The Battle of Bedtime: Surviving Toddler Sleep Struggles

No man, being a working mom of a toddler is not for the weak. This little human is a walking, babbling test of patience, and let me tell you—I am failing.

He’s 1.9 years old, still figuring out words, but believe me, he communicates just fine. No full sentences, no clear words, just “mmms” and “uuuhs”—but the way he wields them? Loud and clear. And somehow, he always gets his way.

Bedtime? A Myth.

Every night, I fool myself into thinking, Tonight will be different. Tonight, I will win.

We start with the classic routine—bath, bottle, bedtime story. A beautiful, peaceful plan. But this kid? He’s got his own agenda.

First, he suddenly remembers all his unfinished business. He must:

• Inspect every corner of the house.
• Chase the cat.
• Demand a different stuffed animal, then reject them all.
• Clap for himself for absolutely no reason.

By the time I finally get him into bed, I am the one ready to sleep. But he? He’s just getting started.

The Negotiation Phase

Once the lights go out, the real game begins. He:

• Fake cries to test my weakness.
• Starts humming an unknown song at full volume.
• Pokes my face like a scientist examining a rare species.

When I pretend to sleep, he leans in, nose to nose, and breathes loudly like a tiny, judgmental dragon. And then, the ultimate toddler move—the full-body toss, limbs everywhere, like he’s claiming his territory. I am but a mattress.

Defeat Is Inevitable

Eventually, he wears me down. I give in. I let him win. He sprawls across the bed victorious, finally falling asleep like a tiny angel—who just spent an hour terrorizing me.

And as I lie there, exhausted, I remember…

In a few hours, he’ll wake up again.

Being a working mom? Not for the weak.