Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, when clocks go back to 1 a.m. It's the change that gives you an extra hour, but younger children in particular may still wake earlier by the new clock. A child who normally wakes at 6:30 may be up at what feels like 5:30, ready for the day. You have one week before the change, and a few small steps now can make the first mornings easier.

The quick answer

• Start this week: nudge bedtime and wake-up later by 10 to 15 minutes every day or two, in the direction the clocks will go
• Use morning light: spend time outside in daylight early in the day
• Keep the bedtime routine steady, with screens off well before bed
• Give it about a week: most kids adjust within about a week

Most of the U.S. changes clocks, but Hawaii, most of Arizona, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not. If you live in one of those places, you can skip this one.

A one-week plan, starting today

Because the change goes backward, you're moving toward later. Small steps over the week are gentler than one hour at once. This can be especially useful for young children and light sleepers, and plenty of kids need no special plan at all.

• Sun. Oct. 25 to Tue. Oct. 27: start moving bedtime and wake-up a little later, by about 10 to 15 minutes every day or two, keeping the same amount of sleep
• Wed. Oct. 28 to Fri. Oct. 30: keep nudging, and keep the routine calm and predictable, especially the last hour before bed
• Sat. Oct. 31: it's Halloween night, so don't worry if the routine isn't perfect. Just return to the usual wind-down on Sunday by the new clock
• Sun. Nov. 1: clocks have changed, so aim for the usual bedtime by the new clock, with morning light and breakfast to start the day
• The week after: stay steady, and expect a few slightly early mornings while everyone catches up

If your baby or toddler is having a hard time with sleep, or you're worried about it, it's worth talking to your pediatrician.

Morning light helps reset the body clock

Sunlight has a strong effect on the body's clock. Get outside in daylight early in the day if you can, even for a short walk to school or the bus stop, and open the curtains as soon as everyone's up. In the evening, keep things calmer and lights softer as bedtime gets closer, and limit screens for the last hour before bed.

Evenings get darker earlier after the change, which changes the after-school routine. In Petal Home, the forecast's Tonight card shows today's sunset time, next to the hour-by-hour weather, so you can see how much daylight is left for the park after school.

A bedtime routine that repeats itself

A predictable routine helps children settle, and it matters most in the week of a change. A simple one might be: a bath or wash, pajamas, a book, then lights out. Aim for a similar bedtime by the new clock, and keep it calm.

It's easier to stick with a routine when something nudges the person in charge. In Petal Home, a household reminder can repeat daily at a set time and be assigned to one person, so the nudge reaches their phone every evening. After the clocks change, a reminder set for 7 p.m. stays at 7 p.m. on the new clock. You can change its time by a few minutes over the week as you shift the routine.

Plan for a soft landing

The first few mornings can feel different while everyone adjusts, and falling back can make younger children tired earlier in the evening and awake earlier in the morning. Plan something to look forward to for early wake-ups, like a favorite breakfast, and go easy on plans for that first week.