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 Kicking Off the Covers All Night (And Actually Stay Warm)
If you're forever tiptoeing in to re-cover a child who's kicked their duvet onto the floor, you're not alone. Here's why kids do it, and the practical fixes that actually help them stay warm and asleep all night.
How to Help Your Child Stop Asking to Sleep With a Pet or Stuffed Animal Collection Taking Over the Bed
When a handful of cuddly toys turns into forty stuffed animals crammed into one small bed, bedtime can become a nightly negotiation. Here's why children collect sleep companions, and how to set loving limits without taking away their comfort.
How to Help Your Child Stop Asking for a Glass of Water Every Two Minutes at Bedtime
That endless parade of "just one more sip" requests isn't random. Here's why kids fixate on water at bedtime and how to set up a routine that satisfies real thirst without opening the door to endless stalling.
How to Help Your Child Stop Asking for the Fan or White Noise Machine to Be Louder (Or Quieter, Or On, Or Off)
If bedtime has turned into a nightly negotiation over the fan, the white noise machine, or exactly how loud it should be, you're not alone. Here's why kids fixate on background sound at bedtime, and how to set it once and move on.
How to Help Your Child Stop Asking for the TV or Tablet Right Before Bed
Screens creeping into the last hour before bed is one of the most common bedtime battles parents face. Here's why kids crave that final bit of screen time, and how to swap it for something just as satisfying without the meltdown.
How to Help Your Child Stop Talking About What Happens to Their Toys "When They're Asleep" (And Other Bedtime Magical Thinking)
Does your child worry about their toys feeling lonely, or insist their stuffed animals need to be arranged "just so" before sleep? This kind of bedtime magical thinking is a completely normal part of development. Here's what's really going on, and how to work with it instead of against it.
How to Help Your Child Stop Asking for a Nightlight to Be a Different Colour Every Night
If your child suddenly needs a blue nightlight, then a red one, then insists the old colour was "wrong," you're not imagining it. This post explains why colour preferences shift at bedtime and how to set boundaries without turning it into a nightly negotiation.
How to Help Your Child Stop Asking to Sleep in Your Bed Every Night
Nightly visits to your bed can wear down even the most patient parent. Here's why children ask to co-sleep, and a practical, gentle plan to help them feel confident sleeping in their own space again.
How to Help Your Child Stop Asking for the Landing Light On (Without a Nightly Negotiation)
If your child insists the landing light stays on all night, you're not alone. Here's why this request is so common, and gentle, practical ways to help your child feel safe with less light over time.
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.