Spring forward is my favorite! Both my kids are early risers, so for at least a few days, they start waking up closer to 7 AM instead of the usual 5:30 or 6 AM. And let me tell you, that feels amazing! I still get to wake up at 5 AM, squeeze in some work, and have some much-needed alone time to work out, meditate, and get ready for the day.
Just to be clear, this spring (specifically on March 9th at 2:00 AM), the clocks will move forward one hour.
Now, I’ll be super honest—I used to be that mom who would start adjusting my kid’s schedule daaaays in advance. But then life happened—second baby, job, general exhaustion—and suddenly, all that planning wasn’t so doable anymore. So now? I just go with the flow, and guess what? It works! So whether you're a planner or more of a “let’s wing it” kind of parent, I’ve got you covered with both approaches.
Here are some options for you:
Option 1: Just Roll with It
If your little one is an early riser, this might actually work in your favor! When the clocks move forward, their usual 5:30 or 6:00 AM wake-up will magically become 6:30 or 7:00 AM. Yes, please!
This is exactly what I do with my daughter. She naturally wakes up early, so when the time changes, I just let her wake up at her usual time (now adjusted an hour forward), and we go on with our day. It’s a super easy, low-stress way to adapt.
That said, this isn’t ideal if your child already has a later bedtime, like 8 PM. Without making any adjustments, they might start going to bed at 9 PM, which is pretty late for a baby or toddler. Plus, they could start sleeping in later in the morning, throwing off the whole routine.
Option 2: Gradual Shift
If you like to ease into changes, you can start shifting your child's schedule in 15-minute increments leading up to the time change. Wake them up 15 minutes earlier each day, and adjust naps, meals, and bedtime accordingly. This helps them gradually get used to the new schedule with minimal disruption.
I know, waking them up earlier isn’t exactly fun—but trust me, it helps! This method works especially well for babies under two, who tend to be more sensitive to schedule changes.
However, for toddlers and older kids, I’d recommend skipping this approach and going straight to Option 3.
Option 3: Rip Off the Band-Aid
If you prefer a more direct approach, you can just wake your child up an hour earlier on the morning of the time change. Yes, this means that when you wake your toddler at 6 AM, it will feel like 5 AM for them (and for you—sorry!).
There might be a little crankiness at first, but this method gets them adjusted quickly. Kids are super adaptable, and within a day or two, they’ll be back on track.
Extra Tips to Make Spring Forward Smoother
No matter which approach you choose, here are some things that can help:
Patience! Your child might take a few days to adjust, and that’s totally normal.
Use a toddler clock. If your little one relies on visual cues, a toddler clock can be a game-changer.
Blackout curtains. Mornings will start getting brighter, and that extra light can mess with their sleep. Keeping the room dark can help.
Stick to your bedtime routine. Doing the same wind-down activities every night signals to your child that it’s time for sleep, even with the time change.
Get outside! Daylight exposure, especially in the morning, helps reset their internal clock and makes adjusting to the new schedule easier.
And remember—whether you plan ahead or just go with the flow, you’ve got this! We’re all in this together, figuring out daylight saving time with a little extra patience (and maybe an extra cup of coffee).
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