Back-to-School Sleep Guide

As you’re prepping your kids to go back to school—whether that means moving into a dorm, starting middle school, or tackling elementary school—one thing is clear: students need sleep!

1. Boost Your Brain: Students who get enough sleep do better in school, remember more, and can solve problems faster. The American Academy of Pediatrics says school-aged kids need 9-12 hours of sleep, while teens need 8-10 hours.

2. Stay Healthy: During sleep, our bodies are busy growing, repairing, and fighting off germs. This is especially important as students encounter the dreaded school germ pool.

3. Be Resilient: Well-rested people are happier and more resilient. Those are critical skills for busy students.

Your Keys to Back-to-School Sleep

In addition to setting a sleep routine, keeping an eye on screen time, and reducing sugar and caffeine, there are things you can do to make the summer-to-school transition easier. Creating a great sleep environment—in a dorm or the family home—can help students get the rest they need. We call these back-to-school sleep supplies!

• Any dorm mattress DESPERATELY needs two things: a mattress topper and a mattress protector. We all know these mattresses have been in circulation for…too long. A softening (and cooling!) Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper and hygienic PR1ME™ Smooth Mattress Protector are the perfect solution to an uncomfortable dorm room bed.

• A breezy sheet set can help keep your student cool and comfortable in the last days of summer or in a hot dorm room. The Linen-Weave Cotton Sheet Set comes in a Twin XL for a perfect dorm fit!

• A good pillow is crucial for students of any age to get great sleep. It supports spinal alignment, relieves pressure points, and ensures proper sleep posture—and it holds up those big brains full of new knowledge! The Convolution™ Pillow is adjustable for a universal appeal, the Gelled Microfiber™ Pillow is plush and airy, and the cooling FlexFill™ Pillow even comes in an option made for side sleepers.

• Go big and get a new Ice Cloud™ Mattress. The cooling technologies will help you sleep great, and the ultra-plush memory foam is like sleeping on a cloud. It’s an investment, but it’s one that will pay back great sleep dividends: better focus, moods, and concentrations.

Investing in your student’s sleep routine can have major payouts—and might even make the transition a little easier.

References

1. American Academy of Pediatrics. (2016). Healthy Sleep Habits: How Many Hours Does Your Child Need? Retrieved from https://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-and-policy/aap...

2. National Sleep Foundation. (2020). Children and Sleep. Retrieved from https://www.sleepfoundation.org/children-and-slee...

3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Sleep in Middle and High School Students. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/sleep.htm