While many people look forward to the extra hour of sleep they will gain as the end of Daylight Saving Time approaches (this year, on November 4th), parents know that a change in the numbers on the clock does not necessarily mean our children will follow suit. We’re left wondering what the change will do to our children’s sleep schedules and how to get them back on track.

Before parents panic, we’ve identified several options to help them readjust their children’s internal clocks. Cloud b, creators of the award-winning Twilight Turtle and Sleep Sheep products developed to help children sleep, teamed up with Kim West LCSW-C, best known as The Sleep Lady®, to offer some timely tips for tired toddlers and sleepy schoolchildren.

 Since bedtime will be earlier than the body has been used to, utilize the darkness and a bedtime routine to help trigger the body to slow down, secrete melatonin and prepare for sleep.

   o A soothing bedtime routine might consist of a warm bath, gentle massage, putting on pajamas, a light snack, brushing teeth, singing a soft song and/or a bedtime story.

 Parents can dim the lights earlier in the evening and utilize cuddly toys to help slow down the bedtime routine.

   o That’s where Cloud b comes in with this year’s new Tranquil Turtle.  This cozy plush turtle projects a magical underwater light effect through its outer shell while relaxing sounds of the ocean play along.  The soothing combination promotes a calming bedtime routine to help children sleep.

In addition, parents can make changes to their morning routine to help ease the transition.

 The morning after the clock change, let children wake up at their natural time – which according to the clock will be an hour earlier (but not before 6:00 am).  Parents should schedule their day according to the new clock time.

 If a child's bedtime was 7:30 pm, the clock will say 6:30 pm.  Make sure the child napped well so they can make it to at least 7:00 pm (the new time).

 If the child is too tired the first day and parents fear they will miss their sleep window, then put them to bed at 6:30 pm and try to gently push their bedtime later the next day.

 The child may wake up early for a few days before adjusting.  Parents should stay consistent and don't start the child’s day before 6:00 am (new time).

If parents follow these tips, most children should be able to make the adjustment within a week, and everyone in the family can finally enjoy that extra hour of sleep.

And we have four Cloud B toys to be given away to Macaroni Kid Readers. Leave a comment below with your best sleep tip for kids and you'll be entered to win one of four Cloud B sleep toys. No purchase necessary, must subscribe to Macaroni Kid (it's free to subscribe), winner will be chosen at random on or about 11/9/2012 and be notified via email.