Spring forward… lose sleep? Not if you plan ahead!
It can be hard for our bodies to transition to this new schedule, and even harder for kids. Plan ahead and stay ahead of the tired tantrums this spring.
- Go to bed earlier the night before. You might want to adjust bedtime the night before so that everyone wakes up fully rested the next morning.
- Darken the room for sleep. It is going to stay lighter later in the evening, so pull those curtains closed and potentially invest in blackout shades.
- Encourage light in the day. Hello, sunshine! You can help your child by exposing them to natural light first thing in the morning.
- Keep routines consistent. Seasons change, and so do activities. Try to keep your child’s typical routine as consistent as you can when the time changes.
- Patience, patience, patience. Try cat naps, slow afternoons, and remember… this too shall pass!
Children are just as confused about the time change as we are, and although our bodies will eventually adjust naturally, some people (and children in particular) will have a harder time than others. Get advice from fellow parents, stay connected, but most of all, try to get some sleep. We can all get through this together with the right amount of rest!
