Kids Bedtime Routine

A regular bedtime routine helps kids get to bed—and stay in bed. But it’s not always easy to put a bedtime routine in place. Here’s how you can get started to create one that not only works, but that also allows you to spend precious moments with your little ones at the end of the day.

Wind down at bath time

Make bath time the first step in your bedtime routine. A warm bath is comforting, no matter how old you are and can help kids wind down at the end of long, busy day. While you don’t want to hype little ones up before they have to go to bed, bath toys make this part of the bedtime routine even more enjoyable for kids. With toys, kids can unleash their imagination—it’ll also help reluctant bathers feel more comfortable in the water.

Read bedtime stories aloud

It’s never too early to start reading aloud to your little ones, so make story time part of your bedtime routine. Bedtime stories are the perfect way to snuggle up and spend time together—and they help you raise a reader for life. Choose age appropriate books, or if your kids are old enough, let them choose the story themselves. If your children are learning to read, have them help with some of the passages—if they’re feeling up to it. You might go through phases where you feel like you’re reading the same books repeatedly—that’s totally fine! This repetition helps children learn. Great bedtime stories for kids include classics, like Goodnight Moon and The Very Hungry Caterpillar as well as new favourites, such as Dream Big Little One, Everything is Mama and Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes.

Do you need a lullaby?

Bedtime songs for kids, or lullabies, can help soothe little ones to sleep and make a beautiful addition to a bedtime routine. You can sing one yourself, or if you’re not as musically inclined, play one off a streaming app. Play the same song every day to make sure your child associates it with sleep. Popular bed time songs for kids include: “Brahm’s Lullaby”, “You Are My Sunshine” and Hush Little Baby”.

Turn on that nightlight

For kids who are a little scared of the dark, sound machines and nightlights might make going to bed a little less scary. Make turning these helpful machines on a part of your bedtime routine—perhaps you can use them to scare away those monsters hiding under the bed. And for those who like to jump out of bed early, a Gro Clock might help them stay tucked in until morning. You can set the clock to display a sun when it’s time to get up and teach kids to get out of bed only when they see that sun shining.

Bring along some plush toys

Plush Toys and stuffed animals are a bedtime routine essential. These furry friends are more than just a snuggle buddy—they act as a comforter and a protector in the dark. A classic teddy bear will always be beloved, but today, brands like Jellycat, Gund and BabyToLove have a variety of adorable creatures to love—including elephants, toucans, avocados and strawberries.

Now, you’re reading for tuck-in time with a solid bedtime routine