Bedtime, Routines and Emotional Security

Bedtime can become one of the most fraught parts of the day, often because a child's need for emotional security gets overlooked in the rush to get them settled. This workshop looks at how predictable routines support calmer evenings and how small adjustments can make a real difference to both settling time and night waking. You will leave with a realistic routine you can adapt to your own household rather than a rigid template.

Led by Amy Byrne — BA (Hons) Level 8 in Early Childhood Education and Care, currently studying a Level 9 postgraduate in play therapy, Children First trained and a Mandated Person. One hour, with a take-home booklet and a dated certificate of attendance.

What we cover in the hour

• Why predictability at bedtime matters for a child's sense of security.
• Building a realistic routine that fits your evening rather than an idealised one.
• Common causes of bedtime resistance and stalling tactics.
• Supporting a child who wakes anxious or unsettled during the night.
• Adjusting a routine as a child grows or circumstances change.
• Balancing consistency with the occasional late night or disrupted evening.

What you'll leave with

• A realistic bedtime routine template you can adapt to your family.
• Three responses to common stalling tactics.
• Guidance for handling night waking calmly and consistently.
• A note on adjusting routines as your child grows.
• A take-home booklet with a printable bedtime routine chart.

How it can be delivered

No VAT and no booking fees. An itemised receipt is emailed instantly, and invoices are available before you book. Running this across a whole setting? Setting packages start at €399.

Common questions

How long should a bedtime routine take?

There is no fixed rule, though most workable routines fall somewhere between twenty and forty minutes depending on the child's age and temperament. We help you find a length that is calming rather than rushed but also sustainable on busy evenings.

My child keeps coming out of the room after being settled. What should I do?

This is one of the most common bedtime challenges, and we cover consistent, calm ways to respond that reduce the frequency over time without turning it into a nightly battle.

Does this cover night waking as well as settling at bedtime?

Yes, we look at both settling and night waking, since the two are often connected and respond well to similar principles around consistency and emotional security.

What if our evenings are unpredictable due to work or other commitments?

We focus on building a routine that is realistic for your actual circumstances rather than an idealised version, including how to maintain some consistency even on less predictable evenings.

At what age should a bedtime routine change?

Routines naturally shift as children grow, and we cover general guidance on adjusting timing, structure and independence within the routine as your child moves through different stages.

Related workshops

• Understanding Big Feelings in Young ChildrenWhy children become emotionally overwhelmed, what their behaviour communicates, and responding with calm, connection and consistency.
• Helping Children Manage Tantrums and MeltdownsTantrums vs meltdowns, common triggers, co-regulation strategies and responses that may unintentionally escalate distress.
• Building Emotional Regulation Through PlaySensory activities, movement, breathing, stories and imaginative play to strengthen regulation in everyday family life.

More in this theme: Emotional regulation · All workshop themes · Upcoming dates

Available live online across Ireland, and in person in Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, Louth, Cork and other counties.