PJs, Prams, and Pyrotechnics: How We Survived Bonfire Night Bedtime

Because sometimes sleep success doesn’t look like we imagined it… and that’s ok!

Bonfire Night. A magical evening of sparkles, excitement, and… sheer terror if you’re a parent who values bedtime.

On Saturday, I decided to brave the fireworks with my two toddlers, I had a plan. I mean, I’m a sleep coach - if anyone could prepare for an evening of overstimulation and loud bangs, surely it was me.

So, I started the day with military precision. Nap strategy: locked and loaded. My two year old got an extended lunchtime snooze, and my three year old (who hasn’t napped for a long time!) was strongly encouraged to have “quiet time.” Miraculously, she actually fell asleep. Victory number one!

Because I know how stimulation can rev little ones up, I kept our afternoon calm and predictable. No wild games, no sugar highs, just gentle play and the promise of fireworks later. (I may have mentioned “fireworks” 73 times to keep the peace.)

As bedtime approached, we switched gears into our usual routine - bath, story, PJs - even though it was earlier than usual. This is my number one tip for evenings out: do your bedtime routine before you go. That way, they’re clean, cosy, and ready for bed the minute you get home - no wrestling tired toddlers into pyjamas while fireworks echo in the distance.

So there I was - two kids, two sets of pyjamas under layers of coats, hats, scarves, and a frankly unnecessary number of gloves. They looked like adorable marshmallows ready for a winter adventure. I was feeling smug. Prepared. The sleep coach who had nailed it.

And then… reality.

We arrived at the fireworks display, excitement buzzing in the air. The crowd gasped as the first sparkle shot into the sky - well, most of the crowd did. My three year old? Fast asleep in the pram. Before the first firework even went off. Out cold. Dreaming of snacks, probably.

Meanwhile, my two year old was living his best life -  wide-eyed, clapping, absolutely transfixed by the “sparkly booms.” (Scientific term, obviously.)

Did the night go perfectly? Not exactly. Did we adapt? Absolutely. Because here’s the thing - even with all the planning in the world, sometimes kids have their own version of “perfect.”

The real win came later. Both kids - yes, both - transferred straight from pram to car to bed with zero drama. No overtired meltdowns, no bouncing off the walls, no crying that they were “hungry” or “not tired” at 10pm. They were snug, settled, and fast asleep.

And that’s the point I always share with the families I work with: sleep doesn’t have to look perfect to be successful. It’s okay if bedtime shifts a little, or if plans don’t go exactly to script. What matters is that your little one’s overall sleep tank stays full - and that you’ve set them up to settle easily when it’s time.

So, whether you’re planning to watch fireworks in your pyjamas from the window, or you’re braving the local display with coats, scarves, and an emergency bag of snacks - remember:

Calm, predictable routines and a bit of flexibility go a long way. And if you can sneak in an extra nap or two before the big event, even better.

Your evening might not be picture-perfect, but if everyone ends up asleep (eventually), I’m calling that a parenting win.

Here’s to calm nights, happy memories, and little ones whose sleep tanks stay full - even when the sky is exploding.

Danni x