How do I adjust my baby's schedule for daylight savings in spring?

Shift bedtime, nap times, and meal times earlier by 15 minutes each day over four days, so you're fully on the new time by the changeover. You can go slower, 10 minutes over six days, but avoid cold turkey with less adaptable children.

Should I make other changes at the same time as daylight savings?

No, keep everything else steady. Avoid other transitions like moving to a big kid bed or night weaning during this window. Maintain your usual day and night routine, keep the room nice and dark for the lighter evenings, and consistency will carry you through.

Learn · Transitions

Moving the clocks forward from PST to PDT- Sunday March 12, 2017

Sophie Acott

Certified sleep consultant · Author of Sleep Play Love · 13 years

Published September 23, 2023 · Updated July 17, 2026

The short answer

Prepare gradually. When the clocks spring forward from PST to PDT, you don't have to lose your little one's routine. Move bedtime, naps, and meals earlier by 15 minutes a day over four days, or 10 minutes over six if your child is less adaptable. Keep the room dark, since evenings will be lighter.

here with you

It’ s almost that time of year… the clocks move forward, the days get longer, warmer and lighter…. And our children’s routines seem to go out the window. Well, they don’t have to!

Here are a few pointers for preparing for the daylight savings transition:

This is the general answer.
Your little one deserves a specific one.

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General Tips:

Keep your regular day and night routine
Ensure your child’s bedroom is dark enough - You can use foil, garbage bags, or black out blinds. Although the mornings will be darker, the evenings will be lighter (making it more difficult for some children to get to sleep)
Avoid any other transitions over this time (moving into a big kid bed, night weaning of any kind etc.)
My recommendation is moving bedtime, nap times, and meal times earlier by 15 minutes per day, over four days. You also have the option of doing this more gradually (i.e. 10 mins earlier per day over 6 days), or cold turkey; however, this can be more disruptive for children and babies who are less adaptable. Below is a step by step guide to transitioning your baby/toddler into the new Pacific Daylight Savings Time (PDT) - Sunday 12th March, 2017

[table id=1 /] *The above transition assumes a 7:00am - 7:00pm schedule *For parents who have early risers (ie. 6:00am or earlier), you won’t have to wake your babies in the morning, however, you will continue to make adjustments to meal times, nap time/s and bedtimes as outlined above.

Sophie

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Before I could really answer this for you, I'd ask two things.

Tap one and I'll start your plan there. No judgment — there never is.

Moving the clocks forward from PST to PDT- Sunday March 12, 2017

This is the general answer.Your little one deserves a specific one.

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This is the general answer.
Your little one deserves a specific one.