Spring forward

Amy R. Spurgeon

Don’t lose any sleep over daylight savings time.

One hour will slip away between today and Sunday, but the following days

will be longer and brighter.

For some, already afflicted with insomnia, the “spring forward” puts a

glitch in their sleep cycles.

Dr. Robert Moore, a neurologist and sleep specialist at Hoag Hospital in

Newport Beach, said most people will adjust to the time change within a

week.

“I think it’s something we all tend to struggle through,” Moore said.

“But I wouldn’t recommend sleeping pills to get over this little hump.”

Sleep was the last thing on the minds of locals involved in a pickup game

of basketball at Newport Beach’s 38th Street Park. However, they had

mixed feelings toward the time change.

“That’s an hour more of basketball,” said 6-foot, 7-inch Huntington Beach

resident John Price, 27. “Normally, we’re here until 5 p.m., but now we

can stay until 6:30 p.m.”

At first, Jimmy Ridel of Newport Beach disagreed -- he wasn’t happy about

the prospect of going to work in the dark. But he eventually said that

more daylight meant more time at the beach.

“Sunlight is good. I love one more hour of surfing,” said 24-year-old

Ridel.

Sarah Daub, 19, and Sara Teague, 20, both of Newport Beach, said the

benefits of the sun outweighed dark mornings.

“I can go to the beach longer,” Daub said. “It’s good.”

FYI

Remember to turn your clocks forward at 2 a.m. Sunday for daylight

savings time.

SLEEP TIPS FOR CHILDREN

* Maintain child’s regular bedtime and wake-up time

* Be in a well-lit room before bedtime; ceiling light, eye-level light

and sunlight work well -- light helps “reset” the body’s inner clock

* Wind child down before bedtime with quiet time, such as reading a story

* Refrain from serving chocolate, tea, or sodas containing caffeine past

afternoon

-- Courtesy of the Texas Children’s Hospital sleep lab