtime already, I would suggest shifting his/her naptimes and bedtime earlier 15 minutes EVERY day and night until you reach his/her regular naptimes and bedtime.

Here’s to Sleeping Well!

(Visited 491 time, 1 visit today)

2 responses to “Spring Forward with a Spring in Your Step”

dr.jeff says:

April 18, 2015 at 10:13 pm

hello Sukkie, what about some tips so parents can sleep well, too
Warm regards. . Just saying hi. Jeff

Reply
- Sukkie says:
  
  August 17, 2015 at 6:06 pm
  
  thanks Dr. Jeff – perhaps sleep tips in the future for adults?!?!
  
  Reply

Happiest Posts

Sleep Training Myths In all of my years as a sleep consultant, I’ve heard a lot of myths about sleep training, some of which I would like to address today! Read about three of the most common myths relating to sleep training.
Night Feedings "Does my baby need a night feeding?" Aaaahhhh the million dollar question that so many parents ask. Of course, it depends on many things...
An Optimal Sleep Environment Try to keep your baby’s sleep environment simple—very simple. The less sleep distractions, the better. Limit the aquarium to playtime, and trust me—your baby will enjoy it all the more.
Overtired Baby When babies get overtired, they can be hard to settle. We want to prevent the overtired state so babies will go down for sleep easier. Here are some tips on how to prevent overtiredness in a baby as well as tips on how to get an overtired baby to sleep.
Easy Sleep Tips From being a sleep consultant for many years now, I have realized that most parents aren’t ready to jump into the sleep training process too quickly. Often, they do LOTS of research before even contacting me. Their research includes the internet, books, talking with mom friends and family members. Then, there is the pondering, should I? shouldn’t I? what are my own personal feelings? Is my baby old enough? etc etc. Believe me, I know because I have been there – the pondering (or indecisive stage) is my favourite – NOT!! My own pondering can drive me batty!!! Teaching your child great sleep skills isn’t a one-night operation. It takes some time, a lot of repetition, and plenty of discipline and diligence on the part of the parents, but for those of you who are desperate for just a little bit of relief, I have some tips that could help you and your little one get a few more hours of shut-eye, starting tonight without having to do full fledge sleep training. Once you have a bit more shut eye, you can ponder (eek) if you are ready for the next step! 1. Hello darkness, my old friend. Light, natural or artificial, sends a message to our brains that it’s daytime, and not time to sleep. Melatonin production is triggered by darkness, so start turning down the lights an hour before you plan to put baby down. Electronic screens, which emit a blue light are particularly inimical to baby’s shut-down process, so turn off those televisions and computers. For babies who wake up early, invest in some blackout blinds. This could be your one of the best sleep investments you make – we ALL sleep better in the pitch dark. 2. Turn down the heat New parents can be obsessive over their babies comfort, and making sure they’re warm enough while Mom and Dad are out of the room for the night is such a basic instinct that parents tend to overdo. Babies, like grownups, sleep best when they’re warm and snuggly inside of a cool environment. A warm nighttime onesie and a cool nursery, somewhere around 65°F and 70°F (18°C – 21°C) is the best way to ensure that baby remains comfortable through the night. 3. Keep it boring I know we all love the look of a cute mobile over the top of our baby’s crib, or the sounds of the little faux-aquarium with the little plastic light-up fish. Even though these gadgets may seem soothing to us, they can be too over-stimulating for your little one, during sleep time! Sure, keep them available for playtime, just not sleep time. 4. Be predictable A well-planned, consistent bedtime routine is conducive to a good night’s sleep, no matter what your age, but particularly with babies. Once their bodies and brains start to recognize the signals that indicate an upcoming bedtime, they will start preparing to pack it in for the evening as soon as that first step begins. Their energy levels will start to wind down, melatonin production will kick in, and muscles will start to relax. By the time you’re giving them a goodnight kiss, their system should be all set for a long, restorative sleep. Drop me a line and let me know how these tips worked for ya! Sleep Well!

Spring Forward with a Spring in Your Step

Share this:

2 responses to “Spring Forward with a Spring in Your Step”

Leave a Reply Cancel reply