WINNIPEG — Setting the clocks back an hour means some much-needed extra sleep for some but for families with young children it can make for a difficult routine change.
This year the clocks went back the day following Halloween, adding another wrinkle for parents trying to get their children into and out of bed on time.
“What you’re going to be doing is pushing them,” says SleepWell Baby child sleep consultant Teresa Johnson, “They’re going to be staying up later for their naps, it’s going to be a bit of a push to get them to bedtime.”
Johnson says toddlers and especially babies are usually the most affected but there are some simple tips for parents to help keep their kids well-rested and on-schedule.
Instead of trying to make-up that one hour of time all at once, tackle it in half hour increments by putting children down for naps and bedtime half an hour earlier and gradually stretching it out.
If your children are waking up earlier than normal because of the time change, delay your response to them. “unless they’re really upset of course but if they’re just babbling or maybe they cry out just wait 10 or 15 minutes before responding to them,” says Johnson.
For older children, Johnson suggests placing a digital clock beside their bed, covering the minutes with a piece of tape and telling them it’s time to wake up when they see the desired hour. This helps with learning numbers and telling time, she says.
She also recommends having meals,especially dinner, half an hour earlier during the beginning of the week to help cue an earlier bedtime.
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