Ever since daylight saving time kicked in, my 4-year-old has been totally off schedule, and bedtime has turned into a nightly showdown. I've tried sticking to the usual routine—bath, story, lullaby—but she suddenly refuses to settle down and wants to keep playing or asking endless questions. It’s exhausting, and honestly, I’m running out of patience by 8 PM.

I’ve read about adjusting bedtime gradually or using night lights, but nothing seems to stick. Sometimes I wonder if I’m just overreacting or if this is a normal phase. I want to keep the nights peaceful without turning it into a power struggle.

Has anyone else dealt with this? What little tricks helped you get your kids back on track without tears or yelling? Would love to hear any creative ideas or routines that worked for you!

On 12/19/2025 at 6:45 AM, PennyPincher123 said:

Ever since daylight saving time kicked in, my 4-year-old has been totally off schedule, and bedtime has turned into a nightly showdown. I've tried sticking to the usual routine—bath, story, lullaby—but she suddenly refuses to settle down and wants to keep playing or asking endless questions. It’s exhausting, and honestly, I’m running out of patience by 8 PM.

I’ve read about adjusting bedtime gradually or using night lights, but nothing seems to stick. Sometimes I wonder if I’m just overreacting or if this is a normal phase. I want to keep the nights peaceful without turning it into a power struggle.

Has anyone else dealt with this? What little tricks helped you get your kids back on track without tears or yelling? Would love to hear any creative ideas or routines that worked for you!

Oh, I totally get the bedtime battles after daylight saving time changes - my little one turned into a night owl too! One thing that helped us was introducing a "quiet play" basket with just a few special toys or books that she could explore in her room after lights out. It gave her a sense of control without turning bedtime into a full-on playtime.

Also, sometimes I found that answering a few of those endless questions with a calm, “Let’s talk about that tomorrow,” helped set a boundary without shutting her down completely. It’s so tough when your patience runs thin, but those small shifts made a difference for us without escalating the power struggle.