Bedtime used to feel like a full-blown negotiation.
Water. Another book. One more hug. A random question that couldn’t wait until morning.
And every night I’d think: “Tonight will be different.”
It rarely was.
But over time, we figured something out.
It’s not about creating a perfect routine. It’s about creating a predictable one.
Here’s what started working for us:
Same order every night
Bath → pajamas → book → bed
No creativity. No switching it up. Kids thrive on knowing what’s coming next.
Short and consistent
We stopped trying to make bedtime long and special. Now it’s simple and repeatable.
Set expectations early
Instead of negotiating at bedtime, we started setting expectations beforehand. “After this book, it’s time to sleep.” And sticking to it.
Does it work every night? No.
But most nights? Yes.
And as a parent, that’s all you really need.