When winter time changes, good news: we gain an extra hour of sleep. But will your toddlers keep up? Advice from Sylvie Royant-Parola, psychiatrist specializing in sleep disorders, to disrupt them as little as possible.
This year, the changeover to winter time takes place during the night of Saturday October 25 to Sunday October 26, 2025. At 3 a.m., it will be 2 a.m. So we go back an hour, which allows us to sleep an hour more! Although this idea greatly delights adults, this time change is nevertheless not without effects on the body, especially in children. Their sleep rhythm can be disrupted, fatigue builds up, and the drop in light linked to shorter days can also make it difficult for little ones to fall asleep.
How to manage the time change with a baby?
So that you, parents, can take advantage of this extra hour of sleep, and so that baby quickly adapts to it too, it is important to put in place a few tips that will allow a smooth transition, without any trauma to the rhythm already established, and yet so fragile! So, plan to make all baby’s meals a quarter of an hour earlier. Just before bedtime, give him a nice relaxing bath, which will encourage him to fall asleep more easily. And finally, make sure to carry him and ask him very regularly during the previous days, to teach him to distinguish day and night.
The change to winter time takes place during the All Saints holidays, and therefore, in the middle of the school term. To help them get back into the rhythm, there are several changes to make in their habits. This period is therefore less painful for them, but also for you! “Parents can put their little ones to bed and get up earlier. Switching them to the new time right away is an effective way to get them through this period smoothly. It is also essential to accompany them to bed with a bedtime ritual. This is true in everyday life, but even more so in this moment. Generally speaking, it is best to anticipate three or four days before the change to summer or winter time. You must also be careful not to push activities into the evening.“
