Back-to-School Tip: Ease into Bedtimes and Wake-Up Times This Week

For children who have spent the summer staying up and sleeping in, the first day of school can be a literal wake-up call.

But if you start "practicing" the school-day morning and night routines now, it can take away some of the first-day shock.

Try moving your child's bedtime ahead, incrementally, every few days. For older children, consider dusting off the alarm and setting it a little earlier each day.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children 5 to 12 get 10 to 11 hours of sleep each night; preschoolers need 11 to 13 hours a night.