A simple bedtime routine for kids.

An example routine

Same steps, same order.

A bedtime routine works because it's predictable: your child knows what comes next, so there's less to argue about. Here is one example. Swap, drop or add steps to suit your family, then keep the order the same from night to night.

1. 1

   Wind down

   Turn screens off and the lights down, and swap running games for something quiet. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests no screens for an hour before bed, so this is a good moment to switch them off.

2. 2

   Bath or wash

   A bath doesn't have to happen every night. A warm washcloth for face and hands works as the same signal. Keep your voice low and the splashing short.

3. 3

   Pajamas

   Hold up two pairs and let your child pick. A small choice like this often goes better than an instruction, and it's still your two pairs.

4. 4

   Brush teeth

   Brush before the story, so the story is the last calm thing. For ages 3 to 6, the AAP advises a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Let your child have a go, then finish for them.

5. 5

   Story time

   Read a book, tell a story you make up, or listen to a narrated story together. Agree how many books before you start, and let your child choose between two.

6. 6

   Goodnight

   Use the same goodnight words every night, a cuddle and lights out. Check before you leave that they have water, a comfort toy and the light they like, so there are fewer reasons to call you back.

Story time

A story to fit the night you have.

The story is often the part children remember. It doesn't need to be long: choose by the time you have.

About Pimlo's stories: Pimlo, the app we make, tells personalized narrated stories of around 20 minutes. That's simply how long our stories are, not a rule for your routine. A two-minute story is just as good a bedtime story.

Before the story

Six quiet activities for winding down.

As they grow

One routine, more independence.

Ages 3 and 4

Keep the steps few and the same every night. Point to the picture chart for each step, offer two small choices, and do most of the brushing and dressing together.

Age 5

Let your child lead a step or two: running the chart, choosing the book, switching off the big light. Agree the number of stories before you start, so it's the plan rather than a negotiation.

Ages 6 to 8

Children can do most steps on their own now. Keep the story and the goodnight together, though: it's often the part they'll want to keep the longest.

This guide is written for ages 3 to 8. If you have a younger toddler who fights every step, you're not alone: the same ideas (one order, small choices, a calm goodnight) apply, with more help from you.

Free printable

Our Bedtime Routine chart.

A two-page picture chart. Page one is the example routine above, with a simple picture for each step. Page two is blank: draw your own pictures and write your own steps. No signup, and nothing is collected.

Printing tips

• Choose US Letter or A4 to match your paper, and print at actual size (100%).
• It's designed for black-and-white printing; every picture has its name next to it.
• Put it up at your child's eye level, near where bedtime happens.

Version: October 19, 2026. Made by Pimlo. Free to print and copy for home and classroom use.