Back-to-School Sleep Routine: Tips for a Successful Transition

As summer days wind down and the back-to-school season approaches, it’s time to shift gears from late nights chasing fireflies to establishing healthy sleep routines. Reintroducing a back-to-school sleep routine can help your child adjust. Embracing the transition to earlier bedtimes can set your family up for success as the school year begins. Sleep is important at any age. After all, quality sleep is essential for children of all ages to thrive, learn, and stay alert in the classroom. As you prepare fo school shopping, don’t forget to prioritize reestablishing healthy sleep habits in your household. Here are some tips to help your family make a smooth and well-rested transition:

Sleep Easy: Safety Tips for Turning a Nursery into a Big Kid Room

Transitioning to a big kid bed is a big kid step! If you are considering moving your little one out of a crib and into a big kid bed, making sure your child’s room is safe will help everyone sleep better! Safety is always a number one concern! You know the ABC’s of safe sleep and followed them step by step throughout infancy. But now, your child is out of the crib and even though they are ready for a big kid bed, they may not be ready to have big kid freedoms and responsibilities…especially in the middle of the night. Although we will expect our little one to follow their sleep rules and remain in their sleep space during sleep, we also need to make sure their room is as safe as a giant crib. As your child ages, they will be spending more time exploring and asserting their independence throughout your house and we want to keep them as safe as possible as they do so. Follow these tips to help turn your nursery into a big kid room that is as safe as a giant crib and sleep easy knowing you are taking steps to keep them safe. …

Sleep Rules are Rules to Follow

If your family’s sleep habits have gotten a bit off track, it is time to reestablish some sleep rules. Sleep rules do not have to be complicated. In fact, simple rules are easiest for children to understand and follow. Have a family meeting and discuss the importance of sleep together. Let your child know that we are all committing to follow these rules as a family so we can all benefit from being a well-rested family! Sleep rules should be simple and direct. Discuss these rules with your little one and allow them to actively take a part of the discussion. Make a Sleep Rule Chart or Sleep Rules Book and review it with your little one before every sleep. Allow them to use stickers, color and decorate their sleep rules. They should be proud of these rules! Let them show off their Sleep Rules and share them with their family, friends and teachers. Example Sleep Rules: I lay quietly and I do not wake sleeping people. When I wake at night, I stretch my body and go back to sleep. I stay in bed all night. Once the rules are stated they will need to be followed. Let your child knowthat …