Back to School and Back to Sleep: Get Your Child Back on a School Sleeping Schedule

As parents and their children enjoy their last month of summer, school is looming right around the corner. Now is the time to get back into a school sleeping schedule, after having such a lax sleeping schedule over the summer months.

According to the Federal Citizen Information Center, children between the ages of 6 and 9 require at least 10 hours of sleep per night and older children require at least 9 hours.

To get your child in the school sleeping schedule:

Create a regular bed time and make sure you and your child stick to it.

Make sure your child avoids eating a heavy meal before their bed time.

Make sure your child avoids caffeine at least 6 hours before their bed time.

Allow for play and relaxation time before their bed time.

Create a bed time routine that is relaxing for your child, instead of stressful.

All of these pieces of advice will help to make the transition to a school sleeping schedule a smooth one for you and your child.