How to Keep Halloween Fun from Haunting Bedtime

🎃 How to Keep Halloween Fun from Haunting Bedtime 🛌 Simple screen swaps and bedtime tricks to help kids reset after a spooky night

After the last piece of candy is handed out and the costumes come off, many parents face a new Halloween challenge: getting their sugar-fueled, screen-hyped kids to sleep. Between scary shows, endless scrolling, and late-night excitement, bedtime can turn into a real fright fest.

But according to sleep experts at Eachnight.com, a few simple changes can help families reclaim rest and reset routines—starting the very next night.

🧠 Why Halloween Wrecks Sleep Scary media spikes arousal, and blue light from screens delays melatonin, the hormone that helps us feel sleepy. Add in candy and later-than-usual bedtimes, and it’s no wonder kids struggle to wind down. Sleep is essential for learning, mood, immunity, and growth—and most kids already fall short of recommended sleep hours.

📋 The Halloween Screen Plan (So Easy, It’s Scary) Here’s how to help your little goblins settle down after trick-or-treating:

1. Set a “Screen Curfew”: Power down phones, games, and horror clips at least 60 minutes before lights-out.
2. Swap to Calm: Replace screen time with a warm bath or shower, dim lighting, a paper book, or soft music.
3. Candy Rules: Limit to 2–3 fun-size pieces. Skip chocolate and soda in the evening, especially for younger kids.
4. Bedroom Reset: Use night-lights only, keep chargers out of bedrooms, and silence notifications.
5. Next-Morning Reset: Get bright light within 30 minutes of waking, serve a protein-rich breakfast, and return to the usual bedtime that night.

🕒 How Much Sleep Do Kids Need? According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine:

Age GroupRecommended Sleep (per 24h)

Toddlers

11–14 hours (including naps)

Preschoolers

10–13 hours

School-age

9–12 hours

Teens

8–10 hours

😴 Signs Your Child’s Overtired Look out for hard wake-ups, irritability, hyper “second winds,” dozing off early, or weekend sleep “catch-ups.”

🧺 Try a “Boo Night” BasketEachnight.com suggests a $25 wind-down kit: a paperback book, bubble bath, and a small night-light. It’s a simple way to swap stimulation for soothing.

💬 “Scary media and blue light keep kids’ nervous systems on high alert,” says Carolyn Rousch, sleep expert at Eachnight.com. . “A one-hour screen curfew and a calm, repeatable wind-down help most families protect bedtime, even on Halloween.”

👻 So this year, don’t let spooky fun steal your family’s sleep. A few smart swaps can turn Halloween night into a sweet dream.

Source: Eachnight

Eachnight.com publishes evidence-based sleep guides for families, including age-based sleep needs and parent-friendly routines.