Bedtime: sometimes you win, sometimes you lose

Although I try to stick to a calm bedtime routine, sometimes the evening doesn't go as planned. Because I have six children who play sports, we often get home late from a baseball game and then rush to get ready for bed. On those nights, the children have trouble settling down for the night, and I admit I sometimes get frustrated and yell at them to go to bed and sleep! We've all been there. We might have come home late for a special occasion, one of our children might be sick, or our toddler might have just learned the art of procrastination.

How can we prevent everything from falling apart at the end of the day when these things happen?

• If your child's bedtime has passed because, for whatever reason, you got home late, try not to rush them to bed. Rushing will only put everyone in a bad mood. Take a deep breath, take the time to read a story, and give them hugs and kisses, just like every night.
• If your children are sick, remember that despite your best efforts, they may not go to bed as usual. They may also not sleep through the night because they have trouble breathing with a stuffy nose or because they have a fever. Remember that this is temporary, and be sure to give them extra attention before bedtime.

I believe the best way to deal with procrastination is to stick to what you say. If your rule is 20 minutes of reading, stick to it. Similarly, if story time is 20 minutes, don't stop after five. If you're consistent, children will adjust and stop trying to postpone bedtime. We all have nights when bedtime doesn't go as planned, but that doesn't mean we should abandon the stories, cuddles, and routine that make bedtime special. Skipping all these bedtime moments can lead to heartache and frustration, not to mention wet beds and nighttime sheet changes. Remember, especially on those rushed nights, that these bedtime moments are memories for a lifetime.