Why Do We Keep Doing This?! (A Parent’s Annual Clock Change Meltdown)

Every year, without fail, I forget.

I’ll be happily bumbling through October, thinking about Halloween costumes and whether I can justify lighting the fire before November… and then …

The clocks are going back.

And while people without children are out there celebrating their “extra hour in bed,” I’m over here muttering, “An extra hour of what, exactly? Crying? Pepper Pig?”

Because if you have little ones, you already know; when the clocks go back, no one in your house is getting more sleep.

Flashback to My First Clock Change as a Parent

I still remember the first year I experienced it as a new mum. I was so excited.
“An extra hour in bed!” I said, naively, like some sort of amateur.

Cut to the next morning: 4:57am.
Baby’s wide awake. I’m googling “why is my baby up before dawn” and cursing whoever invented daylight saving time.

I spent the whole day trying to convince a 7 month old that it wasn’t breakfast yet, or lunch yet, or dinner yet!

By lunchtime, I’d drunk enough coffee to make my eye twitch and started seriously considering moving to a country where the clocks never change.

Fast forward to now - years later, and many sleep consults later - and I can confirm: it’s not just you.
Every parent dreads the clock change. Every. Single. One.

Why Do We Even Still Do This?

Apparently, it’s something to do with “energy saving” and “maximising daylight.”
But tell that to the parents whose toddlers start their day at 5am and are ready for bed before the afternoon episode of Bluey.

Honestly, at this point, I think we just do it for tradition - like mince pies or complaining about the weather.

So How Do You Survive It (Without Crying into Your Coffee)?

The good news: you can absolutely make the transition smoother.

Here’s the quick version of what I tell all my lovely, bleary-eyed parents:

1. Start early.
   A few days before the clocks change, start shifting your little one’s bedtime later - just 10–15 minutes each night. Slow and steady wins the (sleep) race.

2. Let the light in.
   Morning light helps reset body clocks - even if it’s cloudy, open those curtains! (And maybe grab yourself a daylight lamp for those truly British grey mornings.)

3. Keep your bedtime routine sacred.
   That bath-book-cuddle combo tells your little one it’s time to wind down - and consistency really helps them adjust.

4. Give it time.
   It can take a few days for everyone to settle. Be kind to yourself, and maybe plan some early nights (for you too!).

Your Sanity-Saving Freebie

If you’d like the full plan, step-by-step, easy to follow, and written by someone who’s been there, done that, and lived to tell the tale — grab my free guide in the Resources Tab!

It’s packed with practical tips because while I can’t stop the clock change, I can support a smooth transition for you and little one.

Here’s to surviving another clock change together.

Now, if anyone needs me, I’ll be contemplating why we still do this every year!

Danni x