Toddlers resist bedtime less when they can see what is coming and feel in charge of it. This bedtime routine chart turns a 30-minute wind-down into six picture steps with check-off circles, so your toddler can be the "bedtime leader".
What is on it
Six steps with pictures: the timer says playtime is done, bath, pajamas, teeth and potty, lights go low, two books and cuddles, and song, hug, goodnight. Each has a circle to check, and there is a star at the bottom with a line for the bedtime leader's name.
Who it is for
Toddlers and preschoolers, roughly two to five, and families whose bedtime has turned into a nightly negotiation. Older siblings can use it too, though they may prefer to write their own steps. It works best with a fixed bedtime and the same order every night.
How to use it
- Print it and hang it where bedtime happens, at your toddler's eye level.
- Laminate it and use a dry-erase marker or stickers for the check circles.
- Point to each step and let your toddler check it off.
- Keep the order the same every night; predictability is the point.
Tips
- If one step always stalls, use a visual timer for that step.
- Dim the lights at step four and keep them dim; light is one of the strongest sleep signals.
Keep going
Our 30-minute toddler bedtime routine explains each step, and the OK-to-wake clock guide covers the other end of the night. For the lights-low step, see our Slumber Pal night lights.
US Letter, one page, full color (it also prints fine in black and white, and on A4 with "fit to page"). Free for home, classroom and therapy use; please share the link rather than re-uploading the file. More on our free tools and printables page.
