When Bedtime Feels Hard: Gentle, Practical Ways to Help Children Settle

Bedtime can be one of the hardest parts of the day for parents.

If your child struggles to fall asleep, wakes frequently, seeks extra closeness, or finds bedtime emotionally overwhelming, you are not alone.

In this gentle, calming episode of Under the Moonlight with Penelope Willis, we explore why bedtime can feel so hard for young children and parents alike, and most importantly, what truly helps.

This episode is packed full of practical, proven bedtime tips that parents can use straight away, shared in a calm, reassuring way. Drawing on years of early years experience and real family life, Penelope gently walks you through simple, effective strategies that support better sleep and emotional security.

You’ll hear guidance on: • Why predictability and routine help children feel safe at bedtime

• How daytime movement, outdoor play, and physical activity affect sleep

• The calming power of warm baths and gentle evening transitions

• Why a small bedtime snack can make a real difference

• How shared story time supports emotional regulation and settling

• Using a calm, hushed voice and stillness to help children unwind

• Supporting children who seek extra closeness at night

• Why sleep difficulties affect the whole family, and why that matters

This episode is especially for parents who feel exhausted, unsure, or worried about bedtime struggles, and need reassurance alongside genuinely useful advice.

Everything shared here is offered as gentle suggestions, not pressure. There is no “perfect bedtime”, just small, supportive changes that help children feel safe, soothed, and ready for rest.

If you enjoy listening to this episode and would prefer to read about this topic, there is a companion blog available on Penelope’s website covering the same ideas in written form.

You can also explore Penelope’s collection of calming picture books, thoughtfully written to support bedtime, reassurance, and emotional connection for young children.

🌙 Companion blog and calming books available here:

👉 https://www.booksbypenelopewillis.co.uk

Thank you for being here.