Adjusting to daylight savings time
March 9, 2012
This weekend marks the beginning of daylight savings time. Before going to bed on Saturday night, individuals should set their clocks an hour ahead.
While daylight savings time means longer days and is often welcomed by those who want to get outside after work or school, losing an hour can be difficult for some, especially kids.
"Moms with little ones are either bracing for these sleep disturbances or not thinking about it at all and will scramble to get children to sleep afterward with much frustration," said pediatrician and mother Dr. Jennifer Chambers.
As many parents know, getting their kids to bed an hour earlier once the clocks change can be a challenge. Experts suggest moving your little ones' bedtime up in 15-minute increments gradually leading up to the time change. Those who aren't able to do this also have some options to make the adjustment easier.
Some parents opt to use the time change as an excuse to make their kids' bedtime a little later. However, experts say a half hour adjustment is really all that's needed. Regardless, it's important to be a little lenient with their bedtime during the first days of daylight savings time to allow them to get used to the change.
Keeping your household routine the same is important, even though it may be difficult with the sun going down later each day. Don't have your little ones skip their naps in hopes of getting them to bed earlier. Maintaining a regular schedule for meals is important as well. Trying to get all of these regular parts of your child's routine in a bit earlier than usual may make nights easier.
While getting kids to sleep on time can be especially challenging if it's still light outside, experts recommend using blackout shades in children's bedrooms as a way to help. However, it's important to open the shades and let the sunshine in each morning to get little ones going.
But kids aren't the only ones who feel the effects of the time change. Parents, especially those that are already short on sleep may also feel sluggish for a few days.
"People who are already sleep deprived, for whatever reason, will feel it more in the spring with the loss of an hour," Dr. Philip Alapat told Working Mother magazine.
Experts say it's important for parents to follow much of the same advice they are given for their little ones - stick to a schedule!
"Most people can adjust within one to two days, but some individuals may take longer. It's easier for humans to adjust to the fall gain of an hour than it is for the spring loss of an hour," Dr. Alapat told the publication.
Feeling tired can be stressful, especially for moms who are balancing the demands of pursuing a college degree with raising a family.
Luckily, they don't have to stress over finances, as grants for parents, scholarships for mothers and single mother scholarships can help offset the cost of getting an education.
