Dad’s genius trick cut his toddler’s bedtime routine from 90 minutes to 15

Parents online can’t stop talking about one dad’s genius hack that cut his toddler’s bedtime routine from an exhausting 90 minutes to just 15—and it’s so simple, you might be able to try it tonight.

On r/daddit, dad u/TrashPandasAndPizza explained that bedtime in his house had become a nightly marathon of stall tactics. His 3-year-old always had “just one more” request—one more game, one more song, one more drink of water. So he made a bedtime menu: a card with pictures of every activity his son had ever requested, from hide-and-seek to lullabies, bedtime stories, and even choosing whether the bedroom door stayed open or closed.

Related: The 8 a.m. toddler birthday party that’s winning over exhausted parents

The rules were simple:

• His son could choose three activities plus the door option.
  
• Once the choices were made, the routine was set—no changes, no extras.
  

“Now, he chooses 3 activities and the door option, and that’s it. No fuss,” u/TrashPandasAndPizza wrote. “We show him the menu if he forgets his options, but otherwise we have been able to cut bedtime down to 15–20 minutes max.”

As a mom, I get it

As a mom of three young kids—ages 7, 4, and 22 months—I know this struggle all too well. In my house, bedtime takes a collective two hours: baths, books, wind-down time… and all the creative detours my kids can think up.

Evenings have always been precious one-on-one time for us, but after a long workday, there are nights when my “second shift” doesn’t wrap until 10 p.m. That leaves almost no time to catch my breath. So reading about a bedtime hack that gives parents an hour or more back instantly? I was ready to grab a laminator.

Why it works

Child development experts say toddlers benefit from being given age-appropriate choices—it helps them feel in control while keeping boundaries clear. Too many choices can overwhelm, too few can invite resistance. The menu offers a visual, predictable way to strike that balance.

Here’s how other parents in the thread adapted the “limited choice” idea:

• Turn it into a game: “Do you want to hop like a kangaroo to your bed, or walk like a crab to your bed?” — u/lumberjake18
  
• Let them design their dreams: “We’ve had success with having him help tell his own bedtime story about what he will dream about. What animal will you dream about? Oh, an elephant? And where will you be? The beach?! And what will you do on the beach? Build sandcastles? That sounds great! You’ll dream of building sandcastles on the beach with an elephant. OK, I love you. Good night, dream of that elephant at the beach.” — u/Mundon
  
• Offer a third option with a twist: “If it’s ‘neither,’ introduce a third option—OK, do you want tiger/Paw Patrol toy/teddy bear to do it for you? Most of the time this works, as it brings imaginative play into it.” — u/Illustrious_Ad_7570
  
• Use the timer trick: “The timer is a fantastic hack for everything with toddlers. Instead of framing it as ‘yes or no,’ we frame it as ‘when.’ Timer for 1 min or 5 min? They sometimes get me up to 7 min and think they won. Little do they realize I already won the ‘yes or no’ fight, which was the true battle.” — u/Shoot_2_Thrill

Related: Mom’s battle with toddler wardrobe choices proves a universal parenting truth (and it’s hilarious)

Bedtime hacks from the Motherly community

When we asked the Motherly Instagram community for their best bedtime tips, hundreds of parents weighed in. The most common themes? Consistency, creativity, and giving yourself grace.

Routine & consistency

• “Routine. Say one more book, and mean it!” – @vamadigan
  
• “Same set playlist every night, same bedtime routine for the last 5 years 😂” – @andreabes14
  

Creative twists

• “An invisible piece of ‘candy’ to help them stay asleep all night. Weirdly works!” – @kaleigh207
  
• “One pass for one question after lights out.” – @nicolastephen
  

Environmental tweaks

• “Make the whole house dark an hour before bed, sound machine, routine routine!” – @felisha_mellinda
  
• “Bath or shower always.” – @sweethomeswett
  

Parent-to-parent wisdom

• “Lower the damn bar for yourself.” – @nicoletursich810
  
• “Have my husband put them to bed—it’s so much faster. 🤣” – @jennijones716
  

Why this hack is worth trying tonight

Whether it’s a laminated menu, a crab walk to bed, or an invisible candy trick, the magic is in the structure: clear limits, consistent choices, and enough freedom to keep kids engaged.

For parents, that shift can transform bedtime from a drawn-out standoff into a smooth, 15-minute wind-down—and open up space for a little breathing room before the night begins again.