The Toddler Bedtime Routine

As your little one enters the exciting, but often chaotic time of toddlerhood, bed time may start to look a little different. As your child changes so do their needs and with every passing month their needs for rest can differ.

With your child beginning to talk, walk, and understand the world around them better, there are many new exciting things you can bring into their routine to enhance their development and foster a healthy sleep environment.

In this article, our Los Angeles sleep experts will discuss the perfect toddler bedtime routine and how you can get your energetic toddler the Zzzs they need.

The importance of a bedtime routine

A healthy bedtime routine is something we recommend instilling from the time you bring your baby home. Babies and toddlers thrive on routine and following a routine as often as possible will let your child know when it is time to start settling down for rest.

This routine can help your child to focus on important tasks that they will eventually need to learn to do on their own such as brushing their teeth or dressing for bed. This time can also be a special bonding time between you and your toddler, as this time should generally be more quiet and relaxed as opposed to the hustle and bustle of the day.

What a good routine looks like

Your toddler’s routine doesn’t have to look the same as your friend’s child’s routine, however, there are certain steps you can add that will help get your child settled and in a relaxed state of mind.

It can be helpful to choose a bedtime for your child this is suitable for your family and allows you, your partner, and your child to all get the rest you need. You should give yourself enough time before this bedtime to complete your routine.

To avoid a fussy toddler who will fight sleep, it can be helpful to inform your child at the beginning of your routine that you are going to begin winding down for the night.

A good bedtime routine could look like this:

Bathtime: Toddlers get very dirty throughout the day. A daily bath is a great way to both get them clean and relax them before bed.
Dress for bed: dress your toddler in clothes that are loose and comfortable for sleep and will allow them to stay cool throughout the night.
Story and/or songtime: there are so many benefits to reading and singing to your child. Right before bed is a great time to engage in these activities. Read a few books or sing some songs to your child to get them feeling drowsy.
Soothing: it may be helpful to your toddler if you sit with them for a few minutes in the dark as they first settle down. Try your best to leave as they are drowsy so they can eventually learn to settle themselves to sleep without your presence.

What if our routine isn’t working?

While a bedtime routine is a great cornerstone for healthy toddler sleep, it is definitely not always a complete solution to attaining perfect rest. Toddlers go through unique developmental milestones and can have their own struggles that make it difficult to fall or stay asleep.

If you are having severe sleep struggles with your child, it can be helpful to reach out to a Los Angeles sleep consultant.

About Sleep Shop

The Sleep Shop is led by Melissa, a mother of four, and is a member of the International Association of Professional Sleep Consultants.

We offer one-one-one unlimited consulting, sleep classes with our founder, phone consultations, 1-week jumpstarts, infant sleep guides, 2 weeks of consulting, toddler nap guides, toddler sleep guides, toddler total resets, and “the toddler tune-up”.

We offer sleep consulting services in all of Los Angeles including Downtown L.A., Santa Monica, Malibu, South Bay, Pacific Palisades, Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Beverly Hills, Century City, and the Greater Los Angeles area.