Daylight savings starts each spring season and this year is shows up on Sunday, March 10, 2024.

When it's time to “spring forward” the clocks it can be a dreaded time for parents of young children because with this, comes an adjustment that does not happen immediately. 

This is because children tend to be more structured in their bedtime and wake up around the same time each morning and that is why people usually
can see a greater effect on children when the time changes. 

However, there are some things you can do to help make the transition to the new
time go a little smoother. 

​My recommendation is to leave your clock alone Saturday night.  Wake up Sunday morning, have breakfast, then go around your house and change your clocks.  Psychologically, it will feel much better for everyone if you wait until Sunday morning to change the time. 

My best advice for children to help them with the change is to split the difference with the old time and the new time. 

                                                            How does that work?

School Age Children (6+YO) -
My best advice for children to help them with the change is to split the difference with the ​old time and the new time.  

If  you have a child that does not nap and normally goes to bed at 7:00 PM.
You would put him to bed at 7:30 PM on Sunday night, the first night of the time change. 
​
Do this for 3 nights, putting him to bed 30 minutes later than normal.
Then on the 4th night put him to bed at the normal time, 7:00 PM or whatever is normal bedtime for your child.


​Preschooler & Kindy kids (2-5YO)- If you have a toddler ages one and older, on Sunday the first day of the time change, you would put him for his first nap 30 minutes later than normal.  
So, if he naps at 9:30 AM usually, you would put him down at 10:00 AM. 
You would do the same with the afternoon nap if he takes an afternoon nap. 
For bedtime, if his normal bedtime is 7:00 PM, you would put him down at 7:30 PM.   Do this for 3 nights after the time change. 
Then on the 4th night, put him to bed at 7:00 PM. 
On 5th day move nap times back to normal time. So, if your child naps at 9:30 AM, put him down at 9:30 AM and so on with the rest of the day. 
 
Note for Preschooler/Kindergarten/School-aged children:
If you have a Preschooler or an older child who relies on a clock to know when their “morning time” has arrived, set the clock one half hour behind of the new time so that it reads 7:00 AM at the new time of 7:30 AM. 
Allow your child to wake a bit later than normal (they will think it is 7:00 according to the clock but it will be 7:30 AM, new time). This will only be temporary as your child adjusts to wake at their usual 7:00 AM time after about one or two weeks.

Newborns, Infants & Toddlers (0-24months): 
If you have a baby and his bedtime has become predictable (usually over 6 months old) meaning he is always going to bed around the same time each night.  For example, if bedtime is normally 7:00 PM move bedtime 15 minutes earlier each night until you reach the normal time. 
​So, the first night you would put him down at 7:45 PM, the second night 7:30 PM, and so on. In four nights, you should be back to 7:00 PM.  

If their bed is not predictable (0-6 months old) simply jump to the
new time Sunday night as if you were traveling to a new time zone (find out more here). 
​
Another tip that is helpful for those of us living in Canada is to darken your child’s room.  Your child may wake up too early with the sun rising so early now in the morning and may struggle to fall asleep while it is still light outside so darkening the room can be very helpful.  Even though there are extra hours of daylight children still need the same amount of sleep. Here is more info about why sleeping in the dark is so important. Want an easy way to blackout your little ones windows?  Check out SleepOut Portable Curtains!

Special Note: It may take children and babies a bit more time to fall asleep, this is normal, since the time is different initially they won’t be as tired.  
It usually takes about a week for children and babies to completely adjust to the new time, some children it can take up to a month. 
​
Be patient and consistent, it will happen.
            
Happy Sleeping!
Erin Neri

If Daylight Savings is the least of your little ones sleep struggles. Please don't hesitate to reach out!  Let's chat about whats happening.

​Let's get your little one and your whole family sleeping better! 

Although it might seem unnatural to create noise when you want your baby to go to sleep,
remember: it wasn’t exactly sound proof in the womb!
Your child is actually quite used to noise by the time he’s born because he’s been listening to you talk, your stomach gurgling, and the sound of the family and the TV and the car radio while in utero.

Believe it or not, complete quiet can actually be more confusing to a newborn than background noise.

One of the biggest benefits of the white noise machine is that it helps babies fall back to sleep if they wake up.
This means their nap times will last longer and they will be less likely to fully wake in the night.

​There are lots of options out there, so here are a few 
things to consider when you are ​choosing your sound machine.

​You want to choose a simple-to-use device that creates sound that blocks out a lot of these day-to-day noises that can startle and wake a child.
You do not need one with a ton of fancy features.
Having different options of sounds and music is a nice feature. BUT not necessary.
You only want to use the white noise, or ocean/water sound options;
nothing with birds chirping, frogs croaking, or thunder, and no lullaby’s.
You also need to choose one that does not time out; the white noise needs to be 
consistent all night long, so make sure you are able to leave it play until morning.

I am often asked how loud the white noise should be in little ones rooms.
​
That is a hard question to answer because there are so many on the market.
In a recent blog post Marpac describes how to choose the Best White sound. They explain that
 "It doesn’t have to be loud enough to actually cover the noises. This is the really cool thing about white noise.  The actual decibel level of the sound machine does not need to exceed the decibel level of the noises you are masking.  Disruptive noises are made less impactful by the presence of a background sound, and because the brain has something constant to focus on, it’s less likely to be bothered by noises which might have been problematic if the room were completely quiet." 

According to the AAP, white noise machines should be placed at least 7 feet (200 centimeters) away from a baby's sleep space and the volume should be lower than the maximum volume setting — generally no louder than 50 decibels, or the volume of an average vacuum cleaner or hair dryer

What do I recommend to my clients? 

Hands down my favorite white noise machine is the YogaSleep (formally Marpac) Dohum for Baby.
I have them in my home and love them!! Here's a little bit of why I love them and the company...
  "Developed in 1962, Dohm is the original, most popular, all natural, white noise sound machine you've probably heard about. Its circular shape is easy to recognize, and its uniquely adjustable fan sound is what makes it the best; in fact, Dohm was chosen to be the Official Sound Conditioner of the National Sleep Foundation. Turn it on, and tune out the rest of the world with soothing, all natural white noise. Whether for sleep, privacy, concentration, relaxation, or tinnitus relief, YogaSleep has your sound-masking needs covered. We are the highly recommended sleep & privacy solution for restless babies, snoring partners, loud roommates, noisy offices, anxious pets, and more. At YogaSleep (formally Marpac), our ultimate promise to you is that we do our best to make serious, high quality, sound machines. With our sound machines, you'll love how you sleep; you'll love how you feel; and you'll love how you live!"  YogaSleep.com

​The main concern parents have about trying this is usually about their child becoming addicted to white noise, and that’s a valid point.
However, my experience is that there’s absolutely no need to worry about this. A white noise machine IS NOT being used as a sleep prop like a soother or being rocked and sung to. It’s there to block out noises that you can’t control that might be waking your child. When you’re ready to wean your child off the machine, simply turn the volume down a little every night until you’re not using the sound at all.​
But we know that even adults can benefit from white noise, so in my opinion why not just leave it,
​ it's not like your house is going to get quieter as your little people grown!!  :)

There are also many scientific reasons to continue or start using White Noise. Scientists have found that the use of White, Pink or Brown Noise can actually help our brains connect sleep cycles and get down into deeper more restorative sleep. That's right there are actual benefits to your brain and sleep when using white noise.  


Erin Neri

 ​It’s 2:00 AM, you’re sleeping peacefully in your bed, and you suddenly wake up; not entirely sure why, but as you start to gain awareness of your surroundings. You become aware, to your horror, that there’s someone in the room with you! You hear the sound of their voice, and they whisper those four words that chill every parent to the bone.

“Mom, I can’t sleep.”

Fear of the dark usually starts to show up around the 2 to 3-year mark. As preschoolers’ minds mature, their memory gets longer, and their imagination develops. They’ve almost certainly taken a spill on the playground or had some kind of traumatic incident by this point, so they’re aware there are things out there that can hurt them. 

They’ve also probably seen a few movies or been read a few books that touch on a couple of spooky or eerie elements, even if they’re geared towards children. Where the Wild Things Are, for all of its charm, gave me a serious case of the willies when I was a preschooler.

As adults, we’re experienced enough to recognize that the dark isn’t inherently dangerous (although if your preschooler tends to leave Legos lying around, you might argue to the contrary.) But for preschoolers, there’s no history to draw on to assure them they’re safe and secure after the lights go out.

So my first and most important piece of advice when you’re addressing your little one’s fear of the dark is this… 

Don’t slough it off.

Fear of the dark can be a tricky landscape to navigate. On the one hand, we absolutely want to show empathy and understanding when something frightens our kids. But, on the other, we don’t want to add fuel to the fire.

This is why I’m not a big fan of “monster repellent” or nightly closet checks.

Consider this scenario: You’re concerned, rationally or not, that there’s an intruder in your house. You mention it to your spouse, who hands you a can of pepper spray and, looks around the room, says, “Nope, I don’t see anyone. Anyways, I’m headed out for the night! Have a good sleep!”

I mean, you might not file for divorce on the spot, but you’d consider it, right?

So when we tell our kids, “Nope! No monsters here! Not that I noticed, anyway, so you’re all good,” it’s not nearly as soothing as you might think. 

It’s easy to see how they could interpret that as, “Yeah, there’s absolutely such a thing as monsters, they’re scary as hell, and they do tend to live in kids’ closets, but I don’t see one in there at the moment, so... y’know. Sleep tight!

So that covers what I consider to be the wrong way to handle the situation.

How about some advice on the right way to handle the situation?

As I said earlier, dismissing your little one’s fears as irrational or unfounded isn’t all that helpful, so ask some questions when they express a fear of the dark. Digging into their concerns is beneficial in a couple of ways.

First, it lets them know you’re taking them seriously, which is very reassuring.

Second, it also helps you to assess what it is about the darkness that frightens them and allows you to address it.

For example, if they tell you they’re seeing things moving around their room, it might be caused by shadows. Headlights from cars driving by can often shine enough light through curtains or blinds to throw shadows across the room. Coupled with a preschooler’s imagination, that can create some seriously intimidating scenes. In that situation, a nightlight or blackout blinds can be a quick, effective solution.

Tip: Go for Both!  They both have multiple benefits when it comes to preschoolers sleeping habits. 

If you’re going to use a nightlight, make sure it’s a warm colour. Blue lights may look soothing, but they stimulate cortisol production, which is the last thing we want at bedtime.

Getting a device like the Hatch Baby Rest can help your preschoolers sleep in multiple ways. Setting the night light to a dim red colour can help with melatonin production, soothe some of these new night time fears and the Hatch can be used as a time-to-wake-up device (plus as a white noise machine which I always recommend).

Blackout curtains also have multiple benefits when it comes to sleep strategies. The darker the room the better it is for your child's sleep. Try SleepOut Blackout Curtains; they are made of material that completely blacks out the light, it also helps to eliminate environmental noise from outside, and they help to regulate the temperature in your kiddos’ room. They are a phenomenal product! Use the code ToTheMoonSleep10 for a discount on your purchase. 

You're going to have to dig for information.

Now, that’s a bit of a Utopian scenario. As you’re likely already aware, getting a clear, concise answer from a preschooler about anything is tricky. To a preschooler, “Paw Patrol” is a reasonable answer to “What do you want for lunch?” So you’ll likely have to work with slightly more obscure information, but we’re showing concern, which goes a long way here.

For many preschoolers, bedtime is the only time of the day when they’re left alone. They’re either playing with friends, hanging close to their parents, or being supervised in some way, shape, or form by a grown-up.

Bedtime is also the only time they’re exposed to darkness, so you can see how the two things together could easily cause some anxiety.
​
Spend some time together in the dark.

So the obvious (and super fun!) way to ease some of that apprehension is to spend some time together in the dark. Reading books under a blanket with a dim flashlight is a great activity. 

Some hide and seek with the lights out is tons of fun as well, just as long as you clear any tripping hazards out of the area you’re going to be playing in. (It doesn’t have to be pitch black. We just want to get some positive associations with low-light situations.) 

Shadow puppets are a great time, even though I’m personally terrible at them. Hide-and-Clap is a classic, but if you’ve ever seen The Conjuring, you’ll know why it might leave you with nightmares as opposed to your preschooler. 

A quick Google search will load you up with dozens of ideas, so pick two or three that you think your child will like, then let them choose one.

This isn’t likely to be an overnight fix!

But stay respectful, calm, and consistent. After your little one’s fears have been addressed and they’ve learned that the darkness is more fun than frightening, you’ll start seeing more consolidated sleep and fewer visits in the middle of the night.

One last little tip, turning down the lights gradually as your little one’s bedtime approaches is an excellent way to ease them into a dark setting and also helps to stimulate melatonin production, which will help them get to sleep easier.

Two birds, one stone.

Parenting level: Master.

​According to Richard G. "Bugs" Stevens (Professor, School of Medicine, University of Connecticut); "Today most people do not get enough sleep. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has called insufficient sleep an epidemic.
While we are finally paying attention to the importance of sleep, 
the need for dark is still mostly ignored.
Being exposed to regular patterns of light and dark regulates our circadian rhythm.
Disruption of this rhythm may increase the risk of developing some health conditions including obesity, diabetes and breast cancer." 
In addition Stevens points out that; "light regulates our sleep and wake patterns.
The physiological processes that control the daily cycle of sleep and wake, hunger, activity levels, body temperature, melatonin level in the blood, and many other
physiological traits are called the endogenous circadian rhythm." 

Why is this so important?
​Stevens goes on to explain that; "during the night, in the dark, body temperature drops, metabolism slows, and the hormone melatonin rises dramatically. When the Sun comes up in the morning, melatonin has already started falling, and you wake up. This natural physiological transition into and out of night is of ancient origin, and melatonin is crucial for the process to proceed as it should."  
Read Stevens full article here. 

So what do we do? 
BLACKOUT those windows!!
Of course there are many ways to do this. Usually regular old blinds aren't enough. On a scale of 1-10; 10 being the darkest;
your rooms should be a 10/10; this goes for your rooms as well Mom and Dad! 
For the longest time in my boys rooms I used to have regular blinds as well as blackout curtains with towels across the top
of the curtain rods to stop the light from coming in along the ceiling and tinfoil along the outsides of the window pane to stop the sliver of light coming through from the blinds and curtains.
Not the easiest of options, nor the most eye catching, lol, but it worked. 
They now have a great product on their windows that gives their rooms a 10/10 on the darkness scale all year round.
My bedroom windows however, are lacking such status, they are pretty awful to be honest. I use a sleep mask to make it dark enough for sleep but that is getting tiresome.

 That is why I am so excited to try SleepOut BlackOut Curtains.
The reviews for this product are amazing, plus they are Canadian made!
I cannot wait to get mine!

Here's a little bit more about SleepOut BlackOut Curtains from their website:
​  "The patented, portable blackout curtain that completely darkens a room and installs anywhere for better sleep. Greenguard® and OEKO-TEX® certified free from harmful chemicals and substances."
"The Sleepout Curtain’s fabric has the benefit of being thermal insulating. In the winter, reduce your heating cost and keep out the cold by having the Sleepout Curtain on your windows. On hot summer days, Sleepout’s white flocking backing will soak up the heat, letting you sleep in the proper cool, dark environment."

Click the link below to get yours!
​
Erin Neri

I have always been fascinated with home remedies. 

Try rubbing aspiring on a bee sting!

Quiet a colicky baby by running the vacuum cleaner!

Swallow a teaspoon of sugar to cure your hiccups!

I’m sure this fascination came from having an amazing grandmother who always recommended such things and being somewhat of a sickly kid myself. LOL!

However, I know I am not alone in the quest for "natural remedies" after all there are a ton of books on the subject still available on Amazon today.

One of the big selling points of cures like these is that they’re “natural.” Many people feel like their doctors are too quick to prescribe medications and feel like it's because of big Pharma kickbacks. People don't always want to a lab- designed chemical to solve the problem. They like the idea of using something readily available in nature. You know. Like penicillin.

I should stipulate here that I’m not anti-pharmaceutical, nor am I anti-homeopathy. I feel that health decisions are something that should be carefully considered by the individual with the advice of their doctor. If probiotics improve your gut health, I say go for it. If you need serious medication to for a heart condition, then you should probably take that as well.

However, anything you’re going to put in your body, and every bit as necessary, your child's body, should be evaluated for its efficacy and possible side effects, which is why I want to talk about melatonin again.

A lot of homeopathic experts has touted melatonin as a safe, natural way of helping people get to sleep, and in many ways, that very is true, but there's a whole lot more to understand about it before you take it yourself or give it to your child.

So, what is it, exactly?

Well, melatonin is a hormone that secreted from the pineal gland that helps to settle your body and mind down when it's time to sleep. How exactly it does that is a very complicated process and involves more biology that I can hope to understand, much less explain. 

So, in the simplest terms, melatonin is your brain’s way of turning the lights off for the night. Cortisol is its counterpart, which opens them back up, and the two together make up a large part of what we call our “body clock,” but more on that later.

An important point here is that MELATONIN IS NOT A TRADITIONAL SLEEP AID. As Dr. Luis Buenaver, a sleep expert from Johns Hopkins explains it, "Your body produces melatonin naturally. It doesn't make you sleep, but as melatonin levels rise in the evening, it puts you into a state of quiet wakefulness that helps promote sleep."

How does our body know when to start producing melatonin? Quite naturally, actually. When it starts to get dark, the body recognizes the onset of night and gets the melatonin pumps up and running. That worked like a charm for a couple of hundred thousand years, until we invented the light bulb.

Plus the television. And the smartphone. And the laptop. And tablets.

Nowadays our eyes are flooded with so much artificial light that it can be difficult for our brains to determine when the night is coming on, and it can interfere with melatonin production. That can mess up our body clocks and contribute to insomnia.

Now, in some cases, jet-lag and shift work are the most significant two, when our body clocks temporarily are thrown out of whack a melatonin supplement can help reset our body clocks, but it's not a solution for sleep issues.

My first piece of advice to people who are having trouble sleeping is to turn off their screens a couple of hours before bed, turn down the house lights, and come up with a bedtime routine. Let your body know that it’s time to sleep, and it’ll do almost all of the leg work for you.

Side note: This is not the case for insomniacs. People with psychological or physical conditions that inhibit their sleep should consult with their physicians.

Now, when it comes to kids, all of this information still applies. Newborns are something of an exception, as they don’t start producing melatonin and cortisol until they’re about two months old. Until then, they're flying by the seat of their pants, sleep-wise, as I'm sure you probably already know if you have any of your own.

However, past the 2-month mark, they start to establish a 24- hour light-dark sleep cycle, which is the standard sleep cycle that we follow throughout our lives.
So now we get to the big question ...

“Will giving my child melatonin help them sleep through the night?”

And the answer is, “NO IT WILL NOT.”

It might help them GET to sleep at night, but it will not help them STAY asleep.

The above isn't just my opinion, by the way. It is the general consensus of Sleep Specialists, researchers, and doctors worldwide.

The National Sleep Foundation has found that "...when scientists conduct tests to compare melatonin as a "sleeping pill" to a placebo (sugar pill) most studies show no benefit of melatonin."

I do think being fully informed is essential, of course. Melatonin is a hormone and can have serious side effects.

There have also been studies that showed early sexual development in animal subjects given melatonin, but the link in human children hasn't yet been established.

Again, I am not in any way against homeopathic or naturopathic medicine; I search out such resources for myself.

Even in cases where the effects are psychological, and for some people, melatonin does indeed get them to sleep quicker and help them sleep through the night. If it's just a placebo effect for some of them, no biggie, they're getting the sleep they need, and that's vitally important in its own right.

However, when it comes to young kids, I feel that it's essential for us as parents to teach them the skills they need to fall asleep and stay asleep on their own.

Moreover, here's the good news. Kids and sleep go together like cheese and crackers.

They need A LOT of sleep, and for a short period in their lives, everything in their bodies is tuned to help ensure they get it.

All they need from us is a little guidance and a determination to step out of the way sometimes so they can develop the ability to get to sleep and stay asleep on their own.

You can check out some of my other blog posts for tips on how to give your child the opportunities to develop their sleep strategies since this is already getting a little wordy, but giving them any sleep aid is definitely not the answer, whether it’s melatonin or Benadryl.

Just like learning any other skill, it takes practice and time.

No supplement can teach you how to play an instrument, teach you long division, or sharpen your golf game.

Sleep is, in essence, precisely the same thing. It’s a skill that needs to be developed, and once it is, it comes easily and naturally, so before you reach for the pills, try

• establishing a predictable consistent bedtime routine
• shutting down the TVs and tablets a couple of hours before bed

Try encouraging your child to fall asleep without

• feeding,
• rocking,
• or other forms of outside help.

I promise you; the results will be better than anything you’ll get from a pill, and they’ll last them a lifetime.

Side Note: Check out my previous BLOG POST for more resources and information about the safety of Melatonin in Babies.

Another Side Note: Are you wondering if taking melatonin supplements are safe to take while you are pregnant and suffering from those sleepless nights? Looking for more evidence on the dangers of Melatonin?

Check out this article Are Melatonin Supplements Safe During Pregnancy? from Mom Loves Best.

If you are struggling with your little one’s sleep, please reach out to me or another sleep consultant to get some advice and help. Don’t take the route of giving melatonin unless you have tried with a professional’s help to teach your child how to develop their independent sleep strategies.