The Real Reason Kids Fight Parents So Hard at Bedtime

The battle over bedtime is a tradition as old as time. But one TikToker claims she knows why it's always kids versus parents.

Each night، putting my 2- and 4-year-olds to bed turns into an exhausting negotiation. They want one more story، another drink of water، for me to rub their backs، a different stuffed animal—the list goes on and on. I just want them to go to sleep so I can have a millisecond to myself before I drop into bed، sleep for not nearly long enough، then get up and do the crazy dance of parenting all over again.

If my nightly routine sounds familiar، you too may be intrigued by a TikTok creator who shares content using the handle @officialsleepingbeauties. She offers a compelling explanation for why littles fight bedtime so dang hard that it can drive parents 

over the edge.

According to the creator Cayla، who says she's a sleep specialist and parent coach، bedtime with small children exposes a basic contradiction in needs between kids and parents. While they are looking for connection before being left alone in their rooms for the next (hopefully) 12-ish hours، adults crave separation، i.e. a break from clinginess، questions، needs، wants، and whining. So، bedtime can feel like a hostile takeover—until parents recognize what’s going on، and act accordingly.

I decided to take Cayla’s advice and pepper in a little extra cuddle time with my boys، providing the added connection they may be desperate to establish in the moments leading up to lights out. In exchange