Toddler bedtime resistance and night waking are developmental, not behavioural. What's really going on.
You used to love bedtime. The warm bath, the soft books, the quiet closeness. Now bedtime is a negotiation, a power struggle, and occasionally a hostage situation. What happened? Your toddler grew a self.
Someone told you your toddler knows exactly what they're doing at bedtime. That they're playing you. The word they used was 'manipulation.' Here's why that framing is wrong — and why it matters.
The bedtime battle isn't about sleep. It's about autonomy, separation, and the emotional processing that happens when a small brain finally goes quiet. Here's what's driving it.