A solid bedtime routine for your toddler can be the key to convincing their little energy-packed bodies to finally wind down for the night and get a good night’s sleep.
Toddlers need routine for a lot of things- getting ready for the day, meal time, bathing and more- to give them the security of knowing what comes next. Routines create patterns they can depend on and it gives them comfort and trust to go through the steps that are very familiar to them.
And for bedtime- it can help them relax and sleep well at night! And that’s good for them and definitely for you too.
We’ve had the same bedtime routine for our little man ever since he was about 1 1/2 years old and it’s still the same now at 2 1/2 years. He does a fantastic job going smoothly from step to step without complaining (most of the time). At this point it works so well, there’s truly no reason why we should change anything!
BUT WAIT. There are a few other things that matter a lot when it comes to setting your night up for success with your toddler- and go hand in hand with a dependable bedtime routine.
Keep reading for the best tips to help your toddler get ready for bedtime!
Bedtime Prep Tips
Get the Energy Out
Little kids are like labradors- they have a ton of energy and crash hard after playing hard. Letting your little one run, jump, climb, roll, laugh…. it all helps burn up the energy so that when bedtime gets closer they have a nearly empty tank.
…. Then Wind Down
It’s hard to slam on the breaks and force yourself to go from one hundred down to zero on command. What helps with that? Begin to turn the energy down when bedtime is getting closer. In our house it means that dinner time is when we start to mellow out and it works great. After sitting for a bit and getting his last good meal in for the day, our two year old falls into a naturally calmer mood.
Give Them a Heads Up
As dinner comes to a close, we remind our son that once he’s done it’s time to get ready for bed. Even though he knows the routine, it helps him to be involved in what comes next.
Keep It Mellow
Ideally, keep the tickle fights and jumping on the bed out of your winding down time. Your little one needs their body to wind down as much as their mind. Keep voices calm, lights lowered and try to avoid TV if possible.
All of those tips will help a lot with getting your toddler on the right track to sleep. Now let’s talk about routines!
Ultimately you want your routine to consist of a few simple, reliable steps that last about a half hour or so, with a little extra time if you’re planning on doing a bath. For us, if it’s a bath night (every other night) we start at 7:00pm. Otherwise we start around 7:15pm.
Without further ado, here is our toddler’s bedtime routine and it works like a charm! It’s easy, relaxing, and perfect for getting our energizer bunny of a child to chill out. Feel free to tweak it to suit your family!
Easy Toddler Bedtime Routine
- Clean up toys
- Bath (every other night)
- Clean diaper and jammies on
- Brush teeth and get water cup
- Read a few books on the rocking chair with his favorite blanket
- Turn sound machine on and turn lights off
- Offer a few sips of water
- Rock in the rocking chair with his favorite blanket
- Lay him down with his blanket and stuffed animals
A Few Notes
We don’t offer a ton of water before bedtime for obvious reasons but we always keep his cup next to the rocking chair. Sometimes we needs us in the middle of the night and wants a sip and he often wants his water cup first thing in the morning when we come into his room.
Set boundaries. Sometimes we only read one book, sometimes it’s three, but if my kid asks to sit on the floor during books it’s going to be a no. We always sit in the rocking chair because it’s part of his calming down cues. If your little one starts to get distracted or go off course, reel them back in. Lately our son has been obsessed with his airplane toy and tries to ask for it during his bedtime routine but our response is always that we will play with it in the morning when he wakes up. It’s up to you as their mom to keep things on track. Singing a couple requested nursery rhymes won’t shatter the routine, but try to keep things as consistent as possible.
Try not to make the routine complicated. You’ll want to create a routine that is manageable and not complicated.
It’s helpful to have a favorite comfort item throughout the bedtime routine. For our son, it’s his Paw Patrol blanket. It could be a favorite stuffed animal or a lovey too.
Other items you might choose to include in your routine:
- Tell a bedtime story
- Pray together
- Talk about day
- Put lotion on before jammies
- Sing a song
- Go potty (if potty trained)
Hopefully this routine helped you get some inspiration for creating your own bedtime routine for your kiddo! And if you use these easy tips it will help a ton with helping your toddler get a great night’s rest!