Toddlers and preschoolers (and big kids) are master negotiators and have the best stalling tactics. They need an extra trip to the potty, another hug from big brother, a snack, or a sip of water, they are scared. This list goes on and on. They can turn a 30-minute bedtime routine into an hour and a half easily. How do they do it?
The bedtime routine can be a lovely time to connect with your child. It’s not lovely if the routine becomes so long that it eats into the amount of time they need to be sleeping. Or if it prevents you from having time for yourself or your partner each evening. They are both equally important.
You can have an easy and short bedtime routine with your kiddo. I’m here to help you claim it!
6 Tips to Prevent Bedtime Stalling Tactics
Know your child’s sleep needs. Make sure bedtime is at the appropriate time so that they are not going to bed under tired or overtired. Most toddlers need 10-12 hours of nighttime sleep and most school-aged kids need 9-11 hours. For example, if your 3-year-old is taking a 3-hour nap and then you are trying to put them to bed at 7 pm, you might be getting pushback because they haven’t been awake for long enough. You can cap the nap to meet their needs.
Meet their needs. Before heading upstairs to start the bedtime routine, make sure to meet their needs to avoid going back into the common area where all the distractions are. Offer the last snack, a sip of water, did they pet the dog, or hug their sister…..?
Have a consistent bedtime routine. Kids find comfort in consistency so make sure you have 5-7 steps of the bedtime routine that always happen in the same order. This will alleviate anxiety as they will be able to anticipate what comes next.
Have Choices and clear boundaries with bedtime. Your child will have some ownership in the bedtime process if they have choices. Lay out 2 pairs of pajamas and they pick one. Lay out 3 books and they pick 2. If your bedtime rule is that you read 2 books at bedtime do not change the number from night to night. That is super inconsistent and letting your child know it’s up for negotiation. You bet they will take you up on it.
Use a timer. Using a 10-minute timer for the bath and a 2-minute timer for brushing your teeth will help keep your bedtime routine to 30 minutes.
1:1 connection time. Carving out 10-20 minutes of 1:1 time with each parent a day can help avoid tantrums throughout the day. Make sure your child gets to choose what you do as having 1:1 child-led time together can be a game changer.
Take some time to get a plan in place and then make the changes. You’ll be amazed at how life-changing it will be. Having an easy and stalling-tactic-free bedtime routine will alleviate your anxiety and allow you more time in the evenings for a little self-care.
Need help coming up with a plan to make this all happen? Book a free discovery call and we will chat about options.