The Dreamtime Blog
Bedtime story ideas
& sleep tips for parents
Better bedtimes, happier mornings.
Practical guides on bedtime routines, storytelling, and raising well-rested children.
How to Help Your Child Stop Asking You to Lie Down With Them Until They Fall Asleep
If bedtime always ends with you lying next to your child until they drift off, you're not alone. Here's why this habit forms so easily, and a gentle, step-by-step way to hand sleep back to your child without a fight.
How to Help Your Child Stop Asking for the Bathroom Light to Stay On All Night
Many children insist on leaving the bathroom light blazing all night, turning a simple loo trip into a household energy drain and a sleep disruptor. Here's why this habit forms and how to gently wean your child off it without triggering a fear spiral.
How to Help Your Child Stop Talking During Story Time (Without Squashing Their Excitement)
If your child interrupts every page of the bedtime story with comments, questions, and observations, you're not alone. Here's why it happens and how to strike a balance between listening and letting their excitement out.
How to Help Your Child Stop Asking for a Different Bedtime Story Every Two Minutes
If your child changes their mind about which bedtime story they want five times before you've even opened the book, you're not alone. Here's why it happens and how to bring calm, decisive storytime back to your evenings.
How to Help Your Child Stop Asking for "Just One More Song" at Bedtime
If bedtime in your house involves an endless playlist of lullabies, encores and "just one more song," you're not alone. Here's why children stall with song requests and how to bring the singing to a gentle, satisfying close.
How to Help Your Child Stop Asking for Snacks They Refused at Dinner (The Bedtime Hunger Games)
When your child suddenly claims to be starving at bedtime after refusing dinner just an hour earlier, it's rarely about actual hunger. Here's why this happens so often and how to handle it calmly without turning it into a nightly negotiation.
How to Help Your Child Stop Asking "What If" Questions at Bedtime
When bedtime turns into an endless string of "but what if" worries, it can leave both you and your child feeling stuck. Here's why this happens and practical, gentle ways to help your child feel secure enough to let the questions rest.
How to Help Your Child Stop Asking to Sleep With the Light On
Many children insist on sleeping with a light on, and it can feel like a battle between their comfort and your hopes for better sleep. Here's why this happens and how to gradually help your child feel safe in the dark, without a nightly standoff.
How to Help Your Child Stop Sleep Talking (And When It's Nothing to Worry About)
Sleep talking is common in young children and almost always harmless, but it can still unsettle parents who hear it happen. Here's what causes it, when it tends to appear, and simple bedtime habits that can help reduce it.
How to Help Your Child Stop Talking About Bad Dreams They Haven't Even Had Yet
Some children start worrying about nightmares before they've even fallen asleep, turning bedtime into a nightly rehearsal of fear. Here's why this happens and how to gently break the cycle so bedtime feels safe again.
How to Help Your Child Stop Talking Back at Bedtime Without Turning It Into a Power Struggle
When bedtime turns into a battle of wills and your sweet child suddenly sounds like a tiny courtroom lawyer with attitude, it's easy to feel blindsided. Here's why talking back tends to peak at bedtime, and how to respond in a way that keeps everyone calm and connected.
How to Help Your Child Stop Grinding Their Teeth at Night (And When to Worry)
Teeth grinding, or bruxism, affects a surprising number of young children and often peaks around bedtime stress or tiredness. Here's what causes it, how to soothe it with a calmer wind-down routine, and when it's worth mentioning to a dentist.