Child's hand holding little finger of adult's hand

Why Bedtime Feels Harder After Christmas (and What’s Actually Going On)

Bedtime Battles
January 05, 2026•1 min read

If bedtime has suddenly become harder since Christmas — more stalling, more tears, more “just one more cuddle” — you’re not imagining it.

January is a transition. Christmas often brings more togetherness, looser routines, and more shared moments. When normal life resumes, children feel that shift in their bodies — and bedtime is often where they protest it.

Meanwhile, mums are tired. Disillusioned. Craving their evenings back… and feeling guilty for needing space.

In this episode, I talk about:

  • why post-Christmas bedtime battles are so common

  • how this phase is about adjustment, not “regression”

  • why wanting time to yourself doesn’t cancel love

  • how to lower the pressure at bedtime without turning it into another thing to “fix”

This isn’t about perfect routines or getting it right every night. It’s about understanding what’s really happening — so you can approach bedtime with a little more kindness, clarity, and calm.

If you’re navigating bedtime battles right now, you’re not failing. You’re resetting.

(The Calm Mum Community — gentle, ongoing support for moments like this — is coming soon.)

✨ Resources Mentioned

The Calm Mum Reset — 5 therapeutically-informed tools to help anxious mums let go of pressure, stay grounded, and focus on what matters most: their children.
Get it here: https://go.dyfparents.com./the-calm-mum-reset

💛 Stay Connected

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Understanding people has always been a passion of mine, and becoming a parent made that understanding even more real. My counselling training helped me explore the emotional challenges of parenting — not perfectly, but with more presence, compassion, and clarity. Now I run a social enterprise supporting families through group work, counselling, and digital learning.

Emma Reed

Understanding people has always been a passion of mine, and becoming a parent made that understanding even more real. My counselling training helped me explore the emotional challenges of parenting — not perfectly, but with more presence, compassion, and clarity. Now I run a social enterprise supporting families through group work, counselling, and digital learning.

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