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 Waking Up Grumpy (And Start the Day Well)
If mornings in your house involve tears, tantrums, or a child who simply won't get out of bed, the problem might actually start the night before. Here's why kids wake up grumpy and the practical, evidence-based fixes that help mornings go smoothly.
How to Help Your Child Stop Talking Themselves Awake at Bedtime
Some children fall quiet at bedtime, but others seem to get more chatty the moment the lights go off, asking questions, narrating their day, or inventing entire conversations. Here's why it happens and how to gently guide your child from chatter to calm.
How to Help Your Child Stop Using Bedtime as a Stage for Big Feelings (Tantrums, Tears and Meltdowns Explained)
Bedtime meltdowns can feel like they come out of nowhere, but they're rarely really about pyjamas or the "wrong" cup. Here's why big emotions surge at the end of the day and a practical, step-by-step approach to help your child (and you) get through it calmly.
How to Help Your Child Stop Bringing Every Toy to Bed With Them
If bedtime has turned into a nightly negotiation over which stuffed animals, action figures, and random toys get to sleep in the bed, you're not alone. Here's why children do this and how to gently set limits without a fight.
How to Handle Bedtime When Your Child Refuses to Wear Pyjamas (Or Any Particular Item of Clothing)
When bedtime turns into a wardrobe negotiation every single night, it's rarely about the pyjamas. Here's why clothing battles happen at bedtime and practical ways to defuse them without a fight.
How to Help Your Child Stop Negotiating Bedtime Like a Tiny Lawyer
If bedtime in your house has turned into a courtroom drama, complete with counter-offers and appeals, you're not alone. Here's why children negotiate at bedtime and how to hold the line with warmth instead of frustration.
How to Help Your Child Stop Asking for Water, Snacks, and the Toilet After Lights Out
Endless requests for water, snacks, or "one more wee" after lights out can turn bedtime into a nightly negotiation. Here's why these post-lights-out requests happen and a practical, step-by-step plan to reduce them for good.
How to Help Your Child Stop Fighting Sleep When They're Overexcited (Birthdays, Holidays & Big Days Out)
Big days like birthdays, holidays, and school trips leave kids buzzing long after lights out. Here's why overexcitement hijacks sleep and a practical, step-by-step approach to help your child come back down to earth at bedtime.
How to Choose the Right Bedtime Story Length for Your Child's Attention Span
Too short and your child feels short-changed; too long and they're wriggling before the middle. Here's how to match story length to your child's real attention span, at every age and energy level.
How to Choose the Right Bedtime Snack (And Which Foods Actually Help Kids Sleep)
Not all bedtime snacks are created equal — some can actually work against a good night's sleep. Here's what the science says about food and sleep in young children, plus simple, sleep-friendly snack ideas parents can start using tonight.
How to Help Your Child Stop Stalling at Bedtime With "Just One More Thing"
Just when you think bedtime is finally over, your child needs "one more" glass of water, hug, or trip to the toilet. Here's why this happens and how to gently close the loop without a battle every night.
How to Help Your Child Choose Between Two Bedtime Stories (Without the Meltdown)
When "just pick one" turns into tears, the problem usually isn't the books — it's the decision itself. Here's why choosing at bedtime is so hard for young children, and simple strategies to make it easy, fast, and even fun.