Bedtime Routines are Magic!

Routines are the way we go about the various parts of our day. They help make these various times predictable and familiar, guiding how we go about them. One of the most essential routines to help save your sanity and settle your child for sleep, is the bedtime routine.

The magic is that when the routine becomes, well, routine… then it is guiding your child through the process of getting ready for bed, rather than you having to tell your child over and over what to do, eliminating [most] power struggles and difficult behaviors.

As children grow it supports their independence as they know what to do on their own. What are the steps you and your child go through to get ready for bed?

Create a step-by-step process, with some little things to look forward to, that is consistent and relaxing.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲:

• Brush teeth

• Take a bath with fun bath toys

• Snuggles as you help your child dry off

• Put on jammies – let your child pick which ones to wear

• Child picks a book, or two

• Snuggle as you read

• Talk about what happened that day, or what will happen tomorrow

• Turn on relaxing music

• Turn off light for sleep