Helping Your Children Adjust to Daylight Saving Time with Dr. Angelique Millette

Spring Forward Time Change Sunday, March 8, 2026

Spring forward time change is March 8th!

You can start advancing your baby/child’s circadian rhythm ahead of the time change. Start Tuesday, March 3rd.

Beginning Tuesday, March 3rd put your baby/child down 10 minutes earlier for bed. 

This means you will need to begin the bedtime routine 10 minutes earlier than usual.

Repeat this every night through Saturday. When the time change occurs, your baby or toddler will have slowly adjusted to the new time.

For example, if your child's bedtime is 7:00 pm, with the bedtime routine beginning at 6:30 pm, the schedule will be:

Tue: 6:20 pm begin bedtime routine, 6:50 pm bedtime

Wed: 6:10 pm-begin bedtime routine, 6:40 pm bedtime

Thu: 6:00 pm-begin bedtime routine, 6:30 pm bedtime

Fri: 5:50 pm-begin bedtime routine, 6:20 pm bedtime

Sat: 5:40 pm-begin bedtime routine, 6:10 pm bedtime

Sun: 7 pm bedtime (new time, old time would have been 6 pm)

You can take this time to make schedule/routine adjustments. For example, if your child goes to be on the early side (6 pm) and is waking earlier in the morning (4/6 am) you can keep their bedtime the same without using the 10-minute adjustments suggested above. So, if your child goes to bed at 6 pm and wakes at 5 am, don’t make any adjustments. With the time change, your child’s new bedtime will be 7 pm and the new wake up time will be 6 am.

It takes about a week for your child to adjust to the new time. Your little one may be a bit cranky, or seem more tired and may need more nap time during the day. Adjust to your child’s needs and put down for a nap 15 minutes earlier if your child seems over tired. Otherwise, stick to your routine and keep the daytime naps the same time.

If you have any questions, we are here to help! Schedule a free informational intake call to learn more.

Wishing you peaceful sleep!

Dr. Angelique Millette

My background is diverse and includes training in child play, art, and nature therapies, child development and sleep, lactation education, DONA-trained birth and postpartum doula, and work as a child psychologist and sleep researcher. My commitment to children and parents spans close to thirty years and is informed by a deeply held belief that leads my work: “meet your family where you are.” This belief allows me to work with diverse communities both in the US and globally. The Millette  Method™ was developed as a “tool-box approach” of different methods. The approach takes into account various factors including child temperament, age/stage, child’s health history, culture, family social support, access to nature/play, parental overwhelm, history of trauma, and parent/child mental health  and wellness. It’s been my great pleasure to have supported over 15,000 families and to present professional workshops to  non-profits, government agencies, Fortune 500 companies, universities, and parents groups across the US and globally. In my work with juvenile products manufacturers, I bring my sleep approach to innovative sleep and child products used in nurseries all over the world.