Inside: Start a super simple toddler bedtime routine to help make nights calm while flourishing connections and promoting better sleep.
It was 6:45 pm and my toddler was prancing around the house with her pants on her head pretending she was a superhero…
Let’s just say, it felt like bedtime was nowhere in sight.
Bedtime was kryptonite to my toddler!
So I was determined to begin an easy toddler bedtime routine that wasn’t rigid and unbending, but a bedtime routine that was structured enough to be predictable but flexible enough to help my child freely unwind.
And it was a success!
Following this exact routine, my toddler now knows what to expect from before bedtime and it helps her sleep soooo much better!
I’ll share with you the exact step-by-step toddler bedtime routine to help make nights calm, encourage your toddler to unwind, and flourish your connection with them while promoting better sleep.
Score!
Here’s an overview of the 5 step toddler bedtime routine:
- Cleaning
- Dressing
- Drink
- Bathroom
- Bonding & Books
- Bedtime & Cuddles
We’ll dive into the details and activities of each step and I’ll show you how you can add flexibility to each of the steps as well.
You want to make them feel as safe, comfortable and rested as possible while giving them some independence as they continue to grow and develop.
This bedtime routine can be used for little ones 18 months & up all the way to toddlerhood (4-5 years old)! I’ll show you how to add flexibility to the routine based on your child’s age.
Let’s dive in…
Want to instantly download this toddler bedtime routine now?
If you want this toddler bedtime routine right at your fingertips, get the instant download and free printable version sent straight to your inbox!
This printable is toddler-friendly so you can print it out and place it on your toddler’s wall and they can easily learn and follow it with you throughout the evening.
Also, save the step by step guide to your device so you always have it on hand 🙂
Why is a Bedtime Routine Important?
Bedtime routines can be simple as you make them or as detailed as you like.
A bedtime routine is simply just to send a signal to your child that it’s almost time for nighttime sleep.
It’s a great way to unwind from the day, connect, and get your child ready for bed. You’ll want to send certain “cues” to your toddler that it’s nighttime and time for sleep.
These cues can be anywhere from a bath to a book before bed!
Don’t have time to read this now? That’s okay! Save it to your favorite Pinterest board for later!
Mastering Mom life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please view Mastering Mom Life’s Terms, Disclosure & Disclaimer Policy and Privacy Policy.
Best Toddler Bedtime Routine
Remember, every child is different so feel free to use this routine as a guide and tweak what you need to in order to meet your toddler where they are.
This toddler bedtime routine just has all of the “ingredients” your toddler needs to successfully wind down from the day and promote a calm night with good rest. But you can mix up these ingredients in any way you see fit!
1. Cleaning
It’s bath time!
Bath time has been the start of our bedtime routine since my daughter was 6 months old. It’s a great way for a toddler to transition from dinner to “wind down” mode.
Even if you’re toddler doesn’t have an actual bath every night, this step is just the act of cleaning your child. Whether that’s a bath or a good wipe down, this step is the first one to help your child understand it’s time for nighttime.
Bath time is also a great way to let your little one get the wiggles out before bed. They can play with toys and this could be counted as their last “activity time” of the day.
This time can also be a great connection activity where you sing songs with your toddler and have fun together.
You can make up a “bath time” song or sing a Cocomelon bath song and teach your little one how to clean their body.
Here are some bath toys my toddler loves:
Safety Note: Never leave your child unattended in the bath. I always sit in the bathroom with my children and fold clothes or play with them but I’m always giving them my undivided attention and watching them.
Related Reading:
2. Get Dressed
Now that bath time is over it’s time to get dressed in cozy pajamas.
I like to dry my daughter and apply lotion right after her bath. The lotion absorbs so much better into her skin and leaves her smooth and moisturized.
(My daughter battles itchy, dry skin so this really helps prevent her from scratching all night)
Then, if your toddler is old enough, let them dress themselves as much as possible. If your toddler is still little, get them dressed and use this time to teach them how to put each arm in the shirt and each leg in the pants.
I used to sing my baby the hokey pokey when I was getting her dressed after a 4bath. She associated that song with getting ready for bed!
I also give my children 10 minutes of playtime after they are dressed. Another opportunity to get the wiggles out!
They play with each other and clean up their room getting their beds ready for sleep. When my daughters were little and not able to do as much, I would use this time to connect with them and play little games- like peek a boo.
Remember, each step in the bedtime routine is used to help your child understand it’s almost time for bed and unwind but also connect with them before bedtime.
3. Drink
Ever since my children were little, they always loved milk before bed. Whether it was a few ounces in a bottle when they were babies or a little milk in their favorite cup before bedtime.
I like to give them milk when they ask for it at this time because it’s one of their “nighttime cues”.
I have milk as step 3 because it’s a perfect time – they haven’t gone potty yet so I like to wait a couple of minutes after they drink it and then make them go to the bathroom.
(So we don’t have any potty break night wakings!)
My oldest likes to drink her milk sitting in bed. We get our books ready and her pillow nice and fluffed, then go to the bathroom for our final potty trip.
If your little one is still getting a bottle/sippy cup for any reason, this is the step I used to give it to them. (As I mentioned, I’ve been using this routine since my babies were 1 so it’s changed a lot since they were that age as they continue to grow & develop)
4. Bathroom
Here’s the last potty break!
If your little one isn’t potty trained yet, don’t worry- it will happen when your child is ready. During this bathroom time, you can sit your toddler on the toilet if you’re in the process of potty training or you can just use this time to brush teeth.
If you’re wanting to potty train soon, you can add this to your bedtime routine as early as you like so your child can get used to the routine and it will become very predictable for them when it’s time for them to start going potty. It will be something they’re already used to!
If your toddler is potty trained, make sure they actually go to the bathroom. If they “don’t have to go”, ask them to sit on the toilet for an extra 30 seconds to a minute. Sometimes I play a counting game or sing a counting song to distract my toddler from being antsy as she waits.
Giving them that extra time just ensures they actually don’t have to go and not just saying they don’t. This can help prevent an accident or night potty trip.
If your child is younger and still in diapers, this is the time I change them and apply fresh diaper cream.
5. Book
We finally made it to book time…
I love this step in our bedtime routine because it means we are one step closer to lights off (cue the mom dance!)
When my daughter was little (18-20 months) I would sit with her on the glider and read her a book after her nighttime milk and diaper change.
As my kids got older and we transitioned them from a crib to a toddler bed/twin bed, we tweaked our bedtime routine to reflect their growth.
Now my oldest is 4.5 years old and we read her books laying down on her bed. She chooses 2-3 books and we read them together.
Here are some fun books that we read every night:
- First 100 Words
- Trace & Flip Book
- Princess Bedtime Stories
- Peppa Bedtime Stories
- Mickey Bedtime Favorite Stories
6. Bedtime
That time has arrived—bedtime!
After reading, we…
- cuddle for a few minutes
- turn off the lights,
- switch on the nightlight,
- put on the sound machine,
- and give her a big kiss.
I sit on a chair in her room and sing her a few songs until she drifts into sleep.
Some nights I sit for a few minutes and leave. Other nights I sit for a while until she falls asleep. It depends on my toddler’s mode and what she needs that night.
I’ve used a sound machine for my children’s naps and nighttime sleep since they were babies. It helped them sleep better and was a great sleep cue. As your baby gets older, you can begin to wean from the sound machine as you see fit.
My 4-year-old still uses the sound machine on its lowest setting. She likes the noise because we live in very noisy New York City (the city that literally never sleeps when my kid needs to sleep haha)
But I also know parents who play an hour loop of instrumental lullabies or beach waves for their child to fall asleep.
A good rule of thumb is to use whatever method has been working for your toddler to fall asleep for naps and just replicate it for bedtime.
And there you have it!
How to Get a Toddler in a Bedtime Routine
Babies and toddlers love predictability. It helps them feel secure in what they’re doing throughout the day and helps them know what to expect.
Routines are a great way to offer them that predictability and structure!
If your toddler does not have any bedtime routine whatsoever- do not fret…you can easily start one at any point.
It’s never too late to begin a new routine.
It’s also never too late to tweak or alter an existing routine. If you have a bedtime routine but it doesn’t seem to be working, don’t fear changing it a bit.
It’s all about giving your toddler what they need and meeting them where they are developmentally.
- To start or alter a bedtime routine, it always begins with the first day. Don’t be afraid to just jump in and begin!
- Follow the routine for the first night and see how many steps you get through.
- Explain to your toddler each step as you do it so they understand the importance of each activity in the bedtime routine and how it helps them wind down.
Tell them what the next step is so they can begin to be aware of the predictability of the routine pattern.
- As each night of the week progresses, continue to do the same steps in somewhat the same order (it doesn’t have to be perfect!) while explain to your child what you’re doing, why, and what’s next.
After 7-10 days you should see a noticeable improvement in your bedtime endeavor. More on this later so keep reading!
Also, be sure to download the toddler bedtime routine guide. It not only comes with a download/printable bedtime routine you can follow and teach your child but it also has a nighttime tracker to help you pinpoint changes in your child’s sleep and nighttime mood!
What you document & track will help you tweak the bedtime routine to fit your child’s needs to get you even better results.
Grab the free guide by signing up using the form below!
Keep track of how your child sleeps those nights to see if there are any changes. Tweak the routine as you see fit. Remember, this is all about following YOUR child’s cues!
How Long Should a Toddler Bedtime Routine Be?
Don’t get too hung up on doing this super long, detailed and complicated bedtime routine. A bedtime routine is simply to let your little one knows that it’s time for nighttime sleep.
I’m specific in saying nighttime sleep because nighttime sleep is much different from daytime sleep. A nap ends after 1-2 hours. Nighttime sleep lasts 10-12 hours.
A huge difference!
Little actions such as reading a book before bed or putting on lotion before pajamas are sending your child cues that it’s time for nighttime sleep.
This sample bedtime routine (that I’ve used for all of my kids) is about 45 minutes to an hour long. I begin the routine with a bath, and depending on how long bath time lasts will determine how long from that point it takes for my toddler to go to sleep.
But your bedtime routine can be 30 minutes- that’s totally fine!
You can use the steps in this bedtime routine as a guide and shorten or lengthen it as you see necessary.
Related Reading:
Tips for Toddler Bedtime Routine
Here are some tips to help you be as successful as possible in your bedtime routine…
Be Consistent
Consistency is the key to any good routine. That’s what makes a routine a routine- the pattern and predictability of it!
And that only comes with consistency. Keep in mind, that doesn’t mean every day has to be a minute for minute clone of the previous day!
It just means to consistently keep the same steps and pattern of the routine as best as you can so your toddler can begin to become aware of its predictability.
Give Your Toddler Options
There’s nothing worse than a defiant toddler refusing to do anything you say. Trust me, I’ve been there…
I’ve learned the very hard way a great way to prevent this little tantrum is to give your child options. Not a crazy amount of options that would overwhelm them but a couple of options to help them feel independent.
For example:
- pick out 2 pajamas and let your toddler choose which one they want to wear
- let your toddler choose the books they want to read that night
- offer them 3-4 different bath toys and allow them to choose
Allowing your toddler to make these small choices gives them autonomy and will even help them with growth and development!
Will I see an improvement in our night times?
After 7-10 days of consistently doing a bedtime routine, you should see a noticeable improvement in your bedtime endeavor.
Keep track of how your child sleeps those nights to see if there are any changes. Tweak the routine as you see fit. Remember, this is all about following YOUR child’s cues!
If you see your child is taking a long time to fall asleep, stretch the amount of time your child is up before starting the bedtime routine.
If your toddler is waking up 2 hours after falling asleep to go potty, be sure to take your little one to the bathroom later, preferably right before they lay down.
Tracking your child’s nights can help you see where you need to make those little changes to enable your toddler to have the best night’s rest possible!
FREE Download/Printable Toddler Bedtime Routine & Tracker
Be sure to get the Toddler Bedtime Routine to access my FREE toddler bedtime tracker
It also comes with a printable toddler bedtime routine chart you can hang up and show your toddler so they can follow along with the routine steps and pictures!
Includes:
- Bedtime improvement tracker
- Printable Pictured Routine for toddlers
- Downloadable step by step routine
Complete the form below to get it sent straight to your inbox 🙂
Recap Time!
Bedtime routines are one of the best ways to help your toddler unwind while giving them the “nighttime sleep” cue.
Overview of the 6 step toddler bedtime routine:
- Cleaning
- Dressing
- Drink
- Bathroom
- Bonding & Books
- Cuddles & Bedtime
The goal is to make them feel as safe, comfortable, and restful as possible while giving them some independence as they continue to grow and develop.
This exact step-by-step toddler bedtime routine is designed to help make nights calm, encourage your toddler to unwind, flourish your connection with them while promoting better sleep.
Remember, YOU know your child best!
Tweak this routine as you see fit to meet your child where he/she needs.
Don’t forget to grab that free Toddler Bedtime Routine (fill out the form above!) so you can have these steps sent straight to your device 🙂
You got this, mama!
Leave a Reply