Spring Daylight Savings Time Change: A Silver Lining for Early Morning Wakings
As spring approaches, so does the daylight savings time (DST) change—one that many parents actually welcome! On Sunday, March 9, 2025, at 2:00 AM, the clocks will spring forward by one hour. While losing an hour of sleep may not sound ideal for adults, this particular time change can actually work in your favor if your baby has been waking up too early in the morning (which, let’s face it, is many babies!).
Why Spring Forward is the Preferred Time Change for Parents
Unlike the fall time change, which often results in babies waking up an hour earlier (ouch!), the spring time change pushes those early morning wakings forward by an hour on the clock. If your baby has been waking at 5:30 AM, after the time change, that wake-up time will now be 6:30 AM—without you having to do anything! It’s like an instant schedule fix for those early risers.
Two Ways to Handle the Time Change
There are two approaches to managing the spring DST change: gradually adjusting your baby’s schedule beforehand or simply switching to the new time on the day of the change. Let’s go over each method and how to implement them.
Note: Because the the Fall DST is harder for babies, a gradual adjustment is very helpful. The Spring DST is so much easier for babies, so you can feel confident doing Option 2, if you prefer not to change anything before.
Option 1: Gradually Adjusting Your Baby’s Schedule Before DST
If your baby thrives on routine and struggles with sudden schedule shifts, a gradual adjustment might be the best approach. This involves shifting their daily schedule incrementally in the week leading up to the time change.
Example: Classic 7 AM - 7 PM Schedule
The goal is to shift everything earlier by 10-15 minutes each day leading up to the time change. This sample schedule shift is for a baby on a 7:00-7:00 schedule. You will adjust based on your baby’s specific schedule. Here’s how you would adjust their schedule starting Tuesday March 4:
Tuesday: Wake your baby at 6:45 AM, adjust naps and bedtime accordingly (e.g., first nap starts 15 minutes earlier than normal, bedtime at 6:45 PM).
Wednesday: Wake at 6:45 AM, shift naps 15 minutes earlier, and bedtime to 6:45 PM.
Thursday: Wake at 6:30 AM, naps shift 30 minutes earlier, and bedtime shifts to 6:30 PM.
Thursday: Wake at 6:30 AM, naps shift 30 minutes earlier, and bedtime shift to 6:30 PM.
Friday: Wake at 6:15 AM, naps shift 45 minutes earlier, and bedtime shifts to 6:45 PM.
Saturday: Wake at 6:00 AM, naps shift one hour earlier and bedtime shifts to 6:00 PM.
Sunday (DST Change): The clocks jump forward, and you are now back to a 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM schedule! You will wake your baby up or get them out of the crib at 7:00 am.
Possible Reactions and How to Handle Them
Resistance to earlier naps: To prevent resistance to the new nap times, emphasize the naptime routine to help your baby wind down beforehand. Give your baby the space and time to fall asleep.
Resistance to earlier bedtime: Most babies love an earlier bedtime, but some babies may initially resist the slightly earlier bedtime, taking longer to fall asleep. Similar to naps, really emphasize the bedtime routine so they have sufficient time to wind down. If they are having trouble falling asleep you can either give them the time and space until they fall asleep, or you can do a couple check-ins to remind them it’s time to go to bed (this would be the best option if you have done an interval method of sleep training).
Option 2: Making the Change Cold Turkey
For babies who are more adaptable, you can take a simpler approach: do nothing ahead of time and adjust the schedule overnight. On Sunday morning, just wake your baby at their usual time according to the new clock.
For example, if your baby normally wakes at 7:00 AM, on the morning of the time change, wake them at 7:00 AM new time (which will feel like 6:00 AM to their body).
Possible Reactions and How to Handle Them
Grogginess or extra fussiness in the morning: Your baby may be a bit tired for the first few days as their internal clock adjusts. Stick to your regular routine, expose them to plenty of natural daylight in the morning, and avoid extra-long wake windows.
Nap resistance or shorter naps: Since the body clock is slightly off, naps may be a bit unpredictable at first. Stick to their normal nap schedule based on the new clock time. Adjust subsequent wake windows if naps are shorter, or they seem tired sooner than they normally do.
Bedtime struggles: If your baby has a hard time falling asleep at their usual bedtime, try shifting the bedtime routine slightly later for a few nights (e.g., starting at 7:15 PM instead of 7:00 PM) to help their body adjust gradually.
Final Thoughts
The spring DST change can actually be a blessing for parents dealing with early morning wakings! Whether you choose to gradually adjust your baby’s schedule or switch to the new time cold turkey, the key is consistency and patience. Within a week, your baby’s internal clock should fully adjust, and you’ll be back on track—hopefully with a more reasonable morning wake-up time.
