The Time Change: A Challenge for New Parents and Sleep
As the clock falls back an hour this November, many new parents are worried about how the change will affect their baby’s sleep schedules. The twice-yearly time change, which occurs in March and November, can be challenging for young children, but it’s not impossible to manage.
The current system of “springing forward” in March and “falling back” in November was officially implemented in the US in 2007, but the concept of Daylight Saving Time has been around since World War I. The goal is to conserve energy by making better use of natural daylight.
Sleep is governed by two important components: a steady sleep rhythm and the production of melatonin. The homeostatic process builds up sleep pressure throughout the day, while the circadian rhythm regulates behavior and physiology according to our environment. In young children, the circadian rhythm is still developing and may take over a year to fully emerge.
Babies and young children wake up earlier during the first few days after the November time change, making it important for parents to be prepared. One method of adjustment is to gradually push the family’s schedule back by 15 to 20 minutes each night leading up to the time change. Alternatively, parents can try keeping the lights on longer during the evening and waiting to turn them on in the mornings.
It’s also important to be flexible and give children options during this time. Sleep is individual to the person, and every child will respond differently to the change. Even if parents don’t follow a transition process, children should naturally adjust to the change within one to two weeks.
Ultimately, the key to navigating the time change is patience and flexibility. With a little planning and understanding of the sleep process, new parents can help their baby’s sleep schedules adjust to the new time.