You're past middle-of-the-night feedings and diaper changes, but a good night's sleep is still elusive. Maybe bedtime has turned into a battle of wills, or you're struggling to get your preschooler to stay in his or her bed all night. Worse yet, these bedtime battles may be leaving your child tired and cranky during the day. Consider these simple strategies to put the most common bedtime problems to rest – starting tonight!

Often parents feel that bedtime is chaotic – your days and nights are booked and you often feel rushed when you put your child to bed.

But even if you need to rearrange your schedule, it's important to make bedtime a priority. A predictable, calming bedtime routine is often the key to a good night's sleep.

What's in the bedtime routine is up to you. You might give your child a warm bath, brush his or her teeth, read a few stories and say bedtime prayers. Each night, you might praise your child for a specific accomplishment or describe something that makes you proud of your child. If you play bedtime music, play the same songs every night. Then tuck your child snugly into bed and say good night. Experiment to find what works best for you – but once you settle on a routine, follow the same sequence of events at the same time and in the same order every night.

What happens if your child doesn't want to go to bed – a problem that nearly every parent faces. Often when it is time for them to go to bed they fuss about going to sleep because they do not want to miss anything.

Put yourself in the child's position – if they can hear talking, laughing, or sounds from the computer or TV, it's easy to see how they would feel left out.

To ease the transition to bedtime, keep things quiet during the last hour before bedtime. Put away noisy games and toys. Turn off the TV, computer and video games. Dim the lights. Limit the entire family to quiet activities, such as reading books or doing puzzles. Sleep may be more appealing if everyone slows down before bedtime.

Many children will not fall asleep alone and begs you to stay in the room until he or she falls asleep.

First off try and encourage your child to fall asleep alone, help him or her feel secure. Start with a calming bedtime routine. Then make sure your child has a favourite comfort object, such as a stuffed animal or blanket, for company. If your child is afraid of the dark, turn on a night light or leave the bedroom door open.

If your child continues to resist, you might promise to check on him or her every 10 minutes until they fall asleep. During these checkups, praise your child for being so quiet and staying in bed. Remember that you're helping your child learn to fall asleep alone. If you give in and climb into bed with your child, that's what your child will remember – and probably expect the same the next night!

Often children won't stay in their bed. You know the scene – you finally have put your child to bed, only to find him or her trailing you down the hall.

Well it is important to not let bedtime become a power struggle. When your child's bedtime routine is complete and he or she is comfortable, remind your child that there's no reason to get out of bed. If your child gets up, promptly return him or her to bed – repeatedly, if necessary. You may have to shut the door or put up a gate or barrier.

Some children stays up too late and by the time he or she is ready for bed it's usually past your bedtime. You could be fighting a losing battle here. You may want to try scaling back daytime naps or rousing your child earlier in the morning. You can also put your child to bed a few minutes earlier every night until you're back to the original bedtime. Whatever time you put your child to bed, remember to stick to a calming bedtime routine. Taking time to wind down might help your child fall asleep.

A number of children wake up in the middle of the night and won't fall asleep again without your help.

Try giving them a few minutes to settle down. If time alone doesn't do the trick, go to your child's room and offer calm reassurance. Then tell your child that it's time to sleep and leave the room. Wait longer each night to go to your child's side, until eventually your child falls back to sleep without your help.

Frustration becomes a problem with your child's bedtime problems. You're tired of the whining, crying and complaining, so you give up and let your child fall asleep in front of the TV.

That is not a good idea. Bedtime battles can test the best parent's resolve. Still, it's important to hang in there. You may need to be patient – and ignore whines, cries and pleas – but it's never too late to teach your child good sleeping habits. If your child is pushing the limits, state your expectations and stick to the routine. Eventually, your consistency will pay off in a good night's sleep for everyone.