Toddler Bedtime Routine: Our Tips for a Peaceful Night (Beyond the Schedule)

Beyond the Schedule: The Bedtime Routine

Life with a toddler is a beautiful chaos, and a little structure can go a long way. After our discussion on finding a rhythm for your day, I wanted to dive deeper into one of the most important routines: bedtime. A consistent bedtime routine isn't just about getting your little one to sleep; it's about creating a calm, predictable wind-down period that nurtures connection and sets everyone up for a better night.

Our Evening Rhythm

For us, the bedtime routine is less of a rigid timeline and more of a gentle flow of activities. We start by putting on pajamas and heading to our "cozy area." This is Rose's chance to choose which books we'll read. Our cozy area is where Rose takes the lead, choosing her nightly selection of books—a beloved part of our consistent toddler bedtime routine that helps her wind down. We'll read until the lights in her room automatically shut off at 8 PM—our signal that it's time for the next step. Then, we'll head to the bathroom to brush teeth and use the potty before we finally hop into bed.

Lately, she's been enjoying a fun new tradition: chatting with her stuffed animal friends each night, recounting the highlights of her day, or simply jumping with them on the bed. These moments are a sweet reminder of her growing imagination and the joy she finds in small things.

Our 'cozy area' is where Rose takes the lead, choosing her nightly selection of books – a beloved part of our consistent toddler bedtime routine that helps her wind down.

The Flexible Bedtime: Rhythm Over Rigidity

Our bedtime routine provides a sense of predictability, but it's a rhythm, not a rigid schedule. While the lights automatically go out at 8:00 PM, the actual time we get into bed can vary. Some nights, we're in bed within five minutes of brushing her teeth, but on other nights, it might take fifteen.

This flexibility is a key part of our approach, and it ties directly back to what I discussed in

Finding the Rhythm. The goal isn't to hit a firm bedtime every single night, but to create a routine that she can anticipate. The consistent sequence of activities—PJs, books, brushing teeth, and hopping into bed—eases the transition to sleep. She knows what to expect next, and that predictability helps her body and mind wind down, regardless of whether it's a quick or a more drawn-out process. It's the anticipation and the rhythm of the routine that truly matter.

Getting the Wiggles Out

Sometimes, after a long day of play and adventure, Rose is still buzzing with energy. When she's extra energetic, we'll spend 5 to 10 minutes doing a movement activity to help her body get ready for sleep. We've been loving the Jump-In Hoops & Bean Bags from the Lovevery Investigator Play Kit. Sometimes we just need to get the wiggles out! Activities like hopping, tossing, and jumping provide what's known as vestibular sensory input, which helps calm the nervous system and is a fantastic way to release that last bit of energy.

Sometimes we need to get the wiggles out! Rose loves jumping with her Lovevery Hoops – it's a perfect 5-10 minute movement activity to help transition to bedtime.

We find that a bit of hopping and jumping with the Lovevery Investigator Play Kit hoops provides great vestibular sensory input, helping her body calm down for sleep..

Setting the Scene for Sleep

To further signal that it's time to rest, we use a VTech Soother that's programmed to a specific routine. It has a glow-on-the-ceiling night light and a soft night light that stays on through the night. This sensory consistency helps her body recognize that it's time for sleep. As she gets older and starts a fixed school schedule, we plan to add some morning programming to the soother, like a soft light that signals it’s time to wake up. This will help with a gentle transition into her day and give her body an external cue to help regulate her natural sleep-wake cycle.

What part of your child’s bedtime routine do you find most helpful for a smooth evening?