{"id":35689,"date":"2025-09-04T01:17:59","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T06:17:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/preloveyou.com\/?page_id=35689"},"modified":"2025-09-04T01:34:02","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T06:34:02","slug":"blog-post-help-my-kid-has-back-to-school-nerves-and-isnt-sleeping","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/staging.preloveyou.com\/stage\/blog-post-help-my-kid-has-back-to-school-nerves-and-isnt-sleeping\/","title":{"rendered":"Blog Post: Help! My kid has back-to-school nerves and isn\u2019t sleeping!"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Ask the parenting pros<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u201cHelp! My kid has back-to-school nerves and isn\u2019t sleeping!\u201d<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Late bedtimes. Big feelings. Endless water requests. If your child\u2019s sleep is spiraling just as the school year ramps up, you\u2019re not alone. The transition from summer\u2019s relaxed rhythm to fall\u2019s early mornings can wreak havoc on little sleep schedules\u2014and emotional resilience.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

The good news? Sleep consultant and licensed clinical social worker, <\/span>Carla Perl<\/span><\/a>, says with a few intentional shifts, families can restore calm\u2014without turning bedtime into a nightly battle.<\/span><\/p>

So, what\u2019s a sleep-deprived, style-loving parent to do? Read this.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Action Plan: <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Resetting Routines for a Restful School Year<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCreate a routine that signals safety\n<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Back-to-school stress can show up as bedtime resistance or middle-of-the-night wakeups. \u201cWhen kids are stressed, a calming bedtime routine is more important than ever,\u201d says Carla. Children thrive on predictability. Create a consistent wind-down period\u2014bath, pajamas, brushing teeth, 2\u20133 short books, and a final cuddle\u2014at the same time every night. If your child is anxious, build in a few extra minutes of connection. \u201cTalk through tomorrow\u2019s plan and let them share their worries. Just listen. Don\u2019t rush to fix.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAdjust the schedule gradually<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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It\u2019s tempting to go from 9:30 p.m. summer nights to a strict 7:30 bedtime in one swoop. But research shows kids need time to adjust. \u201cStart shifting bedtime earlier by 15 minutes every couple of nights,\u201d Carla suggests. \u201cAnd make sure mornings are aligned\u2014sleeping in throws off the whole reset.\u201d Not sure what bedtime your child needs? Carla\u2019s downloadable sleep chart maps it by age and school start time.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tReset mornings the night before\n<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A calm morning starts at bedtime. \u201cWhen mornings are less hectic, kids feel more in control, and that makes it easier for them to fall asleep,\u201d says Carla. Pack lunches, prep backpacks, and lay out clothes before bed. Kids who help prep feel more confident\u2014and less likely to ruminate at night.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTalk through fears\u2014without fixing everything<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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If your child is nervous about a new teacher or classroom, Carla says to meet those emotions with curiosity. \u201cListen without jumping in to solve everything. Then, role-play what they\u2019re worried about\u2014asking a question in class, saying hi to a new friend. Practicing helps them feel more confident.\u201d For younger kids, visit the school or meet the teacher in advance. \u201cFamiliarity lowers anxiety,\u201d Carla adds.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSet gentle but firm boundaries<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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It\u2019s easy to cave when your child begs for just one more book. But consistency helps kids feel safe. \u201cLet them choose their books before starting the routine,\u201d Carla says. \u201cWhen reading time is done, calmly remind them it\u2019s bedtime and they can read more tomorrow.\u201d This might take a few nights, but kids adjust quickly when the routine stays the same.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAbove all, Carla reminds parents:<\/span> \u201cYou don\u2019t have to white-knuckle it. With a consistent routine and extra connection, your child can ease into the school year feeling more rested, confident, and ready for what\u2019s ahead.\u201d\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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4 preloved pajamas for sleep-shy kids<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"BURT'S\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Ask the parenting pros \u201cHelp! My kid has back-to-school nerves and isn\u2019t sleeping!\u201d Late bedtimes. Big feelings. Endless water requests. If your child\u2019s sleep is spiraling just as the school year ramps up, you\u2019re not alone. The transition from summer\u2019s relaxed rhythm to fall\u2019s early mornings can wreak havoc on little sleep schedules\u2014and emotional resilience. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-35689","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.preloveyou.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35689","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.preloveyou.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.preloveyou.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.preloveyou.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/36"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.preloveyou.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35689"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/staging.preloveyou.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35689\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.preloveyou.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35689"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}