5 Daylight Saving Tips for You and Your Family
Image of baby sleeping with Selena book by @hellahella_boolo
With Daylight Saving right around the corner, it is important to prepare your child for the time change. Our littles crave routine and from one day to another, it can ruin your perfectly crafted schedule. There are no right or wrong ways to prepare for daylight saving, but these quick easy tips can help ease your child into the new time change.
Turn electronics off 30 minutes before bedtime
While this may or may not be a part of your usual routine, removing any form of screentime before bedtime is very important for healthy sleep. This applies to adults as well! Screentime before bed can keep your little one awake longer than you’d like.
Image of family reading Ritchie book by @panamakish
Start putting them to bed an hour or 30 minutes earlier than usual
If their usual bedtime is 8 p.m., you can start your routine a little earlier the days before daylight saving. Change to 7:45 or 7:30 p.m., that way they know bedtime is soon, but they don’t feel like you’re making them sleep a lot earlier. Small 15-minute increments can get slowly get them back to their usual bedtime.
Don’t skip on story time!
Image of baby with Vámonos books by @adriana_de_anda
Daylight saving time or not, a book before bed is a must! Grab their favorite book or introduce a new story. But this routine is essential part of our little one’s development, plus the soothing tone of a parent’s voice can comfort them, especially during a change to their routine.
Dim the lights
As odd as this may seem, mood lighting is an actual thing. Dimming the lights or having their nightlight on can help create a sleepy environment. After story time, turn off all unnecessary lights to soothe their energy. Children are always ready to run around in the daylight, but the lighting inside your home may help calm them.
If they fight sleep, sympathize with them
If your child doesn’t immediately adapt to the time change, sympathize with them. You’ve created their usual routine, but one subtle change can impact them as well. They will eventually fall back into their scheduled bedtime, but for the first days following daylight saving, you both may struggle with falling asleep earlier.
This quick time change can cause chaos during the first days but remember, as a parent you are trying your best. Your little ones will adapt and soon enough, your routine will be back to normal. A healthy sleep schedule for your child, creates a healthy sleep schedule for yourself.
Grab bilingual story time favorites for your little one at Lil’ Libros!
Sana, sana, colita de rana follows Tina in her quest to become an aspiring Mexican wrestler, alongside her plush sidekick, Mr. Frog. After she suffers a boo-boo, Tina is made fun of by her brother. Her ouchie makes her want to quit, but it is up to her to face her fear of being injured again and return to the wrestling ring on her own, and just like the song encourages – no matter how bad things get, today or tomorrow will always be better!
Milo, an energetic girl confined to Abuelita’s plant shop, spends her time roaming the aisles and checking out knickknacks. She finds that she isn’t alone – a Bengal tiger is loose in the shop! Together, after earning each other’s trust, they delve into the deep, dark rainforest of plants and head to their first of many adventures.
Inspired by one of the oldest and most beloved traditional Spanish folk songs, "De Colores" (In Colors), this book will introduce little ones to the beauty of life, joy, inclusivity, and their first English and Spanish words.
