Despite the collective groans from millions of parents across the nation, who detest the end of daylight savings, I for one will be embracing the extra hour of time we are gifted with tonight.
Still, as a mother of an early rising 6-year-old I am not guaranteed an extra hour of sleep, but I’m grateful for the bonus hour nonetheless. I realize that I am in the minority on this one, especially as a parent.
Many moms and dads with young children complain that their youngest kiddos don’t grasp the concept of an extra hour of sleep time, and end up begging for breakfast at 5:00 a.m. on Sunday morning.
If you feel your little sleeper is going to be doing anything but sawing logs tomorrow morning, then consider putting the following expert tips to good use. According to sleep experts and pediatricians alike, parents with young children should:
1. Put their kids to bed at the usual bedtime on Saturday night and bite the bullet Sunday morning. Experts say you should allow your kids to get up on Sunday morning whenever their internal alarm clocks go off and not force them back into dreamland.
2. Naptime should be adjusted according to the current time. Meaning if your child typically naps at 1:00 p.m., you should do everything in your power to keep your kid awake until then to adhere to the clock-dictated nap, instead of giving in and letting them go down at noon.
3. Experts recommend that you wake up your child from a nap if the rest period extends past 4:00 p.m., especially if you don’t want to be greeted with an early morning breakfast call the next day.
4. While it may be tempting to put your child to bed early Sunday night because it’s darker out, experts say it’s best to follow the current time and adjust accordingly.
5. If you fear that your child will wake earlier because the sun is rising sooner, then encourage sleeping in by darkening the room with shades, or by placing sheets or garbage bags over the windows until your child gets used to the time change.
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