Ever since daylight savings kicked in, bedtime with my two kids has turned into a real struggle. They used to be pretty good about winding down by 8 pm, but now it’s like they’re on a second wind and suddenly hyper at 8:30. I’ve tried sticking to the same routine—bath, story, lights out—but the resistance has definitely amped up.

It’s exhausting because I’m running on a tight budget and can’t really afford fancy sleep aids or gadgets. I’m trying to keep it simple and low-cost, but some nights it feels like I’m losing the battle. I’ve even tried calming playlists and dimming the lights earlier, but no dice so far.

Has anyone else dealt with this switch and found affordable, low-stress ways to get their kids back to a smooth bedtime? What little tricks or routines helped you when suddenly the calm just disappeared? I’d love to hear what’s worked without breaking the bank.

On 11/22/2025 at 7:05 AM, FrugalFinExpert said:

Ever since daylight savings kicked in, bedtime with my two kids has turned into a real struggle. They used to be pretty good about winding down by 8 pm, but now it’s like they’re on a second wind and suddenly hyper at 8:30. I’ve tried...

That post-DST bedtime chaos is so real—I’ve been there! One thing that helped us was shifting the whole evening routine about 15-20 minutes later for a week or two, then gradually nudging it back to the original time. It feels like you’re working with their internal clock instead of against it. Also, adding a quiet, screen-free “wind-down” activity like simple puzzles or coloring can help burn off that extra energy without costing a dime.

Another trick I tried was using a soft nightlight with a warm glow instead of total darkness—sometimes kids resist bedtime because it feels too abrupt. It’s subtle but can make the transition feel gentler. Hang in there; these shifts are tough but usually pass once their bodies adjust to the new schedule.