Twice a year, we change the clocks to adjust for daylight saving time. Though an hour might not make a big difference to adults, to toddlers the hour change can mean the difference between enough sleep and a child who is too tired to be happy.
A pediatric pulmonologist and sleep medicine physician at Children's Health℠ says parents can help their children handle the time change by using practices that result in good sleep year-round. She suggests the following tactics for helping children sleep.
Start a bedtime routine
A good bedtme routine can help your child's mind, and body, anticipate and prepare for sleep.
Stick to the bedtime routine
Once you have your bedtime routine, it is essential to keep it. No matter what stalling tactics your child uses or how many times they get up out of bed, it's important that you lead them back to bed immediately. Be gentle but firm, and do not get into a conversation about it.
Create a healthy sleep environment
A dark, cool and quiet bedroom is essential to helping your little one get quality sleep. You can help keep their room this way year-round by putting a small fan in their room and using blckout curtains to keep out the morning sun. You should also keep all electronics out of our child's room since they can encourage play and distraction during bedtime.
Carefully adjust the bedtime routine
When daylight saving time changes come around, or you need to adjust your child's sleep schedule for other reasons, you should take careful steps to change the bedtime routine. Learn ways that parents can help their little ones sleep well.
Learn more
Learn more about the importance of sleep for kids and how much sleep they should be getting at each age. For information about the pediatric sleep medicine experts at Children's Health, visit our Pediatric Sleep Disorders Center.
