Sleep & bedtime
Falling asleep, staying asleep, and the bedtime that stopped working.
The bedtime handoff, one small step at a time
Learning to fall asleep alone is a gradual skill. If you've become the signal that means it's safe to sleep, the key is to gently shrink your role at bedtime. Instead of removing yourself all at once, the goal is to slowly pull back, letting your child build this new skill in steps.
Why bedtime stories suddenly turn into a nightly battle
When bedtime reading turns into a battle, it's usually not about the book itself, it's that practicing and ritual have gotten tangled into one event. The fix is to separate them: move any actual practicing to another time of day, and let the bedtime book go back to being pure pleasure, with no asks attached.
Helping your child fall asleep without you in the room
Instead of an abrupt change, you can help your child build confidence by making small, gradual shifts in your bedtime routine over time. The goal is to slowly increase their independence while making sure they continue to feel safe and secure.
How to help child fall asleep without needing you every night?
Instead of an abrupt change, you can help your child build confidence by making small, gradual shifts in your bedtime routine over time. The goal is to slowly increase their independence while making sure they continue to feel safe and secure.