The transition from being awake to falling asleep is easy for adults; we know when do we have to sleep, and when do we have to wake up. But for toddlers, the process is not that typical. Toddlers need to be taught the principles of setting a fixed time for sleep. This is where a good bedtime ritual comes into play.

Bedtime rituals fall under routines, which are exceptionally important for a child’s early development. They teach children the importance of following rules and being punctual at an early age, helping them grow into responsible adults in the future. Nurseries in JLT like Oakfield value these kinds of routines by assigning their very own “Nap Time”, where children are taught ways to can calm themselves down through soothing, routine-based activities. It works like wonders!

So when it comes to bedtime routines, parents need to be vigilant and smart when approaching their child, especially if they’re really active and not ready to sleep. Here is you can adjust toddlers into a good bedtime routine:

Phase 1: The Indicator

This is the first phase of your toddler’s bedtime routine: show that it’s time! Pick a certain time that’s not to early or too late, according to your family’s lifestyle. Try not to run errands or commit to different tasks during that time, so that all of your attention is devoted to your child.

At this specific time, give a notice that it’s bedtime – this can be in the form of you silently picking up toys, closing off the television, or even setting an alarm. Here is where your toddler will start getting conditioned to accept that bedtime cannot be compromised. After a few weeks of committed routine, your child will automatically know when it’s time to sleep.

Phase 2: The Wind-down

Here comes the second phase – and possibly the trickiest phases to solve: the wind-down. After your child knows that it’s time to sleep, they might not want to do so right away. They might be too hyper or too restless!

At such instances, calm them down with short, soothing tasks. Placing them in a specific order further proves to your toddler that there’s a routine they have to follow – and which they can’t fight. The key to successfully winding children down is by establishing a healthy sense of cooperation between the two of you.

Examples of such activities range vastly, and depend on your toddler’s nature. The most common – and effective! – ones are:

• A warm bath: a warmer temperature has proven to help children fall asleep faster.
• Closing the blinds, and turning the lights low: this is where it’s pretty obvious that it’s time to go to bed – they’ll most likely not make a fuss about it!
• Playing quiet games: although this feels counterproductive, it actually is a great way of letting children tire themselves just enough to feel sleepy.
  
  

Phase 3: Last-minute Rituals

This is the final phase, and needs to complete the transition. Therefore, you need to make sure that at this point, your toddler is already willing to sleep.

Right before dozing off, you can enjoy some quality time with your toddler. Reading is perhaps the best choice, because it’s interactive, and a great way to calm hyperactive toddlers down. Picking one story that your child loves helps them automatically enjoy this precious time before sleep – they won’t have a reason to resist!

Depending on their nature, some toddlers can’t sleep unless they have a companion – so make sure they have their favorite stuffed toy, doll or teddy bear to soothe them. The more comfortable they are, the easier it’ll be for them to fall asleep.


Bedtime doesn’t have to be a struggle – in fact, it can be the easiest thing in the world. All it takes is a good routine so simple that it becomes almost second nature for your child.