This Sunday, March 10th, marks the beginning of daylight saving time, when clocks will move forward one hour in most areas of the United States.
This is a signal that changes are coming.
Here’s what you need to know about daylight saving time and how to prepare yourself and your family before it begins.
When is summer time?
Clocks officially move forward one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday.
If you use your smartphone as an alarm, you don’t need to do anything, but if your wake-up alarm is an analog or digital clock that’s not connected to Wi-Fi, set your clock forward an hour before you leave the house. bed.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, daylight savings time is in effect from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.
USDOT has overseen time changes since 1966, when Congress transferred responsibility from the Interstate Commerce Commission.
As the Earth’s northern hemisphere moves closer to the sun on its way to the summer solstice, the overall daylight hours will be longer throughout March, and the time shift will push sunsets later in the day.
The amount of sunshine received this month is highest in the northern tier states.
When daylight saving time begins, sunsets will be more than an hour later, and gradually get later towards the end of March.
This year, daylight saving time ends on November 3rd.
Which states observe daylight savings time?
Time changes are observed everywhere in the United States except Hawaii and most of Arizona.
To further complicate matters, the Navajo Nation of Arizona observes daylight saving time.
Some U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, do not change their clocks twice a year.
There have been several attempts to make daylight saving time the year-round standard through sunlight protection laws.
However, the bill has not yet passed the House of Representatives and reached the President’s desk for enactment.
How parents can support their children as they transition to daylight saving time
Sleep-deprived parents in states with DST are probably thinking, “Didn’t we just go through this?”
Transitioning from daylight saving time to standard time and vice versa can be a daunting task for young children and their parents. Several sleep experts offer recommendations to help your child adjust to the change in time.
Dr. Harvey Karp, a pediatrician and author of The Happiest Baby on the Block, said: We recommend transitioning to the new bedtime gradually.
“Every night for the four or so nights leading up to daylight saving time, move dinner and bedtime 15 minutes earlier in the spring and 15 minutes later in the fall,” Karp writes. “Four nights is enough for most children, but depending on the temperament of your baby or toddler, only two nights may be enough.”
Karp also recommends spending some quality time outdoors in the morning during this transition period.
Karp said it helps infants and older children get sunlight exposure, which burns a lot of energy and produces the sleep hormone melatonin.
The baby sleep experts at Moms on Call have more tips. “A guide that won’t fail” For the transition to daylight saving time.
The biggest suggestion from all sleep experts is to stick to a bedtime routine that includes a bottle, bath, and book in an order that works for your child.
