Time Zone Change

We've done it both ways and both have worked out ok. If you're traveling east to west I'd consider moving her to CA time. Think about how early she'll have to go to bed and whether that's going to work out from a practical standpoint. Keep her up the first night and let her sleep in the next morning, then when you get back wake her up "normal" time the first morning you are home.
ETA: Cover up the windows of whatever room she will be sleeping in so that lighting will not affect what time she wakes up.

We recently went from TX to CA with our 3 yr old. (2 hrs time change). He was off that first day, but adjusted after one 12 hr night's sleep. It's easier when you get home I think b/c if you just skip the nap, your daughter should be tired enough to go to bed on time if not early (your time zone).

Just read answers. It looks like I'm not in the norm. I guess I didn't want to cater to the one child when everyone else we were there visiting didn't want to eat dinner at 4pm (CA time; 6pm the normal time we eat). That's just kind of rude IMO to expect 10 adults to change their plans b/c one 3 yr old child is 'used' to something. Sunlight is different in CA, so IMO your child will just adjust. My 3 yr old won't go to sleep if it's not dark. And he wakes up when the sun comes out, so he adjusted to the CA sun.

I agree w/Jess. Why make everyone accommodate their lives over 1 child? I can't stand it when people think the world revolves around them and their own kids. If I had people visiting me from out of town for that long, I'd make slight accommodations for maybe 1 or 2 days but after that, life goes on. Unless you will spending those entire 2 weeks at home doing nothing, then you shouldn't have a problem keeping her on her own schedule over there.

If not, then if you still have time before you leave, start putting her to bed and getting her up later, in 15 min increments each day until she is about 1 1/2 - 2 hrs off schedule (in other words, in about 4-6 days). That way it won't be such a shock to her system when she gets there. Do the same thing a few days before you leave by putting her to bed and getting her up later, again in 15 min increments.

gl and hth

Because there are little differences in time zones in the US plus that you are not there long enough to need to change I always kept the schedule at the home time zone.

The other bonus is you don't have to change back.

I have been traveling across time zones for years with kids it really doesn't effect them or even seem strange. Mostly you are eating meals a couple hours before or after the norm but you will find so is everyone else.

I've always kept my daughter on our home time zone time... I actually kept my watch set to that time so I didn't have to think about it, and just used my cell phone to keep track of local time, since it changes automatically. I just think it's easier to keep on your home schedule than to change and change back with young kids.

for short trips (long weekends) we keep our kids on their schedule, but you will be there two weeks, so I say adjust her schedule to the PST time zone. The first day will be tough, b/c she will be going to bed later and may not sleep in as long as you want her to the next morning....but after the first day it should be okay. On the way home, just skip the nap so she will want to go to bed a little earlier (close to normal time for ATL time zone.) Have a great trip.

I never really adjust my kids schedule to the different time zone. And we travelled all over the country since they are babies. They might get hungry and/or sleepy earlier or later, but 1-3 hours time change is not really a big deal. When you travel, they got tired, they will sleep earlier. They might be up earlier or later depend on which way you are going. But it's not really by much. They will sleep more when they are tired and get up earlier when they are excited. If it is not lunch/dinner time yet, just give them some snack while waiting.
We use to travel to Asia too, it's 10-12 hours time difference. That's another story, they can be up at 2 am, get back to sleep at 5 am, up again around 10 am.. but it only took a few days. Same thing when we get back here.
Don't worry too much, just enjoy your trip :)

we are from CA, but moved to VA 9 months ago. But, when we have visited over here before our move, we kept our kids on CA time. It's easier to keep them on the schedule they are used to so that it's easier on them and you when you go back home. For this time change (3 hours) by the time you finally get adjusted to CA time, you will be leaving to go back and will have to start all over again. When we moved here it took us about 2 weeks to fully adjust to 3 hours ahead

She should be fine, my neighbor and her three children, the youngest is 3 as well, just got back from a 2-week trip to Atlanta from SoCal. The first night it was later than usual so bedtime was no problem, she kept her to the same time schedule there as at home, bedtime at 8:30, and she was up at her same time every morning. Coming home she went to bed her first night home at 5:30 in the evening (her call) and was up the next morning at her regular time, so all the worry her mom had beforehand was for naught ; )

Keep your daughter to as normal a schedule as possible while in CA and it will work out. When you return home she can just rest more or go to bed a little earlier if needed, but it should be no major problem.