Daylight Saving starts this weekend -which is great for BBQs but not so good for getting kids to bed at night and waking them up in the morning!

Daylight controls melatonin, a hormone made by the brain that helps regulate our sleep cycles.

In other words, nature is against you when it comes to getting kids to sleep when it’s light, and rousing them when it’s dark.

However, there are some things you can do to help them adjust to the Daylight Saving shift.

Blackout curtains

If you don’t already have blackout curtains or blinds, they are well worth the investment. These block out the light and make the room feel dark, even when it’s light outside. The Sleepstore (www.thesleepstore.co.nz) has some great temporary solutions if you don’t want to change your décor.

Make gradual changes

With Daylight Saving, bedtime is essentially pushed back to earlier in the day. To bring it back into alignment, start by making bedtime an hour later than usual and work back in 15-minute increments. If bedtime is usually 7pm, make it 8pm for the first night, then 7.45pm for the second night, and so on, until you get back to the original time.

Routine is everything

A good bedtime routine is essential for children, but even more so when the clocks change. It’s their cue to say it’s time to wind down and go to sleep. Run a bath, read a book and dim the lights so they know it’s bedtime. Add a spritz of our Calm Me Down Splashwater, with its blend of lavender, sage, rose, Moroccan mint, cardamom, mimosa and vanilla flower, to help soothe, balance and relax.

Early to bed, early to rise

In the morning, open the curtains and let the light in. If there’s a sunny corner in the house, serve your kids breakfast there (or eat al fresco if it’s warm enough outside). This helps to train their circadian rhythms and get them back in synch. A gentle spray of our Wake Me Up Splashwater will also help get children moving. The combination of sweet orange, lemon, bergamot, rose, iris and vanilla flower work to re-vitalise, awaken and energise the mind and body.

Be patient and understanding

We all know what it’s like to be tired and grumpy, and children are no different. Accept that they will be more tired than usual and make allowances for this. A few extra hugs here and there always works wonders.

Now bring on summer!