Doctor Offers Tips On Back To School Sleep Schedule

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medical3-3

School starts for most students next Tuesday, and parents are already trying to get their little ones to go to bed earlier. Dr. Alice Doe is a sleep specialist at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo and says to get the body clock of kids reset off summer hours, they’ll need a routine which could include reading, putting on their pajamas, brushing their teeth, and other activities to trigger sleep.

“Every few days, advancing their bedtime by maybe 20, 30 minutes finally gets them to the desired bedtime,” Doe said.

Doe says parents should start getting their kids to bed earlier by about 20 or 30 minutes every night heading into the start of the school year. She adds kids shouldn’t have anything with caffeine before bed and should also avoid chocolate and stay away from electronics for an hour before hitting the sheets.