Our Bedtime Routine with a Toddler (That Actually Works… Most Nights)
Creating a calm(ish) evening rhythm as a first-time mum
Toddler bedtime is a full-on event at our house.
Some nights feel dreamy. Others? Chaos in pajamas. But over time, we’ve found a routine that mostly works for us—and I’m sharing it here in case it helps another tired parent.
This isn’t expert advice. It’s real life, trial-and-error, with a toddler who sometimes sings at bedtime and sometimes melts down over the wrong socks.
Our Evening Routine 🕯️
1. Dinner Around 6:00 PM
We try to keep it calm(ish)—familiar foods, soft lighting, no rush.
Some nights she eats everything. Some nights she just throws blueberries. We roll with it.
2. Free Play + Wind Down (6:30–7:00 PM)
We dim the lights a little, tidy up together (or try to), and do quiet play.
Her current favorite: reading books to her stuffed animals. Mine: anything that doesn’t involve stepping on toys.
3. Bath Time (7:00 PM)
Baths are hit or miss. Some nights it’s full mermaid mode, other nights it’s a no-bath meltdown.
We keep it short, simple, and throw in a silly song or two to lighten the mood.
4. Pajamas, Lotion, and Chat
After bath: soft towel, favorite PJs, a bit of lotion or baby oil, and some chatter.
We talk about what she did that day—even if it was just “climbed everything and laughed about it.”
5. Story Time (7:30 PM)
We snuggle in her room and read 2–3 books (okay, usually the same one 3 times).
Right now she’s obsessed with animals, so it’s mostly “ROAR” and pointing at tigers.
6. Lights Off, White Noise On
This is the “cross your fingers” moment.
White noise goes on, lights off, and I stay with her for a little while. Some nights she falls asleep fast, other nights there’s a lot of fidgeting and a few extra cuddles.
💤 What Helped Us the Most
Consistency—Doing roughly the same steps each night made a huge difference
Slower transitions—When we rush, bedtime gets harder
Saying “goodnight” to things—We say “night-night” to her toys, books, the cat… she loves it
Letting go of perfect—It doesn’t have to be quiet, clean, or magical every night. Just connected.
💛 Final Thoughts
This routine isn’t rigid—it’s flexible, imperfect, and always evolving.
Some nights she goes down without a fuss. Other nights she needs extra cuddles and snacks and giggles and tears. And that’s okay.
If you’re in the middle of finding your rhythm too, just know: it doesn’t have to look like the Pinterest version to be working for your family.
You’re doing great.
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