As Daylight Saving Time Ends, Opportunity Begins to Increase Your Child's Sleep

MISBEHAVING OR MISSING SLEEP?

 “FALLING BACK” TO STANDARD TIME IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE YOUR CHILD’S SLEEP 

What looks like misbehavior, may simply be a tired child. Check the statements below. 

You know your child is NOT getting enough sleep if He/She:

• Must be woken in the morning
• Frequently melts down over seemingly “little things”
• Experiences stomach or head aches
• Is more anxious than usual, crabby, clingy, uncooperative in the morning
• Craves carbohydrates
• Cannot get along with others during late afternoons
• Needs more attention to stay on task
• Talks excessively
• Struggles to eat well, especially at dinner
• Gets sick more frequently
• Is frenzied and hyper – especially at bedtime
• Is easily frustrated- nothing is right
• Falls apart during transitions or when surprised

The “fall back” to standard time is a perfect opportunity to increase the amount of sleep your child gets. When clocks are turned back an hour, what was 8:00 PM is now 7:00 PM. Your child’s body, however, does not shift as quickly as the clock. Thus, if your child’s bedtime has been 8:00 PM, now is your chance to move that bedtime to 7:00 PM. Your child’s body does not care what time the clock says, it knows that this is when it’s been time to sleep and as a result it will be easy for your child to fall asleep and get up to an hour more of sleep at night. You’ll see the difference in your child’s behavior and overall mood. 

You know your child IS getting enough sleep if he/she:

• Awakens on his/her own 
• Is generally happy 
• Is cooperative in the morning 
• Listens well 
• Stays focused on tasks 
• Is healthier
• Can easily solve problems with you 
• Can wait his/her turn 
• Gets along well with others – even late afternoons 
• Falls asleep easily at night 
• Is more patient 
• Eats well at meals 
• Can deal with changes in routine or surprises quite well 

GRAB THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE SLEEP!

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