Most bedtime battles are about the hour before bed, not bed itself. A short routine that repeats every night helps a child know what comes next.
1. Same time, most nights
Pick a bedtime that suits your family and keep to it within half an hour, weekends included.
2. Screens off early
Switch off tablets and the TV an hour before sleep. Bright screens make it harder to fall asleep.
3. A warm bath
A short bath, then soft cotton pyjamas, tells the body the day is ending.
4. One story, low light
Read the same few books in a dim room. Children like knowing how the story ends.
5. A short goodnight
Keep the last goodnight brief and calm. If your child calls, answer quietly and keep it short.