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The Nightly Bedtime Battle… And The Book That Changed It All!

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November 24, 2015

Story time is an important nightly event in our home and today I’m here to tell you all about one of our recent favorites that has been added to our lineup. It’s called The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep by Carl-Johan Forssén Ehrlin. 


If your kids are like mine, they will try anything and everything to prolong our “going to bed” routine and by the end of it, I’m the one lying on the bed in pure exhaustion wondering how in the world they still have that much energy. Please tell me I am not alone?!?!?! BUT… All that has changed when I took to this new read in the hopes of RECLAIMING BEDTIME!


We received the book last week in the mail and I’m happy to report that this groundbreaking #1 NY Times bestseller has turned bedtime battles around in our happy little home. I will tell you that it’s a bit longer than some of the other reads that we’ve seemed to memorize [funny how that happens, right?] , so this helps keep it to a 1-book night, too. It took a few times for the girls to understand all the bits and pieces as well as for me to get the routine down, but now they are requesting it daily and I happily oblige. It’s definitely getting them more relaxed at bedtime and ensuring lots of happy dreams and restful nights! 

This sweet story [perfect for my girls who are 2.5 and almost 4] follows Roger Rabbit on a wonderful journey, visiting his loved ones, who help him find his way to sweet dreams. Throughout his adventure, he talks with Uncle Yawn, Mommy Rabbit, Sleepy Snail, and a host of other forest creatures. It incorporates verbiage to keep your cuties relaxed, calm, and help them fall asleep. It also has helpful instructions so you’ll know when to emphasize certain words, when to read with a slow and calm voice, and when to complete a physical action to reiterate a word [i.e. yawn, stretch, etc]. 

Want to know more about this book? Visit the site here and join parents from all over the world who have embraced this special new read as a part of their nightly routine and have taken back bedtime! And good luck friends… remember, if you’re looking for a fun stocking stuffer, this is a PERFECT gift! 



Sweepstakes
Hit me with your funniest, most outrageous, and crazy bedtime nightmares… we all know we have our go-to tricks that get our littles to go to sleep so tell me all about it. 
Leave a comment below for a chance to win a $100 Visa Gift Card and a copy of “The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep.” 
Entry Instructions: 
No duplicate comments. 
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

  1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
  2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message:“#SweepstakesEntry” and “#RabbitGoToSleep”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
  3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
  4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry. 

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected. 
The Official Rules are available here
This sweepstakes runs from 11/18/15-12/16/15. 
Be sure to visit the Random House Children’s Books brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

  1. Jess Scott says:

    I've had this book in my Amazon cart since it came out and wondered if it really worked! Cam (who is 3.5), is the WORST at bedtime. He suddenly thinks he's glued to me and WILL NOT let go of me. I have been trying to figure out some positive reinforcements to get him to get into a routine, but I feel like I am constantly saying not and ending our night on a bad note. I am buying this. Thanks, Natasha!!

  2. Bedtime is always a struggle in my house! I usually try to calm my daughter down before I put her to bed, otherwise it's a fight because she wants to play. If I have the time, I start by running a bath and including some essential oils. Then we read together for a while or I'll put on a movie, which sometimes does the trick. I haven't read this book yet, but I've heard wonderful things about it!

  3. Shared on twitter – https:/twitter.com/ohnoitsstephyo/status/669148606025351173

  4. Adelyn V says:

    Bedtime goes ok-ish at my house. I actually own this book and would love opportunity to get one and give it to one of my friends who really struggles. Our biggest issue is our wiggle worm who will try to run stark naked around our house after bathtime because putting on the nighttime diaper and jammies is "the worst." She LOVES to read books but will quickly try to push it away if she's bored or ready for another!

  5. I do not have a funny or nightmare bedtime story to tell (yet). But, I do think this book would be a welcome addition to our home for our almost 1 year old!

  6. Liz F. says:

    I have been curious about this book. Bedtime at my house is NO joke–a real lowoccurred when I drug the stroller into the house and strolled laps around my living room with my howling daughter!

  7. Mami2jcn says:

    I don't have a funny story, but my newborn has been challenging at night. She fakes me out by closing her eyes and then popping them open and wailing 5 minutes later.

    mami2jcn at gmail dot com

  8. Mami2jcn says:

    tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/669177208204759040

  9. JC says:

    The funniest that I can think of is my kids went crazy of singing that Frozen movie song for hours after bedtime. My go-to trick that get my little ones to go to sleep is to read books to them.
    tcarolinep at gmail dot com

  10. JC says:

    tweet-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/669198926986129408

  11. Abbey says:

    Bedtime at our house is often times craziness! Our girls have so much to say all the sudden when it's time to lay down and go to bed. Often times the things they say are so off the wall and random…they will say anything to grant them a few extra minutes. It's always, wait I have one more thing I HAVE to tell you!! The other night one of my girls had a funny 'one last thing' comment. She looked at my husband in the most serious and innocent way and said, "I wish I had big, hairy eyebrows like you, Dad! I really want them and I think I'm going to add them to my Christmas list."

  12. Tried this book with my 2 year old in hopes it would work. I thought it was working while reading a part about moving slowly but she jumped up and yelled "no rabbit go FASTER." Fail.

  13. Elena says:

    I don't have a story because my child falls asleep easily

    elena150980 at yahoo dot com

  14. latanya t says:

    my son challenged me one night to read him 5 books at bedtime

    dlatany at gmail dot com

  15. Tara Smith says:

    I have seen this several times and have wanted to try it out- may have to do that now!
    tarasmith0625 at gmail dot com

  16. kellyr78 says:

    My daughter falls asleep by listening to the same CD every night, for about the past year or more. I think it's crazy that she hasn't gotten sick of it yet.

    kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom

  17. This question drums up bad memories from the past. Even with a routine of reading before bedtime there were problems. My oldest son would not fall asleep on his own, we literally laid on the floor until he fell asleep. Our fight wasn't over, we had to army crawl out of his room without stirring him awake. It was a battle that I'm glad is over. One night my wife and I slept in the basement just so we didn't have to hear him scream.
    jlammers002 at woh dot rr dot com

  18. I am pleased to say bedtime in my household is not a nightmare usually, only when my children are sick can it become challenging. My best tip is to have a routine and stick to it.
    mummytotwoboys@yahoo.com

  19. Amy says:

    My craziest nightmare is the teddy bear came alive and because a monster! LOL…so, no more teddy around the house!

    amy [at] utry [dot] it

  20. My daughter loves to read before bed. She also likes to have a "sound machine" that makes some white noise in the room.
    aleksnearing gmail com

  21. MCantu1019 says:

    No nightmare here, reading works for us.
    MCantu1019 at aol dot com

  22. Tina says:

    we started our bedtime training when my son was 4 months. he cried for an hour!!!
    tina19820115@gmail.com

  23. No real craziness I make sure to limit screen time so they can fall asleep faster. My email is thisisliferemix at gmail.com

  24. We had a night where our son literally came out of his room every 5 minutes for what seemed like forever. It was not fun at all!

    Thanks for the chance to win!

    wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com

  25. tweet–https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/673225244505743360

    wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com

  26. Rebecca W. says:

    When my boys are really tired, they will talk in their sleep. They don't usually remember it though.

  27. susan1215 says:

    Our bedtime isn't too bad but our son will want us to read more books so he doesn't have to go to bed to we have to put a limit on it.

    s2s2 at cox dot net

  28. Elle says:

    Bedtime is pretty easy for me expect in the summer time when it stays light for much longer. Then, we can have some issues but I find that staying firm and sticking to a routine helps.
    prettyinhotpink6 at gmail dot com

  29. JW says:

    After story time, I have a special bedtime song I sing for each of my kids every night. Then we say our prayers.

  30. Erica Best says:

    my niece loves oatmeal before bed

  31. Betty C says:

    Bedtime became easier after I eliminated the daytime naps. My children are adults now but I remember some very difficult nights when they didn't want to sleep.
    willitara [at] gmail [dot] com

  32. One of the funniest things I have done was I put a shade up on their window with a picture of the moon so they would think it was darker than it was outside and it worked for a little while! my4boysand1@gmail.com

  33. Linda C. says:

    Give them a warm bath right before bed.

  34. A humidifier does the trick here!

  35. kari jasus says:

    our 7 yo son went through short time period of severe anxiety and could.not.fall sleep. he had to pee like every two mintues, and needed certain music, and usually would not fall asleep unless i was in bed with him

  36. Debbie says:

    Our kids are grown now but bedtime was always very consistent and really without too much trauma! We had a very established routine that always included reading.

  37. Whitney says:

    Haha, we don't have kiddos, but I could tell some crazy stories of trying to get to sleep with my spouse's and dog's shenanigans. They're both just loud and fidgety, gah!

  38. Lisa Brown says:

    My child goes to sleep pretty easily unless we have been playing with her late in the evening. A little bit of rocking and back rub, puts her to sleep.

  39. Lisa Brown says:

    tweet-https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/676785241806143488

  40. Julie Wood says:

    My son wants to have a drink of water, and he is always saying something is bothering him. I stay with him and read books until he gets sleepy!

    jewelwood55(at)gmail(dot)com

  41. Julie Wood says:

    tweet-https://twitter.com/JewelWood/status/676786244295102464

    jewelwood55(at)gmail(dot)com

  42. Kerry says:

    I can't think of a funny bedtime event yet, but I'm sure we will have a lot in the future. We have a 2 month old that is already fighting sleep at night!
    nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net

  43. i dont really have a funny story to share.
    POKERGRL8 at gmail.com

  44. Natalie says:

    Bedtime usually is no nightmare around our house because my daughter loves to read bedtime stories with me. yarbr012@gmail.com

  45. Ugh bedtime is exhausting – I've got to try this book. thanks for the chance. truckredford(at)Gmail(Dot)com

  46. We have 2 sons and bedtime is a nightmare. I wish the kids would follow the routine I have set and sleep by 9.

  47. ellie says:

    When my boys were young my oldest son was a sleepwalker. I would finally get them all 3 in bed and asleep, and just when I could relax he'd start wandering. One night he was kind of wimpering half awake looking lost. I asked him what was wrong and he said he had to go the bathroom. I told him well, go. He cried "but I can't find it!!" We still laugh about it 25 years later.

    eswright18 at gmail dot com

  48. Tamara says:

    Bedtime prayers and a good story have always been enjoyed before bed at our house.
    westiemks5 at yahoo dot com

  49. DeniseL says:

    The Sleep Sheep by CloudB worked wonders when my son was little. Not so easy to calm his fears now that he's 6. He once had a nightmare that his 22 year old sister was put in jail. Ha! She's a model citizen so I have no idea WHERE that came from. 🙂
    dmarie824 at aol dot com

  50. My son is really good about going to bed, I just read him a story before bed.

    rounder9834 @yahoo.com

  51. My wildest and craziest dreams are when I start dreaming about tornadoes of any type.

  52. Kathryn C says:

    #SweepstakesEntry- comment

    my only real bedtime nightmare is when dogs in the neighborhood are left outside to bark and bark and bark all night- can't really control that except to turn the white noise machine full blast

    Kathryn C

  53. angie lilly says:

    I don't have kids but sometimes I feel like I am married to a kid because he fights going to bed at night almost as badly! hahaha! Hope my comment can still count! Thanks for the chance to win!
    Angie
    14earth at gmail dot com

  54. It's always a little crazy at bedtime with 4 kids running different ways, but usually reading together or snuggling up to watch something gets them to calm down and fall asleep

  55. Tabathia B says:

    Putting my daughter to bed and then laying down myself for an early night and then hearing her footsteps come into my bedroom creeping by the bed freaking me out

    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

  56. Kathryn C says:

    oops I messed up my earlier tweet: here is corrected one:

    #SweepstakesEntry – tweet:

    https://twitter.com/thrincor/status/677268686160400385

    KC

  57. Whitney says:

    I don't have kids, but in my experience it has been a lot easier to get them to go to sleep with soft tranquil music. wlbellows at gmail dot com

  58. slehan says:

    No kids, so no stories.
    Thanks for the contest.

    slehan at juno dot com

  59. What helped us a lot was having quiet time an hour before bed.
    And we always read to the kids too.
    thank you

  60. ms-texas says:

    no kids so no problem with bedtime! I fall asleep in no time at all!

    debbiebellows (at) gmail (dot) com

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colorful life + style blogger | native nashvillian | wife and mom to two darling little ladies | bringing you all the happy you can handle

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