How a simple routine helped Athena sleep through the night

The Challenge: Late Bedtimes and Frequent Night-Waking

Athena, at 2.5 years old, was the oldest of three non-sleepers under age three. With no consistent bedtime routine in place, her parents found themselves staying up as late as 9 PM to settle her—often after a long day of work and lengthy bedtime battles with her younger sibling. Athena relied on a milk bottle and her parents lying beside her to fall asleep, and would wake up twice on average each night, demanding more milk or refusing to settle for hours. Although they tried coaxing her back into her own bed, co-sleeping became the default for everyone’s sanity.

Our Process: Introducing a Gentle, Step-by-Step Routine

After seeing success with their twins on my program, Athena’s parents enrolled in my Taming Toddlers’ Bedtime Program via a live two-hour workshop. During the Zoom session, Athena happily ran around in the background—exactly the kind of spirited toddler this program is designed to support. That very next evening, mum and dad implemented every step:

1. Consistent Wind-Down Start at 7:00 PM: dim lights, calm play
2. Connected Bedtime routine: Time with parents connecting during bath → pajamas → story → lullaby- cuddle time
3. Clear Boundaries: encouraging Athena to self-settle with my Toddler Program
4. Gentle Returns for night-wakes: minimal interaction, quick tuck-ins
5. Positive praise for effort during the day and reminders of how her sleep impacts all other behaviors during the day. example- ‘Wow – You ate so much breakfast this morning, you must be really hungry because you had a big sleep last night. Did you know that when You sleep really well at night it makes your body grow big and strong and when you’re growing you feel hungry.” Catching the positives- Helps toddlers focus more on positive behaviors and positive interactions with their parents rather than tantrums for attention.

Immediate Results: First Night Wins

On night one, Athena was asleep within 20 minutes of starting the routine. She had only two brief wakes—and simply returned to sleep on her own after a quick parental reassurance and tuck-in. The next morning, her pride was palpable: she toddled down the hallway announcing, “I did it!” Her parents, meanwhile, couldn’t believe they were sipping coffee together on the couch by 7:30 PM—something they hadn’t done since before Athena was born. Especially since we also worked on their 18 month old non-sleeping twins in conjunction with working on Anthias sleep too (add link to their case study)

Sustained Success: Two Months and Counting

Fast-forward eight weeks, and Athena has now slept in her own bed every single night. She no longer needs nighttime bottles, tucks in her dummies on her sleep bag, and greets each bedtime with excitement for her “fairy magic.” Daytime naps haven’t resumed but at 3 years old they may not, and that’s ok —but the freedom and energy she brings to her days now are undeniable. Bedtime has become a treasured family ritual, for parents and their 3 children and is full of connection rather than conflict.

Feedback from Mum:

“Night one—It’s 7:32 PM and we started at 7:00 PM. Athena, who has slept in our bed for months, is asleep. My husband and I are on the couch, together, with three kids under three all resting. I can’t believe how practical and easy your technique was—it felt firm but gentle. She just went off to sleep with the promise of fairy magic in the morning!”

If you’re struggling with a spirited toddler at bedtime, a toddler bedtime routine may be the game-changer your family needs. I’d love to help you create calm, connection, and consistent sleep—reach out to learn more about the Taming Toddlers’ Bedtime Program.

Ready to see real change? Book a one-on-one sleep consultation today and let’s craft a personalised bedtime routine that works for your child’s unique needs. Visit my consultation page to secure your spot and transform your evenings.