Good Bedtime Routines for Babies and Toddlers at Every Age

If you have ever typed into Google, “Why won’t my baby sleep?” you are not alone. Many tired parents eventually come across the idea of a bedtime routine while searching for answers. A bedtime routine can be a powerful tool for establishing healthy sleep habits and supporting good sleep hygiene.¹

Infants and young children thrive on predictability, and bedtime routines help cue their brains and bodies that sleep is coming. As a pediatric sleep specialist, I often remind families that winding down is just as important as the time spent asleep. A calm, consistent routine gives children space to transition from a busy day into rest.

How to Create a Bedtime Routine

If you’re lost on where to start or how to create an effective bedtime routine for your little one as they grow, don’t worry – I’ll help break it down. But first, here are a few general bedtime routine guidelines:

Keep It Simple and Predictable

Bedtime routines throughout infancy and early childhood should generally be between 20 and 30 minutes long and usually involve about 4 to 5 steps. But don’t set your stopwatch or stress too much about adding activities; this is just a loose frame of reference. If you have fewer steps or it takes a bit longer, that is just fine! However, remember that the bedtime routine’s purpose is to allow your little one some time to unwind and prepare their body for sleep. However, it shouldn’t take too long for it to seem to drag on, and it becomes hard to recognize when the end of the routine is approaching.

It Should Be Relaxing and Enjoyable

If your little one hates bath time or cannot stand sitting on your lap while you read book after book, don’t include it in your bedtime routine. No law says you must include certain steps, so find a good balance between what needs to be done (e.g., using the potty or brushing teeth) and what your little one enjoys.

Most of the Routine Should Take Place in Your Child’s Sleep Space

This will help signal to your little one that sleep is imminent and help keep negotiating and horsing around to a minimum.

Newborn Bedtime Routines (0–3 months)

Bedtime routines can begin right away, but by around the 6-week mark, having a consistent and predictable nighttime pattern can be especially beneficial.

At this age, bedtime routines should always include a full feeding as the final step. This helps ensure your baby is falling asleep with a full tummy, which can support longer stretches of rest. Because feedings during the newborn period often take 20 to 30 minutes or more, routines are typically simple and include fewer steps.

A sample newborn bedtime routine might include:

• Quick bath/washcloth wipe-down
• Lotion or infant massage
• Diaper and PJs
• Full feeding and burping
• Swaddle
• Rocking, cuddles, or kisses

Related: Must-Have Baby Sleep Products (0-6 Months)

Baby Bedtime Routines (4–12 months)

As your baby gets older, sleep associations become incredibly strong. While this makes a predictable routine an excellent tool for easy bedtimes, it can also cause problems in the sleep department if you’re not careful. One of the biggest culprits of sleep struggles is when babies fall asleep while eating. Not only can this set them up for a cycle of frequent night wake-ups, but they are likely falling asleep before they are truly full!

Set your little one up for success by feeding them earlier in the routine. 15-20 minutes won’t impact how long your baby can sleep before they need to eat again, but it can make a difference in helping them sleep through the night.

A sample baby bedtime routine might include:

• Full feeding
• Bath and brush teeth
• Lotion or massage
• Diaper and PJs or sleep sack
• 1-2 books, lullabies, or nursery rhymes
• Prayers, cuddles, or kisses

Related: Baby Sleep Must-Haves: 6-12 Month Olds

Young Toddler Bedtime Routines (13–18 months)

Once your little one is primarily on solid foods, they will likely no longer need a full feeding as part of their bedtime routine. While many nursing mothers will continue to nurse as part of the routine purely out of comfort and pleasure (which I applaud and encourage if it works for you), formula-feeding parents are usually weaning off formula and working on dropping the bottle around this age anyway.

The content of the bedtime routine will likely be very similar to that of the months prior, but you may be able to include some alternative types of one-on-one time, such as more bedtime stories or singing together.

A sample toddler bedtime routine might include:

• Bath
• Brush teeth
• Diaper and PJs or sleep sack
• 2-3 books
• Songs
• Prayers, cuddles, or kisses

Older Toddler and Preschooler Bedtime Routines (18 Months–3 Years)

As your little one grows older, a consistent bedtime routine becomes increasingly important. With budding autonomy and a penchant for negotiation, older toddlers and preschoolers are masters at bedtime stalling tactics.

With a firm bedtime routine (especially one consistently followed for their entire life), the chances of bedtime battles decrease significantly. However, it can help to allow your little one some benign choices regarding certain things. For example, you may let them pick which bath toys they’d like to play with, choose their PJs, or select three books to read. This can help mitigate some of the struggles around the non-negotiables (like going to bed).

A sample older toddler and preschooler bedtime routine might include:

• Bath
• Brush teeth
• PJs
• 3-4 books
• Use the potty
• Prayers, cuddles, or Kisses

Bedtime routines can be one of the most effective tools for promoting healthy sleep. If your family does not already have one, these age-based guidelines can help you build a routine that feels calm, predictable, and sustainable. With consistency and patience, bedtime can become a smoother and more restful part of your day.