If your preschooler is heading to school for the first time, or getting ready for another school year, there's one thing Allison hopes you'll add to your back-to-school checklist: sleep.

Parents often focus on backpacks, school supplies, and lunchboxes, but a well-rested child is more likely to adjust smoothly to new routines, regulate emotions, retain what they're learning, and enjoy the preschool experience.

In this episode, Allison shares practical strategies to help parents prepare their preschooler for a successful school year. She explains how much sleep preschoolers really need, when to begin shifting bedtime before school starts, why an earlier bedtime can make all the difference, and how sleep impacts learning, behavior, and separation anxiety.

She also discusses naps at preschool, what to expect during those first exhausting weeks of school, and why a "rescue bedtime" can help children adjust to the increased demands of the school day.

Whether your child is starting preschool for the first time or returning after summer break, this episode will help you build a sleep routine that supports a happier, more confident start to the school year.

In this episode, Allison discusses:

• How much sleep preschoolers really need

• Why sleep is one of the best ways to prepare for preschool

• How to shift bedtime before school starts

• Signs your preschooler may need an earlier bedtime

• How sleep supports learning, memory, and emotional regulation

• The connection between sleep and separation anxiety

• Why the first weeks of preschool are often exhausting

• How and when to use a rescue bedtime

• What parents should know about preschool naps

• Tips for children attending half-day preschool programs

Resources mentioned:

Episode 104. What Your Child's Preschool Teacher Wishes You Knew with Elizabeth Lane

Episode 236. The Rescue Bedtime: What It Is and How to Use It for Overtired Babies and Toddlers

Episode 81. How Much Sleep Does a Toddler or Preschooler Need?

Shopping at Cozy Earth? Use Allison's code SLEEPCOACH for 20% off and be sure to tell them that we sent you!

Chapter Markers:

00:00 Summer recap and why back-to-school sleep matters

02:40 Why sleep should be part of your preschool checklist

04:20 How much sleep does a preschooler need?

07:00 When to start shifting your child's sleep schedule

09:40 How sleep affects learning and behavior at preschool

13:00 Sleep and separation anxiety at school drop-off

14:30 Why the first weeks of preschool are so exhausting

16:15 Using a rescue bedtime after school

17:00 Preschool naps: What parents should expect

20:00 Half-day preschool schedules and nap timing

21:30 Final tips for a smooth back-to-school transition

Click here to listen to the episode on YouTube

Looking for expert guidance on your child's sleep? Allison offers two free age-specific guides to help you discover how much sleep kids need to thrive—at any age. Get your free copy now: 0-2 Years Old or 3 to 10 years old

From baby sleep to toddler sleep, daycare naps to sleep training—How Long 'Til Bedtime? is the podcast for parents who want practical, guilt-free sleep tips they can actually use.

Hosted by pediatric sleep coach Allison Egidi, each episode delivers real solutions for every stage—from navigating newborn sleep struggles and weaning night feedings to helping your 3-year-old fall asleep independently (and stay asleep!). Whether you're trying to make sense of daycare sleep patterns, craving your evenings back, or simply need a working mom podcast to keep you grounded, you're in the right place.

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