Your Baby's Body Clock

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

30 Oct 2006 01:36 PM

A few years ago, I wrote an article about adjusting your baby's body clock. This is an important trick to learn if you travel to different time zones or if you, like millions of others, live in a place where your clock is going to be turning back an hour or forward an hour twice a year. This past weekend, we rolled our clocks back by an hour, but it's hardly that simple on our bodies.

Transitioning Time

The time change is actually hard on most people, but it is particularly difficult for our children and infants. It can take them from 3 to 7 days to adjust their internal body clocks to the external time. The National Sleep Foundation suggests that parents should always create a routine for their infants before putting them to bed. This helps put them in the mindset for sleep.

These routines can help when transitioning because it gives your infant and little ones a sense of continuity. It is equally important to remember to not change this routine just because the clocks changed. You also want to make sure you wake them up at their normal time in the morning. Don't let them sleep late just because the clocks changed.

Again, this is hard because no one wants to make it hard his or her babies. You can start a few days a head of time, say the Thursday before the time change and put them to bed 15 minutes early each evening so that by Sunday evening, when they are going to bed at their 'time' - you've helped them acclimate to it. As hard as it is, the time change also has the benefits for parents with children who are early risers - but when the clocks fall back an hour, don't be surprised if your little one isn't waking up at 6 anymore, but instead is waking up at 5.

So now that time change has come and gone, here are a few guiding tips to help you cope with this time change and when the clocks spring forward next March or April.

• Gradually move their bedtime back fifteen minutes each night starting on Thursday before the time change.
• Develop good sleep habits so that adjustment is easier.
• Utilize the same routine for bedtime after the time change as before.
• Remember, it can take children up to a week to adjust after the time change.
• Be prepared to wake them at normal times in the morning, don't let them 'sleep in' and wake them from their 'nap time' at a normal time as well.

How is your little one coping with the time change?

Related Articles:

Choosing Better Sleep Habits

Tips for Bringing Your Baby Comfort

The Great Pacifier Debate

Baby's Proper Sleeping Position

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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