15-Minute Sleep Solution for Toddlers' Bedtime Hack

Transform Your Child’s Bedtime Routine with a Simple Trick

Getting children to sleep can be a real challenge. They often protest that they're not tired, plead for more playtime, or repeatedly climb out of bed after being tucked in. For many parents, bedtime can stretch into hours, leaving them frazzled and worn out once their little ones finally nod off.

However, one dad claims to have discovered a clever trick that could ensure your child drifts off within 15 minutes of hitting the pillow. This simple strategy might just transform your nightly routine with your children, requiring only a single adjustment. The father, known as Jon, took to TikTok to reveal that what used to be an hour-long struggle at bedtime has been drastically reduced to a mere quarter of an hour thanks to his innovative approach.

He explained: "If you are sick of bedtime taking way too long, then boy, do I have the hack for you. Most of the advice that you get online about making bedtime shorter is good. Things like having a consistent bedtime routine, or putting your kid to bed half an hour earlier than you think you should."

"But if you are doing that stuff and your kid is still taking 45 minutes to an hour to go to sleep, there is something else you can do, too. It is a brain hack, and nobody talks about it."

Jon revealed a bedtime trick that he claims can help children fall asleep more easily. It starts with following the usual bedtime routine - getting them changed into pyjamas and sorting out their dental hygiene. The twist comes after tucking them into bed, when it's time to tell a bedtime story.

Instead of reaching for a book, Jon suggests recounting the events of your child's day to them. He said: "I want you to tell them the story of their day. Everything they did. Start with when they woke up, what they had for breakfast, everything throughout the day, all the way up until bedtime. If you don't know something, you can ask them questions. Have them use their memory to fill in your gaps or correct you if you get something wrong."

"When you get to the end of the story, you say 'Then they closed their eyes, and they fell asleep'."

The dad believes this method isn't just entertaining but also cognitively engaging, helping children process the day's events as they drift off to sleep. He explained: "Not only is this playful and fun and your kid is going to love connecting with you in this way, this also activates the part of their brain that will be active the second after they fall asleep. It's called their hippocampus and it's responsible for storing short-term memory and then organising it and putting it into long-term memory."

"What you're doing when you're telling them the story of their day is activating the part of their brain that's going to be active when they fall asleep. I don't want to say you're tricking their brain, but you're kind of prepping it. It's the ultimate hack. Go out and try it."

Tips to Help a Child Sleep

If you're struggling to get your little one to nod off, take heart in knowing that many young ones have trouble settling down for the night and often wake up during their slumber as well. Each child is unique, and so are the methods that can aid their sleep - trust your instincts and do what seems best for your little one.

For those bedtime battles and wee-hour awakenings, the NHS lays out a strategy to follow if your child resists going to bed:

Decide what time you want your child to go to bed.
Start a "winding down" bedtime routine around 30 minutes before your child usually falls asleep. Bring this forward by 5 to 10 minutes each week - or 15 minutes if your child is in the habit of going to bed very late - until you get to the bedtime you want.
Set a limit on how much time you spend with your child when you put them to bed. For example, read only one story, then tuck your child in and say goodnight.
Give your child their favourite toy, dummy (if they use one) or comforter before settling into bed.
Leave a dim light on if necessary.
If your child gets up, keep taking them back to bed again with as little fuss as possible.
Try to be consistent.

For more information on young children and sleep, visit the NHS website.