Tips for Choosing the Right Bedtime Routine for Toddlers

Sibling Relationships & Rivalry
1

Creating a bedtime routine for toddlers can be quite a challenge, especially with all the different advice available. I’ve recently been trying various approaches to find what suits my kids best. Some parents prefer a strict schedule, while others allow for more flexibility based on the day’s events.

From my experience, routines that include calming activities, like reading together or having quiet conversations, really help signal that it’s time to wind down. Still, I’ve noticed that what works one night might not be effective the next, which can be frustrating. How do you manage the balance between sticking to a routine and accommodating your toddler’s changing moods or energy levels?

What bedtime routines have you found work well? Do you have any tips for easing the transition when your little one resists going to bed?

2

We’ve had some luck with a wind-down playlist of calming songs right before bed—it seems to help set the mood. But yeah, some nights my kid is just not having it, and that can totally throw everything off. I’ve started to just go with the flow more instead of stressing about sticking to the schedule. What kind of calming activities do you try?

3

Keeping things flexible seems key! We do a bath and then read a story, but if my kid is super hyper that night, sometimes we skip the book for a quick cuddle instead. It’s tough to stick to a plan every night, but I try to keep it chill and switch things up when needed. How do you handle it when they just won’t settle down?