Daylight saving time begins at 2 am on Sunday, March 9, 2025, which means you'll want to set the clocks ahead one hour before bed on Saturday night, March 8. While this sounds like a minor inconvenience, any parent knows the truth: It’s a sleep-stealing, schedule-wrecking, cranky-kid-inducing nightmare.
Yes, we get more daylight in the evenings, but at what cost? Overtired kids, groggy mornings, and a bedtime battle that makes you question your life choices. But don’t panic — here’s how to help your family adjust with minimal chaos (and maybe even get some sleep yourself).
Why Do We Even Have Daylight Saving Time? (And Can We Opt Out?)
Daylight saving time (DST) was first introduced during World War I as a way to conserve energy by shifting daylight hours later into the evening. The idea? More natural light = less electricity used for lighting.
But does DST actually save energy today? Maybe. Maybe not. Studies are mixed, and let’s be honest — if your house is anything like mine, the lights stay on all day anyway because someone forgets to turn them off.
Which States Don’t Observe Daylight Saving Time?
If you’re jealous of parents whose kids aren’t affected by the time change, you’ll want to look at Hawaii and most of Arizona, where DST isn’t observed. U.S. territories like Puerto Rico and Guam? Also blissfully time-change-free.
Meanwhile, the rest of us are left fumbling with oven clocks and microwaves while our kids wake up cranky and confused.
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How to Help Kids Adjust to the Time Change
Let’s be real: Kids do not care about clocks. Their tiny internal schedules don’t just shift because we say so. The real issue with springing forward is that their bodies still think it’s an hour earlier — so mornings feel brutal, and bedtime suddenly feels like it’s coming too soon. Here’s how to help them adjust:
1. Start the Transition Early
Instead of letting the time change hit like a freight train, ease them into it by shifting bedtime 10-15 minutes earlier each night leading up to DST.
This works especially well for younger kids (who already have an alarmingly strict internal schedule for snack time, bedtime, and demanding Paw Patrol).
2. Keep the Bedtime Routine the Same
Kids thrive on routine, so stick to your usual bath, books, bed sequence — even if they suddenly claim they aren’t tired.
Pro tip: If they fight bedtime, try extra wind-down activities like coloring, puzzles, or "let’s see who can close their eyes the longest" (which totally works on toddlers).
3. Control the Light Exposure
Natural light tells our bodies when to sleep and wake up, so use it to your advantage:
🌞 In the morning: Open the blinds, let in sunlight, and get outside early to help reset their internal clocks.
🌙 In the evening: Dim the lights an hour before bed to signal it’s time to wind down.
🛑 If they refuse to wake up: Let in as much natural light as possible to help their bodies adjust.
4. Limit Screens Before Bed (Sorry, Cocomelon)
Blue light from tablets, TVs, and phones can mess with melatonin production, making it harder for kids to fall asleep.
🚫 DO NOT: Let them watch “just one more episode” of their favorite show at bedtime.
✅ DO: Encourage books, quiet play, or a bedtime story to help them relax.
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5. Be Patient (Yes, Even When They Refuse to Get Up)
Even with the best preparation, kids may be extra tired, extra cranky, and extra unreasonable for a few days.
Expect:
- Whining that they’re "too tired" to wake up.
- More meltdowns over things like socks feeling weird or bananas breaking in half.
- Hunger at strange times — because their tummies don’t care what the clock says.
But hang in there! Within 3-5 days, most kids will adjust (and you’ll start feeling like a functional human again).
Daylight Saving Time Checklist: Don’t Forget These Tasks!
DST isn’t just about moving clocks — it’s also a great reminder to check other important household safety and maintenance items.
Things to do the weekend you change your clocks:
- Update all clocks — especially the ones that don’t change automatically (microwave, stove, coffee maker, car).
- Change the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Check your car’s safety features, including tire pressure, brake lights, and headlights.
- Review emergency plans and practice fire escape routes (especially with little ones).
- Inspect kids’ bikes and scooters — make sure brakes and helmets are in good condition.
- Flip or rotate mattresses (because, let’s be honest, it’s been a while).
- Restock the first aid kit and check the expiration dates on medications.
- Schedule doctor and dentist appointments before spring calendars get packed.
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Final Thoughts: You’ve Got This!
The time change struggle is real, but you and your kids will survive it — even if there’s a little extra grumpiness (and coffee consumption) along the way.
The good news? More daylight in the evenings = extra time for after-school play, family walks, and maybe even a peaceful dinner outside.
And before you know it? Spring is here, bedtime battles are over, and we can all go back to complaining about something else.
Helpful Resources for Parents:
📌 U.S. Navy — History of Daylight Saving Time
📌 CDC Sleep Hygiene Guidelines — Tips for better sleep
📌 Children's Hospital of Philadelphia — Tips for helping children adjust to DST
Chat GPT helped write this article.
