Our usually easygoing 5-year-old has suddenly turned bedtime into a full-on standoff every single night. We used to have a smooth routine - bath, story, lights out - but now it’s endless requests for water, one more story, and sometimes even hiding under the covers to avoid going to sleep. It’s exhausting and honestly pretty heartbreaking to see her so restless.

We’ve tried sticking to the same schedule, offering choices like which pajamas to wear or which book to read, even dimming the lights earlier. Sometimes it helps, but often it just drags on longer. I’m worried this will turn into a habit that’s hard to break.

Has anyone else dealt with this sudden bedtime resistance? What helped you get back to peaceful nights without making it a power struggle? Would love to hear any strategies or routines that worked for your family!

That sounds really tough, and it’s so relatable - kids can flip the script on bedtime out of nowhere. One thing that helped us was introducing a “quiet time” before the actual bedtime routine, where we’d do something calm but not sleep-related, like puzzles or drawing. It seemed to help her wind down without the pressure of “lights out” looming right away.

Also, we started using a small timer for water requests - once the timer goes off, no more drinks. It gave clear boundaries without a power struggle. Maybe a little “bedtime contract” with your kiddo where she helps set the rules could make her feel more in control, which sometimes eases the resistance.

Hang in there! These phases can feel endless but usually shift with a bit of patience and tweaking. Would love to hear if you try something like this and how it goes!