At 2am on Sunday 25th October, the clocks go back an hour. An extra hour in bed sounds lovely, but with little ones it often means an earlier start: a baby who usually wakes at 7am may be up at 6am on the new time. Their body clock can take a few days to catch up, and there are a few gentle ways to help.
It may take your baby’s body clock a few days to adjust, so here are a few things we can do to help them prepare:
- Ensure they spend time outdoors getting lots of fresh air!
- Making sure their meals and snack times follow the new time on the clock
- Staying consistent with their bedtime routine
There are a few techniques you can use to adapt your little one's sleep routine before the clocks change.
Option 1:
Make your little one’s schedule a little later each day in the days before the change. Starting about three days ahead, move bedtime on by 15 minutes each night, for example 7:15pm, then 7:30pm, then 7:45pm. Naps and mealtimes should move later too. By Sunday, their usual 7pm bedtime will fall at the right time on the new clock. This works well for babies who are sensitive to changes in routine or who become overtired easily.
Option 2:
Make bedtime half an hour later on the night before the clocks change. It won’t shift their body clock completely, and they may still wake a little early for a few mornings, but it gives them a head start.
Option 3:
You don’t have to do anything. Simply move everything to the new time from Sunday morning and let your little one settle into it over a few days. This suits children with flexible routines, or parents who would rather not adjust the schedule beforehand.
About NEST
NEST is a private Early Years Consultancy Service with a team of highly trained consultants offering bespoke support and advice to families from pregnancy until a child is at school. NEST stands for Nurture, Educate, Support - Together, an ethos we are really passionate about. We ensure that every family receives a service that is confidential, informative, and exclusively tailored to each individual family and their needs. We work alongside you and your family in a nurturing and non-judgmental way to support you in your child's early years.
NEST was founded in 2018 by Lucy, a Norland Nanny and Maternity Practitioner who has worked with families and their children, both privately and in the community with the NHS. Lucy passionately believes that no two journeys are the same, which is why she felt a bespoke service should be made available.
If you would like further support on sleep, weaning, breastfeeding or bottle feeding, toilet training, behaviour, fussy eating, managing emotions, or anything else, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with NEST, either via their website: www.n-est.co.uk, by giving them a call on 07825308570, or by dropping them a message on their Instagram: @nest.children.
We can’t control when the clock’s change, but you can control the suitability of your baby’s sleeping environment. Choosing a baby mattress made from natural materials will ensure your little one has the cosiest, most breathable sleep environment, free of potentially harmful chemicals. You can browse our natural baby mattresses here.
