An extra hour in bed? Your child might have other plans.
Think 5am breakfast requests, shorter patience, and bigger feelings. When the clocks go back on Sunday, 25 October 2026, the disruption can follow children from bedtime into the next week!
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Cornell's community education guidance notes that sleep-pattern changes can leave young children more irritable, emotional, and less cooperative for around a week. Boys Town paediatrician, Dr Clara Brown, also highlights how disrupted sleep can show up in schoolwork, behaviour, and emotional regulation.
The good news: a little preparation can help. Here’s how to get ahead of the clock change, manage early waking, and keep your family’s daytime and bedtime routines on track.
When Do the Clocks Go Back?
The UK clocks go back on Sunday 25 October 2026, when 2am becomes 1am.
This marks the end of British Summer Time and the return to Greenwich Mean Time.
We gain an hour on the clock. Whether we gain an hour of sleep is another matter.
If your child usually wakes at 6am, they may initially wake at 5am by the new clock. To them, it can still feel like their usual morning.
Why Does the Clock Change Affect Kids’ Sleep More than Adults?
The clock change affects adults too, but children’s naturally early waking and reliance on familiar routines can make the disruption more noticeable.
Your child’s body clock helps organise when they feel sleepy and awake. It responds to cues such as daylight and regular daily timings, rather than the numbers on the bedside clock.
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When the clocks go back, their familiar routine suddenly happens an hour later relative to their internal body clock. A child who normally starts yawning at 7pm may feel ready for bed at 6pm, while their usual 6am wake-up can become 5am.
Adults understand why the timing has changed. Children's nervous systems are still developing making them more sensitive to change. This means they might need a more familiar approach rather than a sudden, instant change.
Keeping meals, wind-down activities, and bedtime cues consistent can help make the adjustment feel more familiar. Same pyjamas. Same story. Same reassuring goodnight.
If your usually reliable sleeper suddenly starts the day before sunrise, your routine hasn’t necessarily unravelled. Their bodies may simply be catching up.
How to Adjust Kids’ Bedtime Before the Change
You can adjust your child’s bedtime by moving it gradually later before the clocks go back, while protecting their total sleep time.
Think small steps, rather than a Saturday-night mission to keep a tired child awake for an extra hour.
Start With Gentle Bedtime Shifts
Moving bedtime around 15 minutes later at a time is one approach, alongside corresponding changes to waking time to preserve sleep.
Keep your child’s needs and morning commitments in mind. If school or nursery requires a fixed early wake-up, pushing bedtime later could simply shorten their night.
Take smaller steps, pause if needed, or work towards the new schedule after the change.
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Try This Four-Night Bedtime Example
For a child whose usual bedtime is 7pm, this shows how a gradual adjustment could look:
| Date | Example bedtime |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 21 October | 7:15pm BST |
| Thursday 22 October | 7:30pm BST |
| Friday 23 October | 7:45pm BST |
| Saturday 24 October | 8pm BST |
| Sunday 25 October | 7pm GMT, after the clocks change |
Saturday’s 8pm BST is equivalent to 7pm GMT after the change.
Use this as a flexible example. If your child is struggling to stay awake or losing sleep, slow down.
Move the Routine With Bedtime
Keep the familiar sequence as the timing shifts: a relaxing bath, pyjamas, gummies, brushing teeth, a favourite story, and your usual goodnight.
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- Dinner
- Quiet Play
- Bath
- Pyjamas
- Gummies
- Brush teeth
- Story
- Bed
A short, relaxing routine gives children clear cues about what comes next.
The clock might change. The favourite bedtime book doesn’t have to.
Haven’t Prepared Beforehand?
You can still start working towards your usual routine using the new clock.
Allow flexibility if your child gets tired earlier than expected. You don’t need to solve the whole transition in one evening.
How to Manage Early Waking
Manage early waking by keeping things quiet before your intended morning time, responding to your child’s needs, and introducing daylight when the day begins.
A very early wake-up doesn’t have to become an immediate invitation to cartoons and lively games.
Keep interactions calm and lighting low, while checking whether your child is uncomfortable, hungry, unwell, or upset.
Once it’s time to start the day, open the curtains and bring in natural daylight. This provides a clear morning cue.
Try to keep breakfast and the rest of the day consistent. One unexpectedly early morning doesn’t mean every morning will follow suit.
Beyond the Bedtime Routine: 4 More Ways to Support Kids Sleep
Keep Screens Out of the Bedroom
Avoid phones, tablets, and laptops in the 30 to 60 minutes before bed, as screen light can interfere with sleep.
Let the devices clock off before your child does.
Make Room for Daylight and Movement
Outdoor play, walks, and age-appropriate activity help keep daylight and movement in the day. Save calmer activities for the evening.
Keep Naps and Total Sleep Time Age Appropriate
Keep naps your child still needs, while avoiding long late-afternoon naps that make settling at bedtime harder.
Keep Bed and Wake-up Times Consistent
Share the timing and familiar steps with anyone else handling bedtime.
A consistent plan is easier when nobody is guessing whether tonight’s bedtime is 7pm, 7:15pm, or “whenever the film finishes”.
Meet the Gummies
Novomins Kids Magnesium, L-Theanine, and Night-Time Gummies offer three targeted formulations to fit into your child’s daytime and evening routines.
Once you’ve got your practical sleep plan in place, make the daily habits easy to follow.
Here’s what makes each gummy stand out.
Kids Magnesium Gummies: Everything for Mind & Body
Novomins Kids Magnesium Gummies provide everyday magnesium support for normal nervous system, psychological, and muscle function.
Busy school days. After-school activities. Bodies that barely stop moving.
Novomins Kids Magnesium Gummies deliver 546mg of magnesium citrate per serving, providing 60mg of elemental magnesium, in a strawberry-flavoured gummy.
Magnesium also contributes to a reduction in tiredness and fatigue. It’s nutritional support for busy little minds and bodies, in a format that’s easy to make part of the day.
Take one gummy daily, at any time of day, with or without food.
Shop Novomins Kids Magnesium Gummies
Kids L-Theanine Gummies: Less Wired. Clearer Focus.
Novomins Kids L-Theanine Gummies combine L-theanine, vitamin B6, and lemon balm in a blueberry-flavoured daily formulation.
For days filled with lessons, activities, and plenty of distractions, a simple routine can make all the difference.
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when to support your child with L-theanine
- During homework and study time
- When Sleep Quality is compromised
- For encouraging independent self-play
- Before public speaking & class presentations
- To help navigating group dynamics
Novomins Kids L-Theanine Gummies bring three key ingredients together, with vitamin B6 contributing to normal nervous system and psychological function.
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Why parents choose Novomins Kids L-Theanine Gummies
-
Three key ingredients
L-theanine, vitamin B6, and lemon balm. -
Targeted formulation
Designed with busy young minds in mind. -
Blueberry flavour
A tasty daily gummy. -
Third-party tested
Extra reassurance about quality. -
One-month supply
Easy to build into the school-day routine.
Take one gummy daily before school or as part of a gentle wind-down routine.
Shop Novomins Kids L-Theanine Gummies
Kids Night-Time Gummies: Transform Their Night
Novomins Kids Night-Time Gummies are a sugar-free, melatonin-free formulation designed to fit into a calm bedtime routine for children aged 3+.
The pyjamas are on. The favourite story is ready. It’s time to help the day slow down.
Novomins Kids Night-Time Gummies contain 11 ingredients, including L-theanine and botanicals such as chamomile and lemon balm.
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when to support your child with night-time gummies
- Every night as part of the bedtime routine
- After busy, overstimulating days
- When they can't switch off at night
- To help night wakings
- During growth spurts and sleep regressions
Vitamins B6 and B12 contribute to normal nervous system and psychological function, all in a raspberry-flavoured gummy.
Simply take one gummy 30 minutes before bed as an easy addition to their wind-down routine.
Shop Novomins Kids Night-Time Gummies
The Calm & Collected Bundle
The Kids Calm & Collected Bundle brings Magnesium, L-Theanine, and Night-Time Gummies together as the complete three-product set for children aged 3+.
Three formulations. One convenient bundle. A place in the routine from daytime to bedtime.
The Novomins Kids Calm & Collected Bundle makes it easy to organise your chosen daily supplements together.
With the clocks going back on 25 October, now is a useful time to get organised: plan the bedtime adjustments, agree on the family routine, and stock up on the products you choose to include.
Shop the Novomins Kids Calm & Collected Bundle
TL;DR
Small bedtime adjustments, familiar routines, and consistent morning cues can help your child manage the clocks going back.
Your quick clock-change checklist:
- Remember the date: Sunday 25 October 2026.
- Prepare gently: Consider small shifts towards a later bedtime beforehand.
- Protect sleep: Avoid extending the evening at the expense of enough rest.
- Keep bedtime familiar: Same story, same sequence, same goodnight.
- Handle early waking calmly: Keep things low-key until your intended morning time.
- Bring in daylight: Open the curtains when the day begins.
- Organise your daily routine: Explore the complete Novomins Kids Calm & Collected Bundle for smoother wind-downs, easier afternoons, and calm attentiveness.
You can’t promise yourself an extra hour under the duvet. You can give your family a manageable plan.
Shop the Novomins Kids Calm & Collected Bundle
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I Put My Child to Bed Earlier or Later Before the Clocks Go Back?
A gradual shift later is one option before the autumn change. Protect their total sleep time, especially if they need to wake at a fixed time for school or nursery.
Why Is My Child Waking at 5am After the Clocks Go Back?
Their usual 6am wake-up becomes 5am by the new clock. Their internal body clock may take time to adjust to the switch.
How Long Does It Take Children to Adjust to the Clock Change?
There’s no fixed timeline for every child. Keep the routine consistent and flexible, and seek advice if sleep difficulties persist or affect daily life.
Should I Change My Toddler’s Nap Times?
Keep the naps they still need and work towards a routine that fits the new clock. Avoid abrupt changes or long late-afternoon naps that make bedtime harder.
When Should My Child Take Kids Magnesium Gummies?
Take one gummy daily, with or without food, at any time of day.
When Should My Child Take Kids L-Theanine Gummies?
Take one gummy daily before school or an activity or as part of your wind-down routine. L-Theanine can be taken any time of day.
When Should My Child Take Kids Night-Time Gummies?
Take one gummy 30 minutes before bed as part of a calm bedtime routine.
Do Kids Night-Time Gummies Contain Melatonin?
No. Novomins Kids Night-Time Gummies are melatonin-free.
What Is Included in the Kids Calm & Collected Bundle?
The bundle includes Kids Magnesium, Kids L-Theanine, and Kids Night-Time Gummies for ages 3+.
What Age Can My Kid Start Taking Novomins Gummies?
All Novomins Kids Gummies are formulated for kids aged 3-12. Shop all kids gummies
Ready to organise the complete set? Shop the Novomins Kids Calm & Collected Bundle ahead of the clock-change weekend.
Shop the Novomins Kids Calm & Collected Bundle
Disclaimer
This article offers general guidance and does not replace personalised medical advice. If your child’s sleep difficulties persist, speak to your GP or health visitor. Food supplements should complement a varied, balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. Always follow the age guidance and directions on the label.
