Back-to-School Bedtimes: How I’m Fixing Everyone’s Sleep Schedule (Including Mine)

Because summer chaos doesn’t magically wear off by Monday morning.

Let’s be honest, back-to-school season doesn’t just mean new backpacks and sharpened pencils. It also means breaking up with our summer sleep habits (RIP 11 p.m. movie nights and “just five more minutes” of Fortnite). If your household is anything like mine, sleep schedules in August look more like organized chaos than anything else.

So once school rolls around, it’s game time. We’re talking alarms, routines, and actual bedtimes that don’t start with “just one more episode.” And yes, that includes me. Because let’s not act like I didn’t also fall into a habit of reading until 1 a.m. in the name of “me time.”

Here’s how I gently got us all back on track—without turning into the bedtime drill sergeant no one asked for.

1. We Start the Wind-Down Before They Know It

I don’t announce bedtime an hour in advance. I just start dimming lights, turning the TV off earlier, and switching to calmer activities. A little “silent shift” goes a long way. It helps signal to their bodies (and mine) that things are slowing down. No one argues with bedtime when they’ve already mentally unplugged.

2. Phones Off ≠ Boredom

About 30–45 minutes before bed, I have everyone—including myself—put the phones away. No TikTok, no endless YouTube loops, no scrolling into the void. Instead, we shift to something more low-key: usually music or a comfort show we’ve seen a million times (because new plots = too stimulating). It helps everyone wind down without overstimulating their brains—and honestly, I sleep way better when I’m not doom-scrolling right before bed.

3. Baths, Pajamas, and the Power of Routine

We’re not rigid about it, but having a consistent order—bath, PJs, brush teeth, lights out—makes a huge difference. The predictability helps their brains and bodies settle down. I even mimic this for myself with skincare, herbal tea, and whatever self-care feels realistic that night.

4. We Don’t Just Flip a Switch Overnight

Sleep schedules don’t fix themselves in a weekend. We start adjusting in 15–30 minute chunks a week or two in advance, especially for wake-up times. Waking up earlier a few days at a time helps their bodies naturally get tired earlier in the evening—and helps mornings feel way less brutal.

5. I Set My Own Bedtime (and Stick to It… Mostly)

No one talks about how hard it is for adults to break the bad sleep habits too. I’m working on

it by setting a realistic wind-down time for myself—usually around when the kids go down. No laptop in bed. No scrolling into the void. Just a solid attempt at sleep hygiene and maybe

a cozy book if I need help dozing off.

6. Melatonin? Sometimes. But Not Our Default.

We’ve used melatonin here and there (always the kids’ version, always doctor-approved), but it’s not an every-night thing. My goal is to help their natural sleep rhythms kick in first—especially with consistent routines and reducing late-night sugar or stimulation. When we do use it, it’s just a short-term helper, not a crutch.

7. We Celebrate the Small Wins

Did we all go to bed on time three nights in a row? Amazing. Did someone fall asleep without getting back up five times? Victory. I’ve learned to stop chasing perfection and just aim for progress. Because let’s be real—some nights just don’t go according to plan. And that’s okay.

Fixing our back-to-school sleep schedule isn’t a one-and-done situation. It’s more like a slow reboot, with plenty of trial and error (and a few “we’ll try again tomorrow” moments). But getting even a little more rest makes mornings smoother, moods better, and evenings feel less like bedtime battles.

So if your house is also trying to remember what a real bedtime feels like—welcome. You’re in good company, and there’s no judgment here.