How To Survive Daylight Saving Time With A Baby

Sleep, glorious sleep. I think we could all use more of it, right? As much as I look forward to spring, I dread the big sleep interruption — the start of Daylight Saving Time. Just when I think I’ve got my crew’s sleep patterns under control, it swoops in and messes with everyone’s schedule. Disruption is inevitable, but here are some tips to help you survive Daylight Saving Time.

This post is sponsored by Pampers, but all opinions are my own.

Tips To Survive Daylight Saving Time

Although I am an expert sleeper myself, I am no expert when it comes to teaching babies to sleep. So to prep my family for Daylight Saving Time and share some great tips for your family, Pampers introduced me to The Sleep Lady, Kim West, author of Good Night, Sleep Tight.

Establish Routine

It may seem like babies love chaos, but they really thrive on consistency and routine. Sleep training starts with a good bedtime routine. Whether that is a bath before bed each night, a special story, quiet music or a bottle by doing the same thing every night you give your baby clues that sleep is coming. The routine doesn’t have to be long, just 10-15 minutes, but it helps wind baby down to get ready for sleep.

Don’t Forgo Naps

People are often amazed to learn that my five-year-old still naps. But, The Sleep Lady confirmed what I have always known, an overtired kid has a harder time going to sleep than a rested kid. It may seem counterintuitive, but when kids and babies get overtired they have a hard time settling and falling asleep. While too much sleep during the day can definitely make it hard to fall sleep, a restful nap not only makes for a less cranky kiddo but it can help them fall asleep too. Long-live the naps! 

Adjust Slowly

The start of Daylight Saving Time is a jarring adjustment to anyone who has a well-established bedtime routine. To help alleviate the big change, help your baby adjust in smaller increments. Try putting your little one to bed 15 minutes earlier each night in the days leading up to the start of Daylight Saving Time. You might even consider waking them up and adjusting naps by 15 minutes as well to help shift the whole timetable. Of course, to really ease the family’s adjustment, you should go to bed 15 minutes earlier each night too. 

Make It Dark

But it is still light outside! Even babies sensitive to going to sleep when it is still bright. To counter the light, consider getting room darkening curtains to block the light. Draw the curtains before you start the bedtime routine to help your little one adjust and be ready for bedtime.

Keep Baby Dry

Once baby starts sleeping for 10-12 hours each night, the last thing mom wants is for her baby to be woken up by a soggy diaper. That’s why Pampers diapers are ideal for nighttime and keeping baby dry. Did you know that an average baby pees 3-4 times per night? 

In fact, all Pampers diapers feature three absorbing channels that pull and store mess away from baby’s skin for up to 12 hours. That’s news that can help baby and mom sleep easy.

How Much Sleep Does Baby Need?

According to The Sleep Lady, newborns need 16-18 hours of sleep, during the second month it’s 15 1/2 – 17 hours and by the time they reach 4 or 5 months most are sleeping 10-11 hours at night and 4-5 hours of naps during the day. The Sleep Lady reminds us that alert, bright-eyed babies may be more tired than you think — they just have a harder time shutting out the world.

What are your best tips to survive Daylight Saving Time?

Giveaway

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