Tips For When Your Toddler Fights Bedtime

Is your toddler fighting bedtime? Here are a few simple tips to make bedtime a breeze.

You’ve always had a little one who loved bedtime and went to bed without a fight. All those hours of sleep training paid off and you could rest easy when it was time to call it a night. Then one day everything changed and that sweet little dreamer turned into the bedtime monster. What in the world happened? All of a sudden your toddler fights bedtime.

Well, let’s take a minute to think about it. Your toddler is all about PLAY! When do they slow down? A toddler’s day is full of discovering, playing, imagining, and much more. Bedtime puts all of that to a stop. Bedtime means the end of play.

So here are some tips to help you let your toddler down easy and make bedtime a breeze again.

When your toddler fights bedtime:

1. Give a Warning. When bed time is getting close, give your toddler a warning. Whenever it’s getting close to bedtime I give him a couple warnings. About an hour before bedtime I give him a snack and let him know it’s going to be time for bed soon. Then about ten minutes before we start our bedtime routine I let him know that it’s almost time to stop playing for the night. Make sure they hear you so they can start preparing for the end of the day.

2. Bedtime Routine. A lot of times we slack on this as they get older, but it’s still so important. It helps them ease into bedtime and relax from the day. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. We always read a Bible Story together as a family, usually from the Kids Bible App. Then we pray together. Next Jase brushes his teeth and gets his jammies on. Hugs and kisses and it’s time to call it a night. It’s super simple but it helps him wind down and signal bedtime. It’s one last special thing that he can do before going to bed.

3. Make sure they get plenty of play time. A sure way to make your toddler go to bed easier is to wear them out! Make sure they spend a lot of time playing and burning off energy before bed instead of watching shows on TV. The more active they are, the more tired they’ll be when bed time comes. It’s a great time to spend some time as a family and make memories.