Back-to-School Sleep: Why Your Child May Sleep Worse Before School Starts

chevy mermelstein
17 hours ago
4 min read

Want to get your kids back on schedule, and teach them how to become independent sleepers? Reach out to me. I can help you understand what’s really happening with their sleep and create a plan that works for your child. Schedule a Free Sleep Consultation

School hasn’t even started yet.

So why are some kids suddenly sleeping worse?

I was thinking about this after receiving an email from a former client this morning. She has been doing exactly what so many parents are told to do before school starts.

She’s slowly moving bedtime earlier.

She’s getting her kids up earlier in the morning.

She’s bringing back their wind-down routine.

She’s doing it gradually, seven to ten days before school starts.

She’s really making an effort.

And yet, she noticed something unexpected:

Her kids’ sleep has actually gotten worse.

And honestly, this brought me right back to something I used to see with my own kids.

There was always this funny period right before school started when I could feel the shift happening.

School wasn't here yet. We were still technically on summer vacation, but somehow, my kids' bodies seemed to know.

My older daughter has a summer job, so she had to get up early this morning.

My little one slept until around 10:00.

But when she woke up and realized her sister had already been up, she immediately went into panic mode.

“Why did she get up? Am I supposed to be up? Am I going to miss something?”

I could almost feel the worry coming through her, I thought, this is exactly what I mean.

School hadn't started.

Nobody was telling her she had to get up.

There was nothing she was actually going to miss.

But her body was already on alert.

This is something I really want parents to understand.

Children don't always have the words to tell us that a change is making them nervous, excited, overwhelmed or unsettled.

They may not say, “I'm thinking about going back to school.”

They may simply become more alert.

Their nervous system is taking in the fact that something is changing.

Soon they'll have to wake up earlier.

Soon there will be a schedule to follow.

Soon they'll have to get dressed, eat breakfast, get out the door, separate from you and spend hours in a completely different environment.

For some children, that's exciting.

For others, it's overwhelming.

And for many, it's a little bit of both.

Their body can feel the change before they can explain it.

So should you still adjust their schedule?

Yes.

Gradually moving bedtime and wake time earlier can absolutely help children transition back to their school schedule. Bringing back a predictable wind-down routine can help too. Having mornings become more structured again can make the transition easier.

Here's the part I want parents to remember:

You can do everything “right” and your child's sleep may still be temporarily unsettled.

That doesn't mean you've failed.

It doesn't mean your child isn't ready for school.

It doesn't mean you need to push harder.

Sometimes their body simply needs time to adjust.

In fact, I would much rather see a parent make gradual changes and stay calm than become increasingly stressed because their child isn't sleeping perfectly before the first day.

Because your child's nervous system notices that too.

Don't panic if the first few days are rough

One of the biggest mistakes we can make is expecting our children to magically wake up on the first day of school completely adjusted.

They may be tired.

They may be cranky.

They may need extra support.

Their sleep may not immediately look perfect.

That's okay.

Their body is learning a new rhythm.

Their brain is processing a new routine.

And their nervous system is adjusting to a new set of expectations.

Give them some time.

Continue offering consistency.

Keep the bedtime routine predictable.

Most importantly, don't turn sleep into another source of pressure.

The goal isn't perfection. The goal is helping your child's body feel safe enough to settle.

And that is something we sometimes forget when we focus so heavily on schedules.

Sleep is not just a schedule.

Sleep is a whole-body experience.

Your child's mind, body and nervous system are all part of it. So if you've been working hard to get your child back on a school schedule and suddenly their sleep seems worse, take a breath.

You may not be doing anything wrong.

Their body may simply be responding to a change that hasn't happened yet. Once school begins and that new routine becomes familiar, their sleep may settle too.