26 March 26
Daylight Saving Time and Your Child’s Routine: How to Handle It
This weekend, daylight saving time begins. Because the clock moves forward by one hour, it will be 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, while in the old time it would still be 6:00 a.m.
Do you follow a fixed daily routine? Then I recommend starting your day right away at 7:00 a.m. (new time) and continuing your usual routine. By waking your child “earlier” and maintaining their usual awake time, your child will be tired enough to take their naps at the new time—even though in the old time this is an hour earlier than usual. Make sure your child is in bed at their normal bedtime (new time) and, to be safe, offer a slightly longer bedtime routine to end the day calmly and make the transition to sleep easier.
Would you like to approach daylight saving time proactively? Then start adjusting your schedule this Thursday by moving everything 15 minutes earlier. Thursday, start your morning at 6:45 a.m. instead of 7:00 a.m. The first nap at 9:00 a.m. instead of 9:15 a.m., and so on. On Friday, shift everything another 15 minutes earlier and begin at 6:30 a.m. On Saturday at 6:15 a.m., and on Sunday at 7:00 a.m. (new time).
Because of daylight saving time, it stays light longer in the evening. For melatonin production (the sleep hormone), it is very important that your child’s bedroom is completely dark. Even the smallest amount of light can signal to your child’s brain that it is not yet time to sleep, or that it is already time to wake up when the sun rises. Make sure the bedroom is fully dark.
Don’t yet have a fixed daily routine for your child but want one? The start of daylight saving time is a good moment to teach your child in the morning not to get out of bed immediately when they wake up. The time shift actually works in your favor during the first week, allowing you to teach your child to wait in bed until 7:00 a.m.
Need more tips or support? Visit www.projectslaap.nl (Dutch only).


