Daylight Saving Time is Coming!
On Sunday, March 8, 2026, we move our clocks forward one hour for Daylight Saving Time. Your 6–12 month-old isn’t just losing an hour — their circadian rhythm is being nudged in a way that can temporarily affect sleep, mood, appetite, and even digestion. Babies this age are highly regulated by light exposure and melatonin production, which begins rising about 60–90 minutes before their usual bedtime. A sudden clock change can blunt that natural rise.
Ease into the new time gently via meal times
One lesser-known tip: start shifting not just bedtime, but meal times 15 minutes earlier each day for ~3 days before the switch. Feeding schedules strongly influence body clocks. Aligning both sleep and feeding helps the internal rhythm reset faster.
Morning light is powerful so let’s use it
Within 15 minutes of wake-up, expose your baby to bright natural light — even on a cloudy day. Outdoor light is exponentially stronger than indoor light and helps suppress melatonin while boosting alertness. Conversely, keep early mornings very dark with blackout shades to prevent a 5:00 a.m. wake-up that suddenly feels like 6:00 a.m. to them.
Protect the last nap
Overtiredness increases cortisol, which can actually make it harder for babies to fall asleep at the new earlier clock time. If needed, cap naps slightly rather than skipping them.
Stay calm and carry on
Keep bedtime cues ultra-consistent — same song, same book, same sequence. Predictability signals safety, and during time shifts, familiarity becomes especially regulating.
If your baby struggles, don’t panic. Research shows most infants adjust within 5–7 days. Stay calm, flexible, and steady. Their biology is resilient — and so are you.
