Bedtime Routine for Kids
Total: 33 min
A consistent bedtime routine is one of the best-evidenced ways to help children fall asleep faster and sleep better. The secret is not any single step — it is the predictable sequence, repeated every night, that signals the brain it is time to wind down.
This bedtime template follows the classic wind-down order: bath, pajamas, brushing teeth, a story, and lights out. The visual timer keeps the evening moving without negotiations, because the child can see exactly what remains before bed.
For children with ADHD or autism, this predictability is especially valuable: the routine removes the uncertainty that often causes bedtime anxiety and stalling.
The routine
- Bath10 min
- Get dressed5 min
- Brush teeth3 min
- Read10 min
- Sleep5 min
Tips for parents
- Start the routine at the same time every night — even on weekends when possible.
- Keep screens out of the last hour; the story step is the perfect substitute.
- Dim the lights when the routine starts to reinforce the wind-down signal.
- If your child stalls at one step, shorten the previous one rather than adding pressure at the end.