Bedtime (also called putting to bed or tucking in) is a ritual part of
parenting to help
children
A child ( : children) is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The legal definition of ''child'' generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger ...
feel more secure
and become accustomed to a more rigid schedule of sleep than they might prefer. The ritual of bedtime is aimed at facilitating the transition from wakefulness to sleep. It may involve
bedtime stories
A bedtime story is a traditional form of storytelling, where a story is told to a child at bedtime to prepare the child for sleep. The bedtime story has long been considered "a definite institution in many families".Dickson, Marguerite Stockma ...
,
children's songs,
nursery rhymes,
bed-making and getting children to change into
nightwear. In some religious households, prayers are said shortly before going to bed. Sleep training may be part of the bedtime ritual for babies and toddlers.
In adult use, the term means simply "time for bed", similar to
curfew, as in "It's past my bedtime". Some people are accustomed to drinking a
nightcap or
herbal tea at bedtime. Sleeping coaches are also used to help individuals reach their bedtime goals. Researchers studying sleep are finding patterns revealing that cell phone use at night disturbs going to sleep at one's bedtime and achieving a good night's sleep.
Synonyms
In
boarding schools and on trips or
holiday
A holiday is a day set aside by custom or by law on which normal activities, especially business or work including school, are suspended or reduced. Generally, holidays are intended to allow individuals to celebrate or commemorate an event or tra ...
s that involve young people, the equivalent of bedtime is ''lights out'' or ''lights-out'' - this term is also used in prisons, hospitals, in the military, and in sleep research.
Newspapers
In the pre-digital newspaper era, a newspaper, usually daily, was "put to bed" when editorial work on the issue had formally ceased, the content was fixed, and printing could begin.
See also
*
Crib talk
*
Lullaby
*
Sleep cycle
References
Parenting
Sleep
{{Parenting-stub