When bedtime gets longer instead of shorter
Why your two-year-old suddenly needs a glass of water and a tiger story.
Toddler bedtime resistance almost always means one of three things. They are not actually tired. They are over-tired and dysregulated. Or the day was so disconnected that they want more of you before they let go.
The first is a wake window problem. The second is also a wake window problem, in reverse. The third is the one parents miss. A late afternoon spent at daycare and then a quick dinner can leave a small person who is hungry for a parent in a way no glass of milk fixes.
The fastest fix for the third version is fifteen minutes of one-on-one floor time before the routine starts. They lead, you follow. It is the connection equivalent of a meal.
Try this week
- Trial fifteen minutes of child-led play before bath, for one week.
- If they ask for a fourth book, say "one more, and the rest tomorrow," not "no."
- If bedtime keeps slipping, log wake times for three days. The pattern is usually visible.
Reference. Mona Delahooke, "Brain-Body Parenting"