The US Senate passed legislation to make daylight saving time permanent starting in 2023.
While some parents are excited by the possible change, saying that changing the clock either way can mess up their kids’ sleep until their bodies readjust, sleep experts argue that staying on daylight-saving time might not be the best choice, since it could disrupt our circadian rhythms.
Chelsea Pascoe, a mother in Pine Beach, New Jersey, said that she dreads the time changes and that she’s thrilled at the prospect of ending them.
“This year, my 2-year-old refused to go down for her normal nap time, because it was technically too early for her, and her body wasn’t ready. This resulted in her falling asleep on the couch at 4 p.m. and a small meltdown when we woke her up after 45 minutes,” Pascoe said. “To make things even more enjoyable, that mini-nap resulted in her refusing to go to bed and crying hysterically until 10:30 p.m.”
“Time is a construct. Baby sleep is not,” said Keema Waterfield, a mom in Missoula, Montana.
Alex Estrada, of Santa Barbara, California, said he’d enjoy an extra hour of light in the evening with his family year-round. “Our favorite time of the year is spring and summer when the sun shines later into the day — we enjoy our backyard, take a stroll through town, or walk around the neighborhood,” said Estrada, who has two children in grade school.
