Bedtime with kids sometimes feels like one step forward and two steps back. And when it’s the clock that’s skipping forward during Daylight Saving Time (DST), parents might find themselves dealing with cranky, over-tired kiddos.
Daylight saving time will begin at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 12, meaning we “lose” an hour of sleep. Set your clocks forward, and your expectations back, when dealing with kids in the first day or two post-time-change.
“My number one piece of advice is to not stress too much because kids will adjust,” says Dr. Katie Robinson, a pediatrician at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Providence Pediatrics. “Be patient with your child and give them — and yourself — some grace.”Here are a few tips for parents to help their kids deal with the change
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• Prepare in advance
Dr. Robinson says for the true planners out there, making slight tweaks to bedtime in the days leading up to DST might help make the transition faster. “You could do a gradual change four or five days beforehand like trying to put your child to bed 15 minutes earlier each night and having them wake up 15 minutes earlier each morning,” she says. “That would get them to the same bedtime and wake-up time they were doing prior to DST.” But if you’re like most of us and won’t even remember that the time is changing until the day before, don’t sweat it." “You could try waking them up 30 minutes earlier than the first morning and try to push their bedtime, but honestly most of the time kids will adjust pretty quickly on their own, " she says. Also, every kid is a little different and even some siblings may adjust more readily than others. It may take a few days to adjust, but they'll get back to where they were."
• Be consistent with a bedtime routine
Dr. Robinson says this is good advice no matter what stage of life (or sleep struggles) your kids are in.“For babies and toddlers especially, it’s important to do a routine like a bath, storytime, and then bed. This will cue them that it’s time for bed,” she says. And stay firm on your bedtime routine, even if your child isn’t quite ready to go to sleep yet post time-change. “I saw a post online that said ‘No one has more on their to-do list than a toddler at bedtime, and it’s so true,” Dr. Robinson says. “They will come up with so many ways to delay it, but stay firm and steady.”
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• Cut down on screens before bed
School-aged children and teens are more likely to suffer the effects of DST because they have to continue getting up early for school each day while their younger counterparts might get to sleep in, Dr. Robinson says. One big way to help your teen get some quality ZZZs: limit screen time before bed by having them charge their phone in a different room. “That’s easier said than done,” Dr. Robinson admits. “But it will help them adjust to the time change and get better sleep overall.”
• Get outside during waking hours
Being outside and active during the day helps kids sleep better at any time, and the daylight-to-darkness schedule will be particularly helpful when adjusting to the time change, Dr. Robinson says. “When your kids wake up in the morning, turn all the lights on, and try to go outside during the daylight as much as possible” she suggests.
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• Wait it out and be patient.
The truth is, you might have some grumpy kids for a day or two. “Think about when you’re tired, you’re cranky too,” Dr. Robinson says. “Just wait it out and be patient with them. They may be tired that first day, but it is not permanent.” If you do feel like your child is having prolonged sleep issues during DST or any time, speak to your pediatrician. “Parents know their kids the best, so if they ever feel anything is out of the realm of normal for their child, they should talk to their doctor,” Dr. Robinson says.
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Have a question about keeping your child active and healthy? Want to schedule an appointment with your pediatrician? Schedule an appointment via your MyAtriumHealth account. If your child needs a pediatrician find one at LevineChildrens.org/FindAPediatrician.
Meet the Provider:
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“From newborn care to toddlers to adolescents, I enjoy helping children and families with all aspects of their physical and emotional health. I am here to empower families and children to reach their full potential.” Dr. Robinson is board certified in pediatrics.
After initially working in the business world, she realized she wanted to devote her career to children and became a pediatrician. She considers it an honor to be a trusted resource and advocate for children and their families.
Dr. Robinson received her medical degree at the University of North Carolina. She completed a residency at Northwestern University. She was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society and received the Davis Pediatric Scholarship.
She is married with 2 sons. A native of Charlotte, NC, Dr. Robinson spends her free time with her immediate and extended hometown family and enjoys baking, traveling, and watching college sports.
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