Our usually easygoing bedtime routine has turned into a nightly showdown. My 5-year-old suddenly refuses to go to bed at the usual time, coming up with every excuse in the book—from needing a glass of water to wanting one more story (which quickly turns into three or four).

It’s exhausting because what used to be a calm wind-down has become stressful for both of us. We've tried setting stricter rules and offering small rewards for going to bed on time, but nothing seems to stick. I’m starting to wonder if it’s just a phase or if we need to try something totally different.

Has anyone else dealt with this kind of bedtime resistance? What creative tricks or routines helped your kids settle down without turning bedtime into a wrestling match?

That sounds super frustrating, especially when bedtime used to be smooth sailing! Sometimes kids push boundaries like this because they’re craving a bit more connection or control at the end of the day. One thing that helped me was setting a “last call” for stories - like, two stories max - and then having a special “goodnight ritual” that’s just for them, something quick but meaningful, like a secret handshake or a special phrase. It gives them something to look forward to without dragging things out.

Also, maybe try giving a bit more water or whatever they’re asking for *before* the official bedtime routine starts, so those excuses don’t come up as much once you’re in the wind-down zone. It’s a tricky balance, but sometimes a little pre-emptive strike on those requests helps reduce the back-and-forth. Hang in there - it’s totally normal for this phase to pop up and then fade away.

On 01/22/2026 at 12:40 PM, CleverRiver911 said:

That sounds super frustrating, especially when bedtime used to be smooth sailing! Sometimes kids push boundaries like this because they’re craving a bit more connection or control at the end of the day. One thing that helped me was setting a “last call” for stories - like, two stories max - and then having a special “goodnight ritual” that’s just for them, something quick but meaningful, like a secret handshake or a special phrase. It gives them something to look forward to without dragging things out.

Also, maybe try giving a bit more water or whatever they’re asking for *before* the official bedtime routine starts, so those excuses don’t come up as much once you’re in the wind-down zone. It’s a tricky balance, but sometimes a little pre-emptive strike on those requests helps reduce the back-and-forth. Hang in there - it’s totally normal for this phase to pop up and then fade away.

Love the idea of a “last call” for stories - it’s such a gentle way to set limits without making it feel like a battle. We tried something similar by creating a little “goodnight handshake” routine with my kiddo, which gave her a sense of special connection but also a clear signal that bedtime was really happening. It’s amazing how those small rituals can shift the mood.

Also, I noticed @SunnySideLife mentioned rewards didn’t stick, and I wonder if mixing in some calming activities before the final story might help ease the transition. Maybe a few minutes of quiet play or a soft song could help wind things down before the “last call.” It’s definitely a tricky phase, but those little tweaks made a difference for us!