How to Get Back into a Good Sleep Routine for Back-to-School?
Dr. Valleteau de Moulliac,
Consulting Pediatrician for Laboratoires Sarbec
During the holidays, family routines are often disrupted: late bedtimes and wake-ups, disorganized meal times, often chaotic activities, restlessness, etc.
When back-to-school time comes for parents and children, it’s important to get back into a routine suited to school life, work, and for the little ones, daycare and/or nursery if mom is working. Everything needs to be reorganized!!!!
Experts in this field recommend starting early: a week to 10 days before school resumes, especially if you’re coming back from far away with jet lag.
However, it shouldn’t be done abruptly, but gradually by starting to move up children’s bedtime and wake-up time (to maintain the number of hours of sleep they need) at least one week before school starts, so that two days before, they have regained a “normal” rhythm with no more exceptions.
The same goes for meal times and balance, with the reintroduction of a proper breakfast. It’s also important to resume activities as soon as they wake up.
If you have a young infant or even a baby, you should avoid disrupting their routines during the holidays.
