Bedtime Success

Chaos at bedtime is STRESSFUL! Establish a calm environment at the end of the day for a smooth transition to bedtime. Instead of telling your children they have to go to bed, let them know they get to go to bed. Try a small mug of warm milk with honey or a cup of chamomile tea. Dressing your child in cozy pajamas, ensuring their bed is comfortable, providing soft lighting, and spending quiet time together helps make bedtime a pleasure for both kids and parents.

Try these tips for bedtime success!

Maintain a Consistent Bedtime Routine
Consistency is key to a successful bedtime. Avoid caffeine and screen time. Winding down before bedtime makes the process much easier. A structured routine with a warm bath, brushing teeth, reading books and saying prayers will help your child unwind. A warm bath is particularly effective for making children sleepy, and crawling into bed feeling clean with a sparkling smile is a great way to end the day.

Address Nighttime Fears
If your child is afraid of the dark, plug in a nightlight. Light always removes darkness. Remind kids Jesus is the Light of the world. He always cares and protects.

Make Storytime Special
Storytime is an important part of the bedtime routine. Children often enjoy hearing the same stories each night. Homespun stories can be enjoyable as well. While reading to your children is valuable, shared stories and ongoing sagas, like the adventures of Super Bike that my husband told my kids, create lasting memories.

Pray
End the bedtime routine with prayer by praying with and for your children. Rote prayers are suitable for younger children. Expand into personal prayers that express thankfulness, forgiveness, and requests for help to teach kids how to communicate with their heavenly Father.

Provide Secure Goodnights and Set Expectations
After tucking your children in and giving a goodnight kiss, remind kids you will see them in the morning. This sets a clear expectation that they may get up when the sun rises and not before.

Sweet dreams!

© 2025 Becky Danielson. All rights reserved.

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