Every night it’s the same routine, she suddenly wants to tell me a thousand things, find toys, or just stare at the ceiling. At first, I thought this was normal, but lately, she’s waking up cranky and exhausted. On the way to school, she yawns, rubs her eyes, and I can tell she’s not rested. I’ve tried reading her a story, playing relaxing music, and even staying with her after turning off the light, but nothing works.
Then a mom friend gave me advice to make bedtime feel special, not like a chore. Now we start winding down earlier, around 7:30. We color together or read something short, then I make her chamomile tea and let her share her thoughts before bed. It’s helped a little, but some nights she’s still so wired! Any tips from parents who’ve been here?
this sounds so familiar. My 5 year old is exactly like this! It’s like they get a second wind right at bedtime. We’ve been trying quiet playtime before bed too, and I also started keeping a notebook by their bed where they can “write down” (or draw) the things they want to share but don’t want to forget. It’s helped a bit! Maybe worth a shot?
I’ve got a 7 year old, and bedtime was rough for us at that age too. What worked for us was sticking to a very strict bedtime routine, literally down to the minute. It sounds rigid, but kids thrive on predictability. We do: bath at 7:15, pajamas by 7:30, story at 7:45, and lights out at 8:00. The other thing I learned is to dim the lights in the house an hour before bedtime, which helps their bodies start winding down naturally. Plus, we totally cut out any screen time an hour before bed—huge game changer!
My youngest (now 9) used to do this! I realized she was getting a snack too close to bedtime, so her body wasn’t ready to settle down. We switched to a lighter snack, like fruit, if she was hungry after dinner, and made sure she got plenty of physical activity during the day. Another thing that helped was using a “sleep spray” (just lavender mist) on her pillow. She loved it and associated the smell with bedtime. It wasn’t an overnight fix, but consistency helped
Oh wow, I know exactly what you mean. My kiddo was the same way at that age, and honestly, I still haven’t cracked the code. Some nights are easier than others, but man, when they get on a roll with talking or staring at the ceiling, it feels like they’ll never fall asleep! It’s exhausting for everyone
Hang in there, mama! I promise it gets better. My daughter went through the exact same phase, and now that she’s 8, bedtime is so much smoother. You’re doing all the right things with the routine and tea, just keep at it. Sometimes it takes a little while for new habits to stick, but they will!
Wow, thank you all for these ideas! I really like the sound of a visual bedtime chart and the calm-down jar, those seem like fun ways to get her more engaged. I also hadn’t thought about tweaking her snacks or trying yoga, but those could definitely be worth a shot. It’s so comforting to hear that others have gone through this and made it out the other side. I’m going to try some of these tips and see how it goes!
Something that worked wonders for us was using a visual bedtime chart. It had pictures of each step of the routine, bath, pajamas, brush teeth, read a book, etc., and my daughter would check off each step with a marker. She loved the sense of control it gave her, and it really helped her transition from one activity to the next. We also added a “calm-down jar” (glitter in a water bottle) for her to shake and watch while lying in bed
Wait, is it just me, or do kids somehow have endless energy after dinner?? I’ve always wondered if it’s something to do with their natural rhythm. Do you think your daughter might need a slightly later bedtime? I’ve read somewhere that some kids just aren’t sleepy until a little later, though I know that can be tough when school’s early