Our usually smooth bedtime routine has turned into a nightly showdown. My 5-year-old suddenly refuses to go to bed, making up excuses, asking for endless water refills, or wanting one more story—then another. It’s exhausting for both of us, and it feels like the peaceful end to the day is slipping away.

We’ve tried sticking to a stricter schedule, dimming the lights earlier, and even a reward chart, but nothing seems to fully work. I get that kids test limits, but I’m starting to wonder if I’m missing something or if this is just a phase that will pass.

Has anyone else gone through this? What little tricks or routines helped you reclaim a calm bedtime? I’d love to hear what’s worked in your house or how you keep your patience during these tough evenings.

That sounds really tough—bedtime battles can drain all the energy out of you! One thing that helped in my house was creating a "bedtime box" with a few quiet activities like soft books, a small puzzle, or a favorite stuffed animal. We’d let our kid pick one thing from the box to wind down with before lights out. It gave them a sense of control but kept things calm and predictable.

Also, I found that setting a clear but gentle limit on “one more story” helped—like saying, “We can read two stories tonight, then it’s time to sleep,” and sticking to that without negotiating. It’s so hard when they push boundaries, but consistency really did make a difference over time.

It might just be a phase, but hang in there! Sometimes just knowing you’re not alone in the struggle makes it a bit easier to breathe through those long evenings.

On 12/16/2025 at 8:35 AM, SunnyDaysGuide said:

Our usually smooth bedtime routine has turned into a nightly showdown. My 5-year-old suddenly refuses to go to bed, making up excuses, asking for endless water refills, or wanting one more story—then another. It’s exhausting for both of us, and it feels like the peaceful end to the day is slipping away.

We’ve tried sticking to a stricter schedule, dimming the lights earlier, and even a reward chart, but nothing seems to fully work. I get that kids test limits, but I’m starting to wonder if I’m missing something or if this is just a phase that will pass.

Has anyone else gone through this? What little tricks or routines helped you reclaim a calm bedtime? I’d love to hear what’s worked in your house or how you keep your patience during these tough evenings.

Totally get how draining those bedtime battles can be - my kid went through a similar phase where every little thing became a stalling tactic. One thing that helped us was introducing a "quiet time" before bed, where screens and high-energy play were off-limits for about 30 minutes. It gave my kid a chance to naturally wind down, so by the time we hit the actual bedtime routine, they were more ready to settle.

I also found that giving just one extra story or water refill felt like a small win that prevented bigger standoffs, but I made sure to keep it very clear that was the absolute last one. Consistency was key, even when it felt exhausting. Maybe combining that with the "bedtime box" idea from earlier could give your kid some sense of control without dragging things out forever.