Does anyone have experience with getting a baby adjusted to a new time zone?

Question

My husband and I will be moving in 4 days to a time zone that is 6 hours ahead. Do you have any experience with getting a baby readjusted to the time zone? My son is 4 1/2 months old. Also, we are currently having a problem with him waking up every 2 hours in the night. We want to fix this problem at the same time as getting him adjusted to the time. He used to wake up once a night and then we went to my in-laws for the summer and every time he made a noise we picked him up so we wouldn't wake everyone up, which has led to a major problem for night time sleeping. He doesn't wake up to eat, just to be put back to sleep. We live in Austria but spend the summers in New York. Can anyone give me some advice?

Answer 1

You are going to think this is nuts but it works! when you do move put the baby to bed when the time is right in the new timezone and every hour flip the baby head to toe ...like example if baby is sleeping with head at head of crib just flip him so his head is at foot of crib..It works, I went from NY to Alaska and it works...maybe nto with all babies but it's worth a try anyhow...

Answer 2

I moved when my baby was 5 month old, she totally adjusted to the time zone without any help from us, there was 7 hours in difference as well.

What I can suggest is that if you live alone now, try to put your baby in his own room, when he cry, just give him a pacifier and move away, I know it will be hard to hear him crying, but it is worse the try, after couple days to a week, he will adjust and knows that he will not be helled when ever he cries, babies are so smart and they know our weak point... We love them so much!

Best of luck!

Answer 3

You need to get the baby used to the new time gradually.  Since "his" time-zone is already different, it will not be hard.

it is not going to be easy and you will have several nights of little sleep but in the end, it will be worth it.

First, you need to get him used to go to bed a little earlier every day.  Start with 15 minutes for a few days and work gradually over 4 or 5 days to 30 minutes, another 5 days and 45 minutes, and so on.  

keep him busy during the day with games and books, outings, etc.  have a routine bedtime with maybe a bottle, a book, a lovey such as a blankey or a stuffed animal.  You can sing to him and tell him very softly that it is his bedtime and it is Ok to go to sleep and just put him to sleep.

I do not recommend that you let him cry it out.  Return to his room or next to his crib and explain to him that you are there for him.  Pat his back and sing again but let him know that it is time to go to sleep.

You might have to repeat this during the night but gradually it will happen.  It will not be fast but be patient.

It is going to be a little easier to go ahead because it will get darker earlier and that will make a difference in his body clock.

Again, be patient, soft,  but firm with him.  He will eventually get used to his new routine.  You and your husband can take turns on the bedtime routine.

Good luck!!!

Answer 4

yup... we went on holidays with our 1.5 month old and it was a 3 hour time change.  the trick is to let baby adjust themselves.  you feed them when they want until they get used to it.  we were gone 3 weeks and it took probably a week and a half...then when we came home we had to do it all over again.  its a bit of a pain but they need to figure themselves out!!

good luck...safe trip!!

Answer 5

We moved 2 weeks ago to a new time zone, but where we moved to was only 1 hour ahead.  One thing I would say is that during a move it is so hard to stick to a routine that there's a good chance that naps might go by the wayside for a day or two leaving the little guy so tired that what would generally be a nap time (say 2pm) is now bed time (8pm in new time zone) and he may very well just go down for the night and stay asleep for a long period of time since it will be dark and there won't be daytime noises.  Even if it doesn't happen right away I think within about 5-7 days he'll get things switched around.