Although children need to get plenty of rest, bedtime isn't always a welcomed part of the day. And as many parents know, getting their kids to go to sleep can often feel like a test of patience. Take heart that chronic sleep difficulties aren't necessarily the root of these nighttime struggles--children typically put up a fight when they're told it's time for lights out. And there isn’t one tried-and-true way to handle this. Each parent has to figure out her and her child’s own needs when dealing with this issue and then try different methods accordingly. Some parents—even of a 6-year-old—might have no trouble having their child sleep in her bed if she can't sleep in her own. Others won’t hear of it. In addition, for sleep-resistant children, some parents find it helpful to set an alarm to signal the start of bedtime.

Meanwhile, we all know what it’s like to be keyed up after a long day. And because your child has to go to bed on the early side—depending on the time she wakes up, bedtime is probably between 7 and 9 p.m.—she doesn’t have as much wind-down time after dinner. This makes an evening ritual all-important. And if your child is grappling with a sleep-related problem such as bedwetting, for which bedtime could be a stressful event, good sleep habits can help comfort her too. Here's one bedtime ritual to try: 

First, start with a warm bath (maybe not every night), which usually helps initiate the wind-down process.

Then, spend some time with books. You read to your child, let her read to you, or both of you read together. During this time you also may want to have a chat and ask your child about her day.

Finally, the ideal sleep setup for most kids is a dark (night lights are OK), quiet, and motionless environment.

Check out our these healthy sleep tips and our bedwetting guide!