What evidence-based bedtime routine helps your anxious child fall asleep faster and stay asleep through the night? Can you describe one concrete step—like a worry time box, guided breathing protocol, or light/dark cue—that made a noticeable difference?

I discovered that creating a 'worry dump' journal ritual 30 minutes before bedtime was a game-changer for my anxious daughter. She writes down three things worrying her, then physically closes the notebook and says 'I'm leaving these here until tomorrow.' This simple act of externalizing her anxieties, combined with a warm chamomile tea, helped her fall asleep 20 minutes faster within just one week--it's about giving anxious minds permission to pause rather than spiral.