Quick Answer
Clue: “Subject of negotiations with a 3-year-old”
Answer: BEDTIME
Answer length: 7 letters
Clue number & direction: 7-Across
The New York Times crossword clue “Subject of negotiations with a 3-year-old” is answered with BEDTIME.
Why “BEDTIME” Is the Right NYT Answer
- Parents and caregivers know that the thing most often “negotiated” with a 3-year-old is bedtime pushing it later, asking for “one more story,” or “five more minutes.”
- NYT Mini solution pages and helper sites for the January 24, 2026 puzzle all list BEDTIME as the 7-letter solution for this clue, confirming it as the intended fill.
What “BEDTIME” Means in Plain English
- Bedtime simply means the time when someone, especially a child, is supposed to go to bed and sleep.
- In this clue, it’s used humorously to capture that familiar nightly bargaining session between adults and small children.
Crossword-Specific Help and Patterns
- In the grid, BEDTIME appears as B E D T I M E, so you may see partial patterns like BEDT__E or _EDTIME from crossings.
- BEDTIME is not obscure “crosswordese,” but it does show up regularly in modern puzzles, often in playful family-life clues like “Part of a nightly routine” or “Lights-out hour.”
- For this Mini, crossings from entries such as PLOW, SAUNA, MADMEN, and downs like PADTHAI and LUMIERE help lock in each letter of BEDTIME at 7-Across.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- When a clue mentions negotiations, bargaining, or “discussions” with a small child, think of everyday flashpoints: bedtime, screen time, or snacks then match to the given letter count.
Seven-letter home-life answers starting with BED- (like BEDTIME, BEDHEAD, BEDREST) are common; crosses will quickly tell you which one fits the specific clue.
