Our usually smooth bedtime routine has turned into a nightly standoff, and it’s really wearing me down. My 4-year-old used to go down without much fuss, but now it’s a mix of endless requests for water, last-minute questions, and the classic "just one more story" that somehow stretch the whole process out by an hour or more.

We’ve tried sticking to the same routine, setting clear expectations earlier in the evening, and even using a reward chart. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it feels like we’re back to square one. It’s exhausting, and honestly, I miss the peaceful evenings we used to have.

Has anyone else dealt with this sudden shift? What tricks or routines helped you get back some calm at bedtime without turning it into a power struggle?

On 11/29/2025 at 8:35 AM, lsmith said:

Our usually smooth bedtime routine has turned into a nightly standoff, and it’s really wearing me down. My 4-year-old used to go down without much fuss, but now it’s a mix of endless requests for water, last-minute questions, and the classic "just one more story" that somehow stretch the whole process out by an hour or more.

We’ve tried sticking to the same routine, setting clear expectations earlier in the evening, and even using a reward chart. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it feels like we’re back to square one. It’s exhausting, and honestly, I miss the peaceful evenings we used to have.

Has anyone else dealt with this sudden shift? What tricks or routines helped you get back some calm at bedtime without turning it into a power struggle?

That sounds incredibly draining—I’ve been there with my own little night owl! One thing that helped us was introducing a “last call” for requests about 10 minutes before lights out, so they get a heads-up that the window for extra water or stories is closing. It’s like giving them a little control but within clear boundaries, which seemed to reduce the endless back-and-forth.

Also, sometimes switching up the story format helps—like letting your kid pick a short picture book or even telling a very brief, silly story instead of a full chapter. That way, it feels like a treat but doesn’t drag on forever. It’s a tricky balance, but small tweaks like these helped us reclaim some calm without turning bedtime into a full-on negotiation.