Daylight Savings Time and Children

It is that time of year when we fall back and it gets dark so early in the day.  We know this affects us as adults, so how much more it does children.  

This year it ends on November 2 and there are ways you can prepare for this change.  One thing you can do is push wake-up time and bedtime a little later each day leading up to the day so it won’t be such an abrupt change for them.  Studies show that young children definitely need more sleep than adults do and that missing just one hour of sleep for a child can be significant.  

Consistent bedtime routines help children get the sleep they need.  Children aged 4-12 months require 12-16 hours of sleep.  Children aged 12-24 months need 11-14 hours and children aged 3-5 yrs. old should get 10-13 hours of sleep.  These are good guidelines to follow.  

Just be aware, there may be some changes in your child’s behavior come November 2 and moving forward till all of us get adjusted to the time change.  Sometimes being aware and recognizing what is to come will help make it easier.