As parents, we all know the struggle of managing our baby's bedtime routine, especially when daylight savings time rolls around. The biannual clock adjustment can disrupt sleep schedules, leaving both parents and babies feeling tired and out of sync. However, with a little planning and a gradual transition, daylight savings time doesn't have to be a dreaded event.
Daylight Savings in Australia (observed in Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales and Queensland) starts on a Sunday in October/November and ends on a Sunday in March/April. This year, Daylight Savings ends on Sunday 7 April 2024, when 3am AEDT becomes 2am AEST. The next round of Daylight Savings will start on Sunday 6 October 2024 when 2am AEST will become 3am AEDT.
When Daylight Savings ends:
3-4 nights prior to turning back the clock, gradually shift your child's bedtime later by 10-15 minutes each night.
Here is an example sleep plan for when Daylight Savings ends:
Thursday 7:15pm AEDT
Friday 7:30pm AEDT
Saturday 7:45pm AEDT
Sunday 7:00pm AEST
When Daylight Savings begins:
3-4 nights prior to moving the clock forward by one hour, start shifting your child's bedtime earlier by 10-15 minutes each night.
Here is an example sleep plan for when Daylight Savings begins:
Thursday 6:45pm AEST
Friday 6:30pm AEST
Saturday 6:15pm AEST
Sunday 7:00pm AEDT