We can't do an early bedtime

Your child's ideal, age-based bedtime may be earlier than you're used to and may require some modification to your evening. Sleep is a biological need and should be prioritized as such. So, if you can make some modifications, I recommend doing so. Not only will your child be getting the healthy sleep they need, but it can make bedtime and falling asleep much, much easier. 

While this is a common complaint for families starting this process, most families report that the changes they made in the evening have been well worth the effort.

Here are some common reasons family for resisting an early bedtime:

Family Dinner - if cooking & eating family dinner pushes bedtime late, try sitting with your child while they eat but serving leftovers or something quick to put together. Once your child is in bed, you have more time and freedom to cook and eat dinner.

Won't stop playing or long bath - if your child gets wrapped up in evening activities and has a tough time transitioning to bedtime, try using a timer to set limits.

Like to stay out late - if you're only making a few tweaks to your child's sleep and your sleep problems aren't severe, it may be alright to have a couple late nights each week. You'll have to watch your child's cues to get your answer. Staying up late just to end up with a tired, cranky toddler who won't sleep through the night isn't much fun!

If you are working to solve some pretty severe sleep issues, I recommend sticking to an early bedtime for at least 3-4 weeks so you can build a foundation on consistency that your child can get used to. 

One of the best parts of having a well-rested child, after you successfully complete this program, is that their sleep needs will be more well-established and they can actually be more flexible when you need to have the occasional late night. They will be able to tolerate the change and bounce back easier the next day. An earlier bedtime may be necessary the next day depending on how late bedtime was. You know the sleepy signs to watch for.

All this to say that kids do thrive on consistency, schedule and routine. So, your child needs to have a reliable and consistent sleep schedule most days of the week in order to be a rockstar sleeper.

Parent gets home late and would miss seeing child - you have to be the judge of this. Staying up late to see a parent for a few minutes just to end up with a tired, cranky toddler who won't sleep through the night may not be worth it to you. If this is your situation, you could consider giving the late-working parent morning duty with the child - trading night time playtime for morning play time. Or dedicate special 1-on-1 time on the weekend -like  breakfast with just the child & mom every Saturday morning.

We do not get home from work/school until after the recommended bedtime - in this situation you just have to do the best you can. If this is true every single night, you have to aim to getting them to bed as soon as you can. If it is only occasionally, you can plan ahead for how to speed things up once you get home - a quick dinner in the car like PB&J, plan to skip bath that night to speed up the process, etc.