Why does bedtime take forever - and how to shorten the chao

You started bedtime at 6:45pm.

It’s now 8:17pm and your child is naked, asking for toast, and debating the plot holes in Bluey 🤦‍♀️

If bedtime feels like it drags on forever — you’re not alone.

It’s one of the most common parenting complaints we hear.

But it’s not because you’re doing something wrong — it’s because bedtime is loaded. With emotion, transition, control, and just enough tiredness to make everyone irrational.

Let’s unpack what’s really going on — and how to make it smoother.