What types of things do you include in your toddler's bedtime routine?

Question

I need to establish a good bedtime routine for my 2 year old daughter, as we have a new baby coming in a couple of weeks. What types of things do you do with your little one other than bath and books?

Answer 1

Here's our routine (I have a 20 month old and a 3 year old).

finish dinner
do an activity - something active like park, library, a walk, etc.
tidy up
bath
pjs (a little t.v. while getting into pjs)
snack (a little bit of fruit, toast, cheese, crackers, or other healthy snacks)
brush teeth
read stories to the 20 mos old
say goodnight to stuffed animals, family members, pets
hugs, kisses and bed (around 7:45ish)

My 3 year old and I then spend about 1/2 hour doing an activity together - board game, card game, extra stories, colouring, playdoh, etc. It's nice to have this time 1:1 because we don't get to the rest of the day. We started this shortly after number 2 was born.

Then we head upstairs
say goodnight, brush teeth, read stories (usually 2 or 3) snuggle, talk about our day, discuss any behaviour issues and ways to handle situation better, then lights out and he goes to sleep.

I feel bedtime routine is very important and my kids settle well for bed so I think it's working. Good luck and congrats on # 2 coming.

Answer 2

I too am due in a few weeks (4) with my second, and lately I have been letting my 22 month old daughter watch an episode of Sesame Street before bed time. It takes up almost an hour, and I am able to get some things done. She usually sits on the couch and watches it with dad... I feel it is getting her ready for when the baby comes.... During the time she watched the show, I can bathe the baby and get it (we did not find out the sex) ready to go down during that time, then I can deal with my daughter. Of course who actually knows what is going to happen once the new one comes. My daughter may react so badly to the change... or she might be indifferent... or... I don't know. But for me a TV show, books and bath work well.

Good luck.

Answer 3

She goes to bed between 7:15 and 7:45
we set a timmer 30 min before she goes to bed so she can see when its almost time. BEFORE that she has a snack(if she wants one) and a glass of milk, brushes teeth. when the timmer goes off she goes around the house and gives all the pets their hugs and kisses(think the little girl from the old cartoon Tiny toon adventures) then i go in and read her the "monster" book (she will absolutly not let her dad in her room at this time) then when im done reading she yells for daddy and kicks me out, i turn off the light he rubs her back for 2 min and then leaves

Answer 4

I have a 2 and 4 year old every night we start about an hour before bed with a bath, then time hanging out with mom and dad watching a few minutes of television, brush there teeth, then mom and I tuck them in and read a little story. This gives them time to wind down and with both of us there they aren't looking for either of us. And it gives us precious time with our boys as well.

Answer 5

This is the routine that the little girl a babysit has:

7:00- quiet down time
7:15- bath
7:30- book or music/lullaby
7:45- get a drink of water
8:00- cuddle time with mommy until she falls alseep

Answer 6

We just change him and let him brush his teeth. He needs his last drink of water, he NEEDS to turn the light off then we kiss him and tell him night night and he goes down. We are in the same boat as you with a new baby coming so we are going to have to switch things up (big boy bed and all) so we might read the story at night too.

Answer 7

My son's routine is a little insane (autism), but he is in bed by 7pm and does not get up until 5:30 (great for me).

Dinner

bubble bath – no bubbles (You have to ask him if he wants to takes a bubble bath, but when he gets in he'll say no bubble)

cars towel,

diaper,

brush – Wilbarger brushing,

sippy cup with water,

cars book,

jump off bed [stands on front/headboard of his fire truck bed] 3 times,

line up 10 cars on the ledge in the bed,

cup on right side of pillow,

princess pillow for his head,

lie down on belly,

cars pillow on top of feet,

construction sheet over body,

kiss

lights,

door,

Then he bangs his head on his pillow while growling until he falls asleep (about 30-45 minutes)

Answer 8

My husband and I have a 2 and 3 year old. Each night we switch off who puts each one to bed. But each one gets a book, then a made up story, then a song. The made up story usually includes things the boys did during the day, but then we add silly farm animals to the story. Also ask them questions about their day - even what they ate for breakfast - to help with vocab and memory.

Answer 9

The time on the clock varies, as does how long it takes us to complete... but since my daughter was 23 months (she's now 4yrs) our bedtime routine is in this order:

1. SNACK (drink=milk, eat=nuts, cheese, ... protein - no sugar- not even fruit)
2. BATHROOM: potty, brush teeth, wash face (baths are exciting, not relaxing for her)
3. PAJAMAS (good time to talk about day)
4. BOOKS in her bed (lately we've played "go fish" too)
5. PRAYERS
6. SING (we've got 2 quicky songs we've sung to her since she was born... they were great soothers as an infant, I think they're just familiar habits now... but still work!)
7. "SWEET DREAMS. I LOVE YOU, NITEY NIGHT".... lights out, walk out of her room.

Now it did take us 6 months to go from co-sleeping to doing this successfully... but man was it worth it!!!

Answer 10

I use soothing music or a story on tape, for my children. Also, sitting for 5 minutes to talk about the day always makes them happy, especially since it gives them just a few "alone time" bonding moments they love so much from a parent.