Bedtime can feel like a never-ending battle for many parents. Instead of winding down peacefully, getting kids to sleep often turns into a stressful ordeal. But if bedtime struggles are a nightly issue in your home, a pediatrician has a simple trick that might change everything.
Dr. Michael Milobsky (@dr_mikem), a pediatrician in Castle Rock, Colorado, recently shared a clever sleep hack on TikTok that he learned from the Yale Department of Child Psychology. Dubbed “The Game,” this method is designed to help kids 3 and older fall asleep independently—and it’s reportedly 75-80% effective.
How It Works:
- Turn Bedtime Into a Performance: Tell your child they’re putting on a show and need to act out what it looks like to get into bed and fall asleep.
- Set a Timer: Start with just 2 minutes. Parents leave the room while the child “performs” falling asleep.
- No Pressure: If the child isn’t asleep when the timer goes off, they’re allowed to get up and go where they want—including their parents’ bed.
- Increase the Time Nightly: Each night, extend the duration—going from 2 minutes to 4, then 6, and working up to 15 minutes if necessary.
- Positive Reinforcement: Praise your child for taking on a challenge and encourage their success.
Dr. Milobsky explains that by the time most kids reach 10 minutes, they start naturally falling asleep in their own bed. And if they wake up during the night, they’re free to go back to sleep wherever they choose—no stress, no pressure.
According to Dr. Milobsky, the families he has introduced this method to have seen a 90% success rate—a game-changer for sleep-deprived parents.
Parents who tried The Game shared their success stories in the comments:
💬 “2.5 weeks in and my daughter just fell asleep for the 2nd time (non-consecutively) on her own!! Game changer!!!”
💬 “I tell my daughter to ‘pretend’ she’s sleeping for 10 minutes, and I’ll come check if she’s doing a good job. Works every time! 😂”
If bedtime feels like an uphill battle, The Game might just be the trick you’ve been waiting for!