Spring daylight saving is here! And if you have a baby or toddler, you might be wondering what that one hour time change is going to do to their sleep.

When daylight saving begins, the clocks move forward one hour in some states of Australia. The good news? The spring change can often be the easier of the two daylight saving changes to navigate, especially if you have an early riser! And when it comes to preparing your little one, you have two options.

Option 1: Adjust on the day

This is the simplest option and works well for many families. When daylight saving begins, change your clocks and simply start your day according to the new time.

From there, aim to follow your usual routine according to the new clock time:

• Morning wake time

• Naps

• Meals and milk feeds

• Bedtime

Your little one may be a little more tired than normal as their body adjusts, so don't be afraid to bring a nap or bedtime slightly earlier if they need it.

Getting outside during the day can also help. Natural light, particularly in the morning, helps our body clock adjust to the new time. For most babies and toddlers, things should start falling back into place over the following few days.

Option 2: Make small changes beforehand

If your little one is particularly sensitive to routine changes, or you simply prefer a more gradual approach, you can start shifting their routine in the days leading up to daylight saving. Move their wake time, naps, feeds and bedtime approximately 15 minutes earlier each day.

For example, if bedtime is normally 7:00pm:

4 days before: 6:45pm
3 days before: 6:30pm
2 days before: 6:15pm
The night before: 6:00pm

When the clocks move forward overnight, that 6:00pm bedtime becomes 7:00pm on the new clock, bringing you back to your normal routine.

You can use the same approach with morning wake time and naps, shifting the whole day rather than focusing on bedtime alone. And don't worry if you don't manage a perfect 15 minute shift each day. Even making a few small adjustments in the lead-up can help soften the transition.

What if my baby is already an early riser?

Spring daylight saving can actually work in your favour! If your little one has been waking at 5:30am, after the clocks change that same biological wake time becomes 6:30am on the clock.

Take the win, and try not to immediately shift everything back! Use the new clock time as an opportunity to anchor their morning at a more appropriate time and continue their routine from there.

A few things to remember

Whichever option you choose, try not to overthink it. Our little ones' body clocks are influenced by much more than the number on the clock. Light exposure, nap timing, awake time, meals and a consistent morning start all help their circadian rhythm adjust.

There might be a few slightly wonky naps, earlier tired signs or unusual wake-ups while their body catches up, and that's ok. Stay consistent with your usual sleep foundations and give them a few days to adjust.

And remember: you don't need to make gradual changes beforehand if you don't want to. Changing the clocks and getting on with your usual routine is a perfectly good option too.

Need help working out an age-appropriate routine for your little one?

Our Sleep Guides include age-appropriate routines, gentle settling methods and troubleshooting for short naps, early rising and night waking - plus plenty of reassurance when sleep doesn't quite go to plan. Find the Sleep Guides here.