How to Adjust Wakeup Time When We Change the Clocks

I wouldn't be too concerned about it. It's surprising how easily they adjust. The greater concern, I think, is that it will be lighter earlier for a little while and THAT alone might wake him up earlier! :-) Be careful putting him to bed later or trying to make him more tired by skipping or shortening a nap. Sleep begets sleep and unlike adults, when children are sleep deprived, they will actually get MORE hyper and unreasonable, rather than sleepy. At his age, he should be getting between 13 and 14 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period. Wouldn't it be great if WE got more energy the more we lost sleep? Think of all we could accomplish!! :-)

I agree with everything that Laura said below. As to the diaper situation, you may want to consider an extra absorbent diaper such as Huggies Overnites. I use them with both of my kids and they work like a charm.

just keep your normal schedule and if he does wake up earlier dont go to him right away, just go when its 6.15 no matter what, even if he cries or fusses. it may take a couple of days to a week but then he should be ok.

If you think the full diaper wakes him up, could you put him in one size larger diaper at night (it holds more capacity)to see if that helps him sleep longer? I tried this with my daughter and it really worked.

Try really running your son during the day and shorten his nap just for the day by 1/2 hour and put him to bed just a little later 1/2 hour or so. I'm not sure about hsi liquid routine during the evening but if you can slow that down after 5PM that will help with the full diapers in the wee hours of the am. Good Luck.

J. from Westchester IL

My kids have always re-adjusted on their own, it takes a few days/week or so but it works itself out.

I wouldn't worry too much ~ they do learn to adjust, but it may take a couple of weeks. Does he have any crib toys to play with? I know that helps my daughter to go back to sleep. We have this bird crib toy (by Fisher Price) that plays music, lights up and little toy birds go around and around. It also plays a "movie" on the ceiling. If my daughter wakes up early or even during the night, she puts it on and she will eventually go back to sleep. It has truly been a lifesaver! I think the advice about the overnight diapers is a good idea, too. That way you might not have to change him. Also, something else that I found that works great, and you might want to try if since it will be a little lighter out earlier, is putting a navy blue (or black) sheet up over my daughter's window. I started doing this last year when she was waking up earlier. It has helped in keeping her room really dark and therefore she started sleeping about an hour later in the morning and also helps her go down better at naptime. It's not attractive, but hey if it keeps her sleeping longer, who cares?! :-) Good luck!

I agree with Laura, and suggest trying to put your little one to bed earlier even though it doesn't sound logical. My family has a history of chronic insomnia, and apparently it was inherited by my poor boy. There was NO sleep in this house for almost a year and a half, and even now he wakes before the sun rises. If I put him to bed BEFORE he gets too tired, things are much better. I know it can be hard to do this, but you'll come up with a routine that works. If I miss that "window"....it completely backfires, and he either won't go to sleep, wakes up all night long, or wakes up extra early.

As for the time change, putting him down a little earlier (due to the time change) may turn out to benefit you after a while. Good luck! I know the feeling...