An extra hour of sleep? We approve!
The end of daylight saving time brings just that - a chance to spend an extra hour in bed, buried under blankets, guilt-free.
Unless, of course, you’re a parent of small children and the clock change actually means getting up at 5 am (instead of a marginally better 6 am) to play Peppa Pig and stack up cups.
Guess the two-year-old didn’t get the memo.
For parents, daylight saving might feel like a sucker-punch to your child’s sleeping routine. But don’t worry, we’re here to help you make the clock change as pain-free and smooth as possible.
Daylight saving does what it says on the box: its purpose is to make the most of increased daylight hours in the northern hemisphere.
It was first loosely proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1784, but it was a London builder named William Willett who started a tireless campaign for daylight saving in 1907. However, British Summer Time wasn’t officially implemented until 1916, during World War 1. Although the main purpose at the time was to conserve fuel, daylight saving time has been in place ever since—in the spring when it starts, and in the winter when it marks the end of summer time.
This year, the end of British Summer Time falls on the 25th of October when the clocks go back one hour.
For sensitive sleepers and families with younger children, it often means disruption to sleep routines.
Child development experts agree that children thrive on routine and when the dreaded clock change looms, it leaves parents wondering: when should they call bedtime?
Overtiredness can make it harder for your child to fall asleep, as well as affecting their sleep quality. On the other hand, earlier bedtimes tend to result in your child getting up before the rooster crows. Whether you’re a working or a stay-at-home parent, there is only so much caffeine parents (and childminders!) can consume per day.
There are a few things you can do to help your children, and so make it easier on the whole family, to get through the hour change. Choose which option suits your family’s and child’s needs the best.
Start adjusting your child’s routine by 15 minutes up to 3 days before the clock changes.
Try to start the day a little later, encouraging your child to stay in bed a few minutes longer. Do the same with mealtimes and start the bedtime routine a little later than usual. These small changes can help adjust your child’s internal clock. Then when the clocks fall back, your child will be closer to the new ‘normal’ time.
On the day of the clock change, push bedtime routine by 5-15 minutes, according to your child’s capabilities. Again, in the morning, encourage them to stay in bed just a few minutes longer, even if they are awake. Do this with daytime naps, mealtimes, and bedtime routines during the following week after the clocks have gone back.
You may find your child keeps waking up according to their inner clock, but the changes will help tune their circadian rhythm (sleep-wake cycle) to the new time.
Every child is different so listen to your parental instincts.
Some find their child can cope with nothing but the time changing. This means you keep doing your family routine according to the ‘new time’ straight away. Do bear in mind, your child’s inner body clock will naturally take around two weeks to adjust so a healthy dose of patience, understanding and cuddles will go a long way.
To ensure a good night’s sleep whatever the clock says, make sure to maintain a healthy sleeping routine.
- Keep your child’s bedtime routine the same. For example, a bath, pyjamas, feed/supper and a bedtime story. Draw the blinds and avoid loud noises. A bedtime routine communicates to your child it is time to sleep - whatever the clock says.
- Keep your child’s room dark and their cot/bed free of toys to eliminate distractions.
- Make sure the room is warm enough but not too hot.
- Ensure comfort. Is your child’s bed right for them? Does their mattress offer appropriate support?
Our bed frames and mattresses are available as singles or small doubles, perfect for a child’s room. You can even ‘Build Your Bed’ by choosing from our two bed frames, two mattresses and four fabric colours.
Our Premium Mattress and Ergonomic Plus Mattress are hypoallergenic and the memory foam’s visco-elastic structure cannot be penetrated by dust mites, ensuring healthier sleep for your child. Best of all, our mattresses are designed to offer support even for the wriggliest of sleepers.
Whichever time your child wakes up on the day the daylight saving ends, just take a deep breath and maybe enjoy cuddles or a book in bed to prolong the morning.
And remember, this too shall pass and soon enough, you and your child will be back to a normal sleeping routine.
