3. Think like a kid. "Routines are a parent and a child’s best friend," says Ann Douglas, author of the Mother-of-All parenting series of books. "It’s key to ensure that the routine you put in place appeals to your child. You're not going to get much buy-in, after all, if your child hates the bedtimes stories you’ve chosen, the brand of toothpaste you use to brush her teeth and the itchy-scratchy blanket you tuck her in with as you kiss her good night! So use your knowledge of your child’s likes and dislikes to put a routine in place that will work for — not against — the two of you."

Tip: keep that routine calm too, advises Douglas. "It’s hard to switch from tickle-fights to tuck-ins, after all," she says.

4. Count it down.  In the theatre, stage managers warn the actors backstage with time calls to let them know how much time they have left before the show starts. "Give your child an advance warning bedtime is coming," says Douglas. "This way, she can start easing herself out of a much-loved activity, as opposed to having to go cold turkey." Counting down the warning time helps too (a 10-minute call, a five-minute call, etc.) because expectations are clearly laid out.