How to Avoid Bedtime Bedlam - The Daylight Savings Time Dilemma

Daylight Savings, that one magical day totally derailed our bedtime schedule. When I discovered that my daughter related bedtime, not to our routine but to when darkness fell, I had an idea to create my own "nightfall" within our home.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• patience, imagination and creativity.

1. If your child relates bedtime to dark night skies, slowly turn your home into night by closing blinds and curtains one room at a time. Do this when it would normally have gotten dark. Be sure to use your evening lighting within the house like usual.

2. Once you have "created nighttime" go about your evening routine as you would of during the winter months, i.e.(don't eat outside, stay out in the yard longer, etc) try to maintain your winter routine (especially for toddlers)it is easier to get them to bed on time and with older kids, you have the option of extending bedtime if you choose.

3. Whether you "create" night before or after dinner, make sure it's done slowly and quietly and eventually you and your little one will be able to maintain a peaceful transition into summer.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep it simple, just do it, don't talk about it.
• Be patient, it'll happen.
• act as if nothing has changed.
• Don't let your child see you closing up the windows, blocking out the daylight. Do it subtly while their attention is elsewhere, or partner up - while one keeps the child occupied, the other can go around closing the windows.