Bedtime routine chart maker
Pick the steps of your child’s wind-down, put them in order, and download a printable chart with a friendly icon for every step and a box to tick each night.
The chart is created right in your browser — names and steps never leave your device.
Why a consistent routine works
The same calm steps in the same order act as a runway for sleep: each one signals the brain that bedtime is coming, so by lights-out there’s no negotiation left. Aim for 20–30 minutes from first step to lights out.
Sample routines by age
Toddler (1–3 years)
Bath · Pyjamas on · Brush teeth · Story time · Cuddle · Lights out
Preschool (3–5 years)
Tidy up toys · Bath · Pyjamas on · Brush teeth · Potty · Story time · Goodnight kiss · Lights out
School age (5–8 years)
Bath or shower · Pyjamas on · Brush teeth · Quiet reading · Lights out
Frequently asked questions
What should a bedtime routine include?
Three to six calm, predictable steps in the same order every night — typically a bath or wash, pyjamas, teeth, a story, and a consistent goodnight. The order matters more than the exact steps.
How long should a bedtime routine be?
Around 20 to 30 minutes. Long enough to wind down, short enough that it doesn’t drift — if it regularly stretches past 45 minutes, trim a step.
What time should the routine start?
Work backwards from the bedtime your child needs for their age. Our bedtime calculator gives you a target lights-out time; start the routine 20–30 minutes before it.
At what age do routine charts help?
From around age 2, when children can follow pictures, up to early school age. Ticking off each step gives little ones a sense of control over bedtime instead of feeling ordered around.
What if my child fights the routine?
Keep the steps the same but hand over small choices — which pyjamas, which story. Praise each completed step, and resist adding “one more” of anything after lights out.
Pair the chart with the bedtime calculator for a lights-out target, the nap schedule calculator for daytime sleep, or a reward chart to celebrate a week of smooth bedtimes. See also sleep needs by age.