Updated 10th March 2026 Daylight Saving Time can be confusing for families; especially when you have a baby or toddler whose sleep schedule depends on consistency. On top of that, different countries change their clocks on different dates, which can make things even more confusing for families living internationally or travelling. Below you’ll find the upcoming Daylight Saving Time changes for Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom, along with practical tips to help your little one transition smoothly.

Daylight Saving Time Dates

Australia

In the Australian summer, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT turn their clocks forward one hour to Daylight Saving Time (DST). Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory do not observe DST. Daylight Saving begins: Sunday 5 October 2025 When local standard time is about to reach: Sunday, 5 October 2025, 2:00:00 am Clocks are turned forward one hour to: Sunday, 5 October 2025, 3:00:00 am local daylight time Daylight Saving ends: Sunday 5 April 2026 At 3:00 am, clocks move back one hour to 2:00 am

United States

Most states in the US observe Daylight Saving Time. Daylight Saving begins: Sunday 8 March 2026 At 2:00 am, clocks move forward to 3:00 am Daylight Saving ends: Sunday 1 November 2026 At 2:00 am, clocks move back to 1:00 am (Note: Arizona and Hawaii do not observe DST.)

United Kingdom

The UK observes Daylight Saving under the name British Summer Time (BST). Daylight Saving begins: Sunday 29 March 2026 At 1:00 am, clocks move forward to 2:00 am Daylight Saving ends: Sunday 25 October 2026 At 2:00 am, clocks move back to 1:00 am

How Daylight Saving Can Affect Baby Sleep

Adjusting to the daylight savings time change can be a huge stress for some families and it’s pretty common to be concerned that your baby or toddler’s sleep will be impacted in a big way. The good news is that most children adjust very well with a little preparation and consistency. There are a couple of ways to go about helping them adjust to the change.

Option 1: Go With the Flow

The first option is to simply adjust on the day the clocks change. This works well for toddlers and young children, as they tend to cope better with either an extra hour of sleep or losing an hour’s sleep. You may need to pop them to bed a little earlier for a couple of days to help with the transition, and it’s very normal that their body clock will take a few days to adjust. The most important thing is to stay consistent with your routine.

Option 2: Gradually Adjust Their Schedule

This approach works well for younger babies who are more sensitive to routine changes. Know that it can be normal for babies to have a couple of days where their routine might be a little bit off, but staying consistent will help them adjust quickly to the change. Below is how to slowly transition your baby.

Transition Plan When Daylight Saving Begins (Clocks Forward)

(FYI this is also the GOOD ONE..Summer is coming!) Based on a 7:00am wake up: Monday & Tuesday Wake your baby at 6:45am and move everything forward by 15 minutes, including meals and naps. Wednesday & Thursday Move everything forward 30 minutes, including meals and naps. Friday Move everything forward 45 minutes (wake at 6:15am). Saturday Move everything forward 1 hour (wake your baby at 6:00am). Sunday (time change day) When the clocks move forward, your baby will automatically be back to waking at 7:00am.

Transition Plan When Daylight Saving Ends (Clocks Back)

(FYI this is the GOOD ONE, you get an extra hour...I'm a rose coloured glasses guy!) Based on a 7:00am wake up: Monday & Tuesday Wake your baby at 7:15am and move everything back by 15 minutes, including meals and naps. Wednesday & Thursday Move everything back by 30 minutes, including meals and naps. Friday Move everything back by 45 minutes (wake at 7:45am). Saturday Move everything back by 1 hour (wake your baby at 8:00am). Of course, your baby may not naturally sleep until 8am and if this is the case then either try to stretch them to their adjusted nap time or offer a 15-minute power nap (if under 5–6 months old) to help get them to the later nap time. Then on Sunday when the clocks have moved back your baby will automatically be back to waking at 7:00am.

General Daylight Saving Tips for Baby Sleep

  Make the room as dark as possible This helps your baby’s body clock adjust and prevents early morning waking from sunlight creeping in. It also supports melatonin production when it’s still light outside at bedtime. Use white noise Crank that white noise to help drown out the birds waking for the day. Keep the bedtime routine the same Continue the same routine before and after daylight savings so your baby feels familiar and secure. Get outside in the afternoon Natural sunlight exposure in the afternoon helps support healthy melatonin production later in the evening. Be patient Whichever method you choose, it’s completely normal for there to be a short adjustment period. Most babies and toddlers return to their usual routine within a few days. If you'd like to learn more about creating healthy sleep habits for your little one, learn more about the Dr Golly Philosophy and programs on our website.