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 for a Different Parent to Do Bedtime
When your child suddenly demands "Daddy does bedtime, not you" (or vice versa), it can sting more than you expect. Here's why this happens, what it actually means, and how to handle it without turning bedtime into a competition.
How to Help Your Child Stop Snacking on Bedtime Stalling Tactics: The Bathroom Break Loop
When "I need the toilet" turns into five trips a night, it's rarely about your child's bladder. Here's why the bathroom break loop happens and how to close it with a routine that respects real needs while ending the game.
How to Help Your Child Stop Bedtime Bargaining With Screens ("Just Five More Minutes of the iPad")
If your child treats the hour before bed as a negotiation table for extra screen time, you're not alone. Here's why kids bargain so hard over devices at bedtime, and a practical plan to end the nightly tug-of-war for good.
How to Help Your Child With Bedtime Perfectionism (When "I Didn't Do It Right Today" Ruins Sleep)
Some children can't settle at night because they're replaying every mistake from the day, from a wobbly drawing to a mispronounced word. Here's why perfectionism shows up at bedtime and how to help your child let go of the day without letting go of their standards.
How to Handle Bedtime When Your Child Has Big Feelings About Starting a New Sibling's Arrival
A new baby changes everything, including bedtime. Here's how to help your older child feel secure, seen, and settled at night while the whole family adjusts to a new sibling.
Story art that grows with your child
Story illustrations are now tuned to your child's age, from the bold black-and-white a newborn can actually see to rich watercolour art for older children.
How to Help Your Child Stop Asking a Million Questions at Bedtime (Without Shutting Down Their Curiosity)
Why do children suddenly turn into tiny philosophers the moment the lights go out? Here's why the bedtime question spiral happens and how to satisfy your child's curiosity without derailing sleep.
How to Help Your Child Learn to Fall Asleep in a New Bed (Moving House, Big Kid Beds & Travel Cots)
Whether you're moving house, upgrading to a big kid bed, or setting up a travel cot for the holidays, a new sleeping space can throw bedtime into chaos. Here's how to help your child feel safe and settled anywhere they lay their head.
How to Choose Bedtime Stories That Actually Teach Problem-Solving Skills
Not all bedtime stories are created equal when it comes to building your child's problem-solving muscles. Here's what to look for in a story, and how to talk about it afterwards, so bedtime quietly grows a more resourceful, resilient thinker.
How to Help Your Child Learn to Fall Asleep Without Rocking, Feeding or Patting
If your child can only fall asleep with rocking, patting or feeding, you're not alone — and you're not doing anything wrong. Here's a gentle, step-by-step approach to helping them learn to settle independently, without a cold-turkey cry-it-out approach.
How to Help Your Child Learn Empathy Through Different Kinds of Bedtime Characters
The characters your child meets at bedtime shape how they understand other people's feelings. Here's how to choose and talk about story characters in ways that gently build real-world empathy.
How to Help Your Child Stop Fighting Naps Without Wrecking Bedtime
When naptime becomes a daily battle, it's tempting to just drop the nap altogether — but that often backfires at bedtime. Here's how to work out whether your child still needs a nap, and how to protect both nap and night sleep at the same time.