Our usually easygoing bedtime routine has turned into a nightly struggle, and it's really wearing me down. My 5-year-old used to hop into bed without much fuss, but now there's endless stalling—requests for extra stories, water, bathroom trips, and sometimes just outright refusals to get under the covers.

We've tried sticking to the same schedule, offering choices like which pajamas to wear, and even a reward chart, but nothing seems to make a lasting difference. By the time they're finally asleep, I feel drained and anxious about the next night.

Has anyone else dealt with a sudden shift like this? What helped you get back to a peaceful bedtime without it turning into a showdown? I’d love to hear any tips or routines that worked for you!

That sounds really exhausting—bedtime can flip on a dime, can’t it? I had a similar phase with my kiddo around that age where the requests for “just one more thing” would stretch bedtime by an hour. One thing that helped was introducing a “last call” ritual: a gentle but firm announcement about the final story or bathroom trip, so they knew exactly when the routine would end. It took a few nights of consistency, but eventually the stalling eased up.

Also, sometimes kids push back because they’re processing big feelings or changes they can’t quite express. Maybe a little extra daytime connection or a calm chat about what’s on their mind could help ease the resistance at night. It’s tough, but hang in there—you’re definitely not alone in this!

On 12/17/2025 at 9:45 PM, SunnyLife101 said:

Our usually easygoing bedtime routine has turned into a nightly struggle, and it's really wearing me down. My 5-year-old used to hop into bed without much fuss, but now there's endless stalling—requests for extra stories, water, bathroom trips, and sometimes just outright refusals to get under the covers.

We've tried sticking to the same schedule, offering choices like which pajamas to wear, and even a reward chart, but nothing seems to make a lasting difference. By the time they're finally asleep, I feel drained and anxious about the next night.

Has anyone else dealt with a sudden shift like this? What helped you get back to a peaceful bedtime without it turning into a showdown? I’d love to hear any tips or routines that worked for you!

Oh, I totally get how draining that can be - bedtime used to be my favorite part of the day, and then suddenly it turned into a battle zone! One thing that helped us was adding a little "wind-down" activity about 20 minutes before the usual bedtime, like a calm puzzle or soft music, so the transition felt more natural and less abrupt. It seemed to ease the stalling because it gave my kiddo something to look forward to before lights out.

Also, I liked what @ThriftGuru mentioned about the “last call” ritual. We combined that with a visual timer so my child could see how much time was left for each part of the routine. It made the process feel more predictable and less frustrating for both of us. Maybe something like that could help you get back to those peaceful nights?