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 Handle Bedtime When Your Child Is Going Through a Growth Spurt (And Why Sleep Changes Everything)
Growth spurts don't just mean new shoes every month — they can turn a previously smooth bedtime routine completely upside down. Here's what's really happening in your child's body and brain, and how to get evenings back on track.
How to Handle Bedtime When Your Child Won't Stay in Their Own Bed
If your child keeps appearing at your bedside long after lights-out, you're not alone — and you're not failing. Here's what's really driving the behaviour, and the gentle, practical steps that actually help.
How to Help Your Child Transition to Sleeping Alone (A Gentle, Step-by-Step Guide)
Many children struggle to fall asleep without a parent close by — and that's completely normal. This gentle, step-by-step guide helps you support your child's growing independence at bedtime without tears, battles, or guilt.
How to Help Your Child Wind Down After a Screen-Heavy Day (Without a Bedtime Battle)
Screens keep little brains buzzing long after the device is switched off — and that can make bedtime feel impossible. Here's what's actually happening in your child's brain, and what you can do to gently ease them from screen time to sleep time.
How to Handle Bedtime When Your Child Is Scared of Monsters (And What It Really Means)
Monster fears are one of the most common bedtime challenges parents face — and they're completely normal. Here's what's really going on in your child's mind, and what you can do to help them feel safe and settled every night.
Why Children Need Different Things at Bedtime at Different Ages (And How to Keep Up)
What soothes a two-year-old at bedtime won't work for a seven-year-old — and that's completely normal. Here's how children's bedtime needs shift as they grow, and how to adapt your routine so it keeps working.
How to Handle Bedtime When Your Child Has a Nightmare: A Parent's Gentle Guide
Nightmares can leave your child — and you — shaken in the middle of the night. Here's what's actually happening in your child's brain, and the gentle, practical steps you can take to help them feel safe, calm, and ready to sleep again.
Tonight's story is now a book — with pages for little hands to turn
Stories now open as a picture book: pages to turn, pictures that sparkle when touched — sized to your child's age, calm by design.
How to Help Your Child Separate Fantasy from Reality (Without Squashing Their Imagination)
Young children live in a beautifully blurry world where dragons might be real and toys definitely have feelings. Here's how to gently guide them toward understanding what's real — without dimming the magic that makes childhood so special.
How to Handle Bedtime When Your Child Is Going Through a Big Life Change
A new sibling, a house move, starting school — big life changes can send even the most reliable bedtime routine into chaos. Here's how to understand what's happening and gently rebuild the calm your child needs at night.
How to Handle the "I'm Not Tired" Battle at Bedtime (And What's Really Going On)
Your child is yawning, rubbing their eyes, and practically swaying on their feet — yet insists they're not tired. Sound familiar? Here's what's really going on, and how to make bedtime a whole lot easier.
Why Some Children Hate Bedtime (And How to Turn It Around for Good)
If your child treats bedtime like a punishment, you're not alone — and you're not doing it wrong. Here's what's really going on behind the protest, and the practical steps that can genuinely change things.