Nellie's Guide to Being Little: Vol. 1

How to Get Your Little to Go to Bed: A Guide

Just found this on Tumblr by a cute blog named sciencescribbler. Enjoy!

- Nellie💕✨🍼

How to Get Your Little to Go to Bed: A Guide
Find your little, and give them 'the look', the look that says, "I'm in charge, and it's time to listen." Desperately try to ignore the fact that the puppy dog eyes they shoot back almost completely disarm you.
Put on your best caregiver voice: Whether it's serious and intense, or sweet and gentle, put that voice on like armor, because you're about to be attacked by the dragon of cuteness that is a sleepy little.
Tell your little, "It's time for bed! No arguments, no tricks, no promises, it's time!"
Immediately realize that was a useless and altogether meaningless statement, since the little is currently in the mindset of 'HOW CAN I BEST TRICK MY BIG INTO LETTING ME STAY UP LATE OR COMING TO BED WITH ME?!'
Give them a stern look, and ignore any complaints or arguments. "I'm not tired", "Just five more minutes", "I'm a big girl, I can choose my own bedtime" and any other number of arguments will come from their mouth. DO NOT LISTEN, THEY ARE LIES!
Escort them to the bedroom. If they have a bed of their own, this is easier, because if you share a bed, their newest goal will be to trap you in bed with them, thereby either proving that you're little enough to be ignored at bedtime, or that they are somehow big too if you have to go to bed at the same time as them.
When you reach the bedroom, put on your cuteness blocking shields. This is very important. The minute you get near their bed, the whining, pleading, or cuddling will come out. DO NOT BE TRICKED BY THESE TACTICS. IT IS ALL A GAME, MEANT TO TRICK YOU INTO GIVING IN OR COMING TO BED.
When your endeavors to block their cuteness fail completely, try to use logic and adult sensibility to stay strong. It turns out it's pretty close to IMPOSSIBLE to ignore their cuteness...but maybe, just maybe, if you think like a big, and are stern, and forceful, you can convince them to get to bed.
Make several useless arguments, and try to gently usher them down. Offer to tuck them in, read them a story, or sing them a lullaby. They very well might accept these offers...but that doesn't mean they've given up.
As soon as you see your little getting close to being ready to sleep, give them one last kiss, hug, or cuddle. That lets them know they are cared for, wonderful, and deserving of love.
OH GOD WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!?!?!?!?! THAT CUDDLE...IT JUST REMINDED YOU HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO CUDDLE MORE. AND THE SLEEPY NOISES YOUR LITTLE IS MAKING SOUND SO MUCH LIKE CALLS TO YOUR DEEPEST, MOST PROTECTIVE SELF...Fine, fine, you can get into bed too. Now cuddle. Cuddle so hard, so intensely that it's almost superhuman. The kind of hug you imagine a teddy bear come to life would give. Give them kisses, love, give them anything that fits your dynamic, whether it be 'adult' fun or just silence and stroking their hair. Do anything your little wants...after all, DID YOU HEAR HOW CUTE THEY JUST SOUNDED?!?!
Pretend this was your plan all along. Go to sleep with them in your arms, and the scent of them in your nose. Go to bed with the caress of them against you and the love you have threatening to burst out of your heart. Go to bed and be happy that you found something so precious as a little, so open to life and beauty and joy, and intense. And tell yourself that tomorrow you aren't going to get so easily overwhelmed, and you'll make them sleep, on time, no excuses, without all this fuss.
Fall asleep happier than anyone has a right to be, because sometimes being a daddy, mommy, or big is all worthwhile the minute you hold your little in your arms.