Bedtime routines

Our bedtime routine is really simple here in my home, but it’s still pretty important and I try to follow it as much as possible. When we’ve had to deviate from the routine, either because we’re out or someone is sick, I find it especially important to get it back on track as soon as possible in order to keep things running smoothly.

Our routine tends to involve a bath as needed (usually every second day unless it’s really hot, in which case they get a cool bath without shampoo or soap or anything other than cooling down), changing into pajamas, a snack (usually a small PB&J sandwich or cereal for my oldest and some yogurt for my toddler), a quiet show on Treehouse, a story, teeth, sippy cup of water, and bed.

It’s nothing dramatic or innovative, it’s just what we do.

This site has some bedtime routine information if you’ve been winging it or if your current routine doesn’t seem to be working anymore – that does happen. I used to give my oldest a soothing bath every night as a baby until she hit six months and suddenly bath time revved her up more than it calmed her down. While you’re there, you can create your own personalized ritual logs to keep track of bedtime behaviours, you can check out a message board to discuss tips and tricks with other parents (and share your successes to help someone else too!), play with customizable storybook adventures that star your own kids, and look at a ton of activities. It teaches children the importance of brushing their teeth, washing up, and reading at bedtime while keeping it fun for the family.

While you’re there, parents of school-aged children can enter their elementary school in a contest to win $1000 worth of new books for the school library (US residents only, alas).

Obviously, it’s a corporate site but the activities are fun and if you’re a US resident you can earn rewards like free toothbrushes. If you’re Canadian like I am, you can just pick an arbitrary state and zip code and while you won’t get the rewards, you can still peruse the activities and have fun with the kids!

Enjoy!