My husband and I go to bed a solid TWO HOURS before our teenagers do.
We’re done.
They are not. 😂
Apparently, 9:00 p.m. is when teenagers suddenly remember they’re hungry, need to wash something for tomorrow, want to tell you a 17-minute story, or become extremely productive.
And this has been true for each of my 11 children!
Meanwhile, their dad and I are fluffing our pillows and preparing to call it a day.
But just because I’m going to bed doesn’t mean I stop mothering.
IYKYK.
I encourage bedtime in all my subtle little ways.
The lights get dimmer.
The house gets quieter.
And I put calming essential oils in the diffusers.
Basically, I’m sending one giant aromatic message throughout the house:
People. It is time to wind this operation DOWN. 😂
Nobody is forcing four teenagers into bed anymore. Those days are long gone.
But I can set the atmosphere.
Why a Calming Bedtime Routine Matters
Our environment can become part of our daily routines. The same lights, sounds, activities, and even familiar scents can become cues that it's time to transition from one part of the day to another.
Think about how quickly you know it's bedtime when the house is quiet, the lights are low, and you're already in pajamas.
You don't necessarily need someone standing over you saying, “It's bedtime!”
The environment is already telling you.
That's the idea behind creating a consistent bedtime routine for teens.
Instead of another reminder, lecture, or countdown, create an atmosphere that helps everyone start winding down.
Today's Tip: Create a Consistent Bedtime Cue
Diffuse the same calming blend between dinner and lights-out every night for two weeks.
The goal isn't to make an essential oil magically make your teenager sleepy.
It's to create a consistent evening cue.
When the same aroma becomes part of your family's nighttime routine, it can simply become associated with that transition from busy evening activities to a calmer part of the night.
And honestly?
That can be helpful for Mom and Dad, too.
Because we could all use a little help winding down.
How I Use Essential Oils for Our Evening Routine
Peace & Calming II for the Whole House
I like putting Peace & Calming II Essential Oil Blend in the living-room diffuser about an hour after dinner.
The blend includes Tangerine, Orange, Ylang Ylang, Patchouli, German Chamomile, Vetiver, and Northern Lights Black Spruce.
For me, it's all about creating a welcoming, peaceful evening atmosphere.
Five drops in the diffuser, and the house starts feeling a little different.
The lights are lower.
The noise is coming down.
The diffuser is going.
And I'm quietly communicating:
We're winding down now, people.
No announcement necessary. 😂
KidScents SleepyIze for a Bedtime Cue
KidScents SleepyIze is another blend I like incorporating into a nighttime routine.
It contains Lavender, Geranium, Roman Chamomile, Bergamot, and other essential oils and is designed to complement a calming bedtime routine.
I especially love the name.
Because let's be honest—sometimes the name itself is half the fun.
“I'm breathing SleepyIze… I guess I'm getting sleepy.” 😜
You can use it according to the product label, including appropriate topical or aromatic use.
You Don't Have to Force the Transition
One of the things I love about this approach is that I'm not trying to control every minute of my teenagers' evening.
They're getting older.
They have more independence.
And bedtime isn't the same with teenagers as it was when they were little.
But I can still influence the environment.
I can make the house quieter.
I can dim the lights.
I can turn on a calming diffuser.
I can establish routines that signal, “The day is winding down.”
And then I can go to bed.
Because at some point, Mama needs her beauty sleep, too! 😂
Try a Two-Week Bedtime Experiment
If bedtime at your house tends to turn into a nightly negotiation, try keeping it simple.
For two weeks, choose one calming aroma and diffuse it at roughly the same time each evening.
Pair it with other predictable cues:
- Dim the lights.
- Lower the volume.
- Put away stimulating activities.
- Start the family's normal bedtime routines.
- Give everyone some quiet time.
- Keep the timing reasonably consistent.
You're not trying to create a perfect bedtime.
You're creating a predictable transition.
And sometimes a predictable transition is exactly what a busy household needs.
What Made Bedtime Easier at Your House?
Every family figures out its own little tricks.
Maybe it was a particular routine.
Maybe it was turning off the Wi-Fi. 😂
Maybe it was dimming the lights.
Maybe it was simply realizing that teenagers are going to find 14 things to do at 9:00 p.m. no matter what you say.
For us, I'm happy to let the atmosphere do some of the talking.
What's the one thing that finally made bedtime easier at your house?
Hit reply and tell me. I love hearing what other parents figured out about bedtime!
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