02/06/2026
Does your kids bedtime look a little wild, full of energy or emotion and seem to take FOREVER?!?
It’s likely you have a case of what I like to call the ‘Bedtime Boogies’ !
Children tend to have a fierce mix of ‘extra energy’ and some ‘emotional’ pent-up storage they may have been holding onto all day! And if you have been apart, they will especially miss you in the daytime. The need for ‘connection’ outweighs the physical need for sleep.
Bedtime is a separation, and your little ones will fight to delay it, draw out routines, and eventually, after what feels like an exhausting battle, you get them into bed, for them to suddenly leap up and begin the ‘bedtime boogies!’
They know sleep is the separation, so they use their mighty energy and their connecting, seeking hearts to keep you close.
My Top Tips-
1) Match their energy!
Take it up a level, make planned, connected time for ‘Pre-bed-Big-Body-Play’! Feel the movement, invite the sillies, dance your bed dreads away! You and your child will release endorphins, oxytocin rises, and they feel seen, heard and more tired!
2) Go later!
Spending an hour or more fighting their enegry and need for connection can end in stress and frustration, and isn’t conducive to a rested, regulated nervous system needed to sleep. So go later, spend more time with your little one, create special, child-led moments, and fill their emotional cup. It is not worth the battle sometimes, and calm, connected moments after some big body energy can help everyone fall into a rested, safe, secure state- more able to face the separation of sleep. You can always move it earlier once the routine feels more synced and regulated.
3) Bridge the Connection - to the next point of contact - keep them close in your heart and give them something that is special of yours, smells of you and keep them connected through the senses.
Tell me what’s your bedtime like and is this resonates ? Would love to hear your bedtime stories in the comments!
