SKIP Whanganui: Change bedtime routines as daylight saving takes effect

DAYLIGHT saving ... it's just lovely having that extra sunshine at the end of the day. But for the small people in our lives, it can mean it's not time for bed just yet!

"It can't be bedtime yet, mum, the sun is still up!"

It's only an hour change but those 60 minutes can have a huge impact on our children's bedtime routine.

Routines are important for children, and we can have spent ages settling them into a routine that works really well for us and our children, only to have it derailed by the clocks changing. Establishing a new routine after daylight saving can take at least a week, so to ensure that you don't have an over-tired child in your household, here are some simple strategies for you to try.

There are two approaches to managing this time transition - either move your child's bedtime before the daylight saving weekend or afterwards.

-Begin changing your child's bedtime

Begin changing your child's bedtime several days before the weekend of daylight saving. Making small changes at a time means that your child's body clock will adapt. For example, if your child's or baby's bedtime is normally 7pm, begin by popping them to bed 10 to 15 minutes earlier - say 6.45pm, and the next day at 6.30pm. By the time you get to the weekend when the clocks change, your child will be going to bed at the new time of 7pm.

-Keep your good routines going

Ensure your daytime routine once the time change has occurred remains the same. For meals, snacks, naps, bath-time and bedtime keep to your established routine as much as possible.

-Be your child's sunshine

In the mornings be your child's sunshine and turn on their bedroom lights to help them to reprogramme their internal clock faster. Or enjoy the extra hour's lie-in!

-Quiet and relaxed bedtimes

Ensure your child's room is darkened, make this time before bed a quiet, relaxing time for stories and cuddles in bed.

Be gracious to yourself and remember that, with any changes to your child's routine, they will need time to settle. So give them that time but after a week you want to be focused on getting back into your settled routine.

Over-tired babies are harder to settle so watch for "sleepy" signs - yawning, jerky movements, clenched fists. If babies get over-tired they can be harder to settle and wake more often.

If you don't get to help change your child's body clock before daylight saving, you can do it afterwards too. If your child is now going to bed at the new time of 8pm, just pop them to bed 10 minutes earlier every day till you get to your established bedtime of 7pm. Good luck!

For more parenting tips and strategies contact Liza or Lynette at SKIP (Strategies for Kids and Information for Parents) phone or text 027 626 1404, or email skipwhanganui@xtra.co.nz.