Anybody else struggling with bedtime!?

[EmilyLewis89]

Is anyone else struggling!?

Hi everyone,

I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed and wanted to see if I’m the only one going through this 😅. Both my kids (aged 5 and 10) really struggle to wind down and actually get to sleep at night. We have tried so many different things, but bedtime still feels like a constant battle.

I’m curious—are other parents dealing with this? What have you tried to help your kids relax and fall asleep more easily?

I’d love to hear any thoughts, tips, or even just stories so I know we’re not alone in this!

Thanks in advance! 😊

What is your routine? What time do you start getting them wound down and when do they actually fall asleep? Do they wake in their own in the morning?

Honestly, no I don't currently have this issue. Suspect I might do when my twins are older (currently 4). Eldest has always been a doddle - some parents are lucky in that respect.

Yes and don't tell me it persists to 10 years old!
I found having a clear timetable for bedtime helps. and also saying if you're in bed by 6.30pm then we can read/whatever for 15 minutes, if not I'll just put your pyjamas in your room and you can get ready on your own.
And allowing ridiculous amounts of time for bedtime with build in breaks, so bedtime rundown kind of starts at 4.30 with dinner, toilet and then bedtime.
Try to build in reset points where if they get on time they get a little calm break, and if not then they needed a bit more time so they can use up the break time.
Otherwise they faff, you get stressed because it's making everything late, and before you know it is past lights out.
Another thing (sorry just throwing them out there in case anything rings a bell to you) is to give him some quiet things for after he's in bed, so a few simple books and a music player to listen quietly.
Good luck!

Yes and don't tell me it persists to 10 years old

It did with our ND youngest although we didn't know that they were BD at the time.

For the 10 year old, dinner at 6pm, bath time straight after, winding down with books and puzzles etc. (no screen time activities) until 7:30pm. Next toilet, teeth, etc. She can then continue reading if she wants until around 8:15pm at which point it is then lights out. But this is the moment she comes alive and wakes up! She then doesn't sleep and can't relax for a long time after. She wakes up on her own at around 7ish most days. For the 5 year old, similar but earlier!

Hopefully my ten year old is the exception! This is all great advice, thank you! They both have relatively solid routines, but when it comes to the actual sleep part that's when they struggle to relax! All their (particularly the ten year old) worries from the day come out - even though they've had ample time to talk about it all before!