5 Sleep Expert Tips: Getting Children into a Back-to-School Sleeping Routine

 **Collaborative post**

These summer holidays are absolutely flying by, and before we all know it, our children will be back in school a whole academic year older. Ouch.

Let’s be honest, as much as we have wanted our children to go to bed early and stick to their regular routine, it has probably been harder than normal with holidays, playdates, day trips and just general ‘you can stay up an extra hour, you don’t have school tomorrow’ attitude. 

Late nights and chilled out mornings have definitely been on the agenda in our household, for both children and parents!

However, with early starts fast approaching, it would be good to talk about how children can actually get back into their regular routine without struggling, so I spoke to Happy Beds’ sleep-expert, Joy Richards, for some tips on how I can get Emmy and Harry back into their normal routine. 

Extra Time for Bedtime

“Allow extra time to prepare for your child’s bedtime. Your child will have a favourite way to wind down, whether this is reading a book, a bath or watching their favourite film. Start them on their favourite activity a little earlier, so that their mind is tricked into thinking they are tired earlier than they actually are.”

Storytelling

“Most of my clients find that bedtime storytelling makes their children tired, and also encourages parent and child bonding – win, win! 

“Let your child choose their favourite book or decide on a new book together. Make the promise that you will only read a set number of chapters per night so that they know that when it’s over, it is time to get some shut-eye.

“If you need some inspiration on what books to read, check out our campaign which looked at the UK’s favourite books. Some timeless classics on here, which both you and child can enjoy!”

The Promise of a Breakfast Treat

“I hate to say it like this, but one of the best ways to get your children to sleep is to bribe them. Suggest that if they go to bed a little earlier, they can do something fun in the morning. Perhaps pancakes before school, or even a very quick stop in the park before its time to learn some math.”

Gradually Adjust Bedtimes

“If your child has got used to sleeping at 10 pm, and suddenly they need to go back to sleeping at 8 pm, for example, then it is highly unlikely they will be able to do this straight away. Try adjusting your child’s bedtime by half an hour each night. So, 9.30pm on the Monday, then 9 pm on the Tuesday and so forward.”

Tell a Little White Lie

“Normally, I wouldn’t recommend lying to your own children, but for the sake of getting them back into a healthy sleeping routine, I suggest so. 

“Psychologically, if children know that it isn’t their bedtime, they will play havoc and try and stay up a little longer. However, if you tell them that it is 10 pm rather than 8 pm, and adjust a clock or two as proof, they will scurry to their bedroom for some shut-eye. 

“After a week or so, they will stop checking the clocks and start to feel tired earlier and you’ll no longer have to lie to them.”

If you want to read more of Joy’s sleeping hacks, for both adults and children, then you can read her posts on the Happy Beds site.