(BPT) – Daylight Saving Time (DST) is coming, and with it comes longer days and more sunshine. But for parents, it also brings concern over disruption to a precious sleep schedule. In many cases, a family takes up to a week to adjust to the impact DST has on sleep. Pampers has teamed up with renowned sleep specialist Kim West with tips to help baby spring forward and stay dry overnight so everyone gets the rest they need.
Kim West, also known as “The Sleep Lady,” suggests:
1. Slowly Shift to an Earlier Bedtime
In the days leading up to DST, slowly shift bedtime in 10- to 15-minute increments until baby is sleeping at their new time. This allows your child to gradually adjust without experiencing the sudden change that can cause a major disruption.
2. Select the Right Overnight Diaper
Baby spends between 12 to 16 hours of each day asleep, and moisture or temperature change can cause disruptions if baby is not wearing the right diaper. According to P&G, 35 percent of babies wet their diaper before they fall asleep. Babies pee on average 3-4 times at night, and diapers need to be able to handle overnight wetness. Pampers diapers feature 12 hours of overnight dryness to help keep baby dry and asleep, no matter the time difference.
3. Later Sunrise Means More Sunshine
If baby was an early riser prior to DST, then you’re in luck! DST in the spring means baby’s new wake-up time will be an hour later, giving you and the family more time to rest. However, exposing baby to a minimum of 30 minutes of sunshine by opening the blinds in the morning, or going for a nice morning walk, will help their bodies adjust to the time change. If your child was not an early riser prior to DST, continue to wake them up at their previous time to keep their schedule consistent.
4. Readjust Baby’s Nap Schedule
“A child that is well rested will transition more easily to a new schedule than a tired, cranky one,” says West. Continuing to incorporate naps in baby’s schedule will help them transition more easily, but it is important to adjust the timing so they can maintain a relatively normal schedule.
5. Adjust Meals and Activities to the New Clock Time
As you spring forward an hour, so do all of baby’s other activities. In addition to shifting bedtime in 10- to 15-minute increments the week leading up to DST, West suggests adjusting meal time and other important activities as well. It’s important for baby to keep their daytime markers consistent during the time change.
To learn more about Pampers’ complete range of diapers, which feature 12 hours of overnight wetness protection, please visit www.pampers.com.
