Adjusting sleep schedules for summer
Summer brings longer days, warmer evenings, family adventures—and sometimes, a little bit of chaos when it comes to sleep. Between later sunsets, backyard barbecues, and impromptu trips to the ice cream shop, it’s no wonder that sticking to a strict bedtime routine can feel nearly impossible during this season.
The good news? You can enjoy everything that summer has to offer without completely sacrificing your child's sleep. With a few simple strategies, it’s absolutely possible to adjust bedtimes, protect healthy habits, and still savor all those sweet summer memories.
In this blog, I’ll walk you through how to adjust sleep schedules for summer, when it makes sense to be flexible, and how to bounce back after a few late nights.
Should you adjust your child's sleep schedule for summer?
First, let’s be clear: You don’t have to adjust your child’s sleep schedule for summer if you don’t want to. Some families prefer to keep things consistent year-round, especially if their child is sensitive to sleep changes or if they're prepping for big transitions like daycare or preschool in the fall. Or maybe you just enjoy your time each night to unwind and you don’t want to give that up!
That said, many families find it helpful to build in a little more flexibility during the summer months. Maybe you want to stay out later for a family gathering, or catch the fireworks on the 4th of July—those special moments can be important, too!
It’s all about weighing the pros and cons and deciding what is higher on your priority list. Every family and situation will have a different outcome and that’s okay.
Here are a few things to consider:
Your child’s temperament: Some babies, toddlers, and preschoolers are naturally flexible and can handle the occasional late night without much disruption. Others thrive with strict routines and might struggle with even small changes. If you have a child who struggles, it doesn’t mean you can never do anything off schedule though! It simply means you should go into it being fully aware of what the sleep cost might be- which leads to the next things to consider…
Your family’s priorities: Are you willing to accept a slightly tired child some mornings (or crabby child overnight) in exchange for a more relaxed summer? That’s okay! If you’d rather keep everything on schedule because sleep is a major priority, that’s okay too. The point is, YOU get to decide.
Upcoming transitions: If your child is starting a new school year, daycare, or maybe you’ll be introducing a new sibling this summer, it may make sense to stick closer to your usual schedule so the transition isn't as tough come fall. Remember, a well rested child will handle transitions and adjustments much smoother than a tired child.
The bottom line: There’s no right or wrong answer. Choose what works best for your family and your unique situation.
How to gently shift to a later bedtime
If you decide you want to offer your child a slightly later bedtime during the summer, it’s best to make the change gradually instead of jumping in all at once.
Here’s how to shift the schedule smoothly:
Move bedtime by 10-15 minutes every few nights. For example, if your child’s usual bedtime is 7:00pm and you want to shift it to 8:00pm, start by moving it to 7:10pm for a few nights, then 7:20pm, and so on. If sleep starts getting rough as you push, feel free to pause and stay where you are for longer before pushing ahead.
Adjust naps and meals too. If your baby or toddler still naps, slowly shift nap times later by about 10-15 minutes as well so the whole day stretches naturally. Mealtimes should move slightly too. Look at the whole day of activities as a solid block that should shift later as their bedtime shifts later.
Be patient! It usually takes a full week or two for your child’s internal clock to adjust comfortably to a new bedtime. Expect some extra yawns and crankiness along the way—it’s all part of the process.
Important: Be mindful not to stretch your child’s wake windows too long in one go. Keeping wake times reasonable for their age helps prevent overtiredness, which can make it harder for them to fall asleep even if they’re exhausted. Not sure what wake windows are appropriate for your child’s age? Check out my Free Wake Window Chart here.
How to protect sleep even with later nights
Later bedtimes don’t have to mean total chaos if you keep a few protective strategies in place. These tips are basics that you probably already know about but sleep basics go a long way towards protecting sleep. Don’t underestimate the power of these key pieces:
Keep the bedtime routine consistent
Even if bedtime is 30 or 60 minutes later than usual, the steps of the routine should stay the same. Bath, pajamas, stories, snuggles—whatever you normally do, keep doing it. The predictability cues your child’s brain that sleep is still coming, no matter the time. Has your bedtime routine gotten out of hand lately? Check out this blog about baby bedtime routines or this blog about toddler bedtime routines.
Use blackout curtains
Summer sunsets mean it’s often still bright out at bedtime. A dark sleep environment is crucial for helping your child's body produce melatonin (the sleepy hormone). Invest in blackout curtains if you haven’t already—they make a world of difference!
Also, a helpful hint for those toddler and preschooler ages: Don’t associate bedtime with it being dark out! Often we make the mistake of “blaming” bedtime on the sun but then summer rolls around and that excuse doesn’t work in our favor. If you find yourself doing this, connect sleep time to the clock instead. “It’s bedtime because the clock says it is!”
Keep using white noise
Neighborhood BBQs, kids playing outside, fireworks—summer nights can be noisy. White noise creates a soothing sound buffer and can help prevent outside sounds from waking your little one. White noise is such a staple for good sleep and it’s the easiest tool to use! Read more about white noise and how it supports sleep here.
Catch up on sleep when you can
If you have an especially late night, offer an earlier bedtime the next day or an extra long nap if your child is still napping. Think of it like a sleep "makeup" plan to get them back on track.
Aim for an 80/20 balance
Strive to keep your child's routine about 80% consistent and allow 20% flexibility for the fun summer moments. It's the best of both worlds—you protect their sleep foundation while still making space for memories. Remember, parenting is all about finding the balance for our children.
Handling the off nights (because they will happen!)
Even with the best laid plans and intentions, there will be nights when things don’t go according to plan. Maybe you stayed later than expected at a family party, or bedtime completely unraveled after a fireworks show. That’s life—and it’s okay!
Here’s how to handle it:
Reset the next day. Return to your usual routine as soon as possible. Children are resilient and bounce back quickly with consistency. Don’t be afraid to hop right back into your usual sleep expectations. Don’t go all the way back to square one just because of a rough night or two.
Use early bedtimes. After a rough night, an early bedtime can help your child recover from any overtiredness. Will they like it? Probably not. Will it help them anyways? Absolutely!
Don’t panic. A few nights of off-schedule sleep won’t undo everything you’ve worked for. Sleep skills are built on patterns over time, not on one-off nights. It will be okay. Just focus on staying calm, consistent, and patient while they get back on track with sleep.
Offer grace—to your child and yourself. These years are short, and flexibility is part of the journey too. Nothing is forever and this disruption is just temporary. You will get through this!
Final Thoughts
Summer is for making memories—and with a little flexibility and the right strategies, you can enjoy the longer days without throwing your child's sleep completely off track.
Remember: a little fun and a little structure can coexist beautifully. If sleep gets a bit messy for a day or two, it’s not the end of the world. Just reset gently and know that you’re doing an amazing job.
If you find that you need help getting back on track after a summer of later bedtimes and spontaneous nights out, I’m here to support you! Book a free consult call with me and let’s work together to get your family sleeping soundly again.
