How To Simplify Your Children's Bedtime Routine

Simplify your children's bedtime routine with a few simple steps! Then you can spice up your evenings with a free Game Story printable!

Early on our bedtime routine was simple, but always something I looked forward to. My babies would nurse and then cuddle me in bed. I loved how something so simple could be so special. As my babies got older, our bedtime routine changed.Some nights, it was just about putting our kids to bed so my husband and I could sit down after a long day. Other nights, it lasted twice as long as normal because we were having so much fun spending quality time with them.As my husband's travel schedule is picking back up, we're trying to be intentional with a consistent bedtime routine. It's not always perfect, in fact it rarely is. However, we've been able to keep most of it the same.

Our bedtime routine.

6:30 Turn off any shows the kids may be watching and send them upstairs to get ready for bed. While the big kids are brushing teeth and getting on their jammies I start getting my  youngest ready. After he's cozy and ready I lather him up in lavender and coconut oil. I just started doing this with all of my kids before bed and it's been a game changer. It helps them all to calm down and has been helping my oldest with his bad dreams.

7:00 My youngest gets smothered in kisses, we pray, and then he goes to bed. He's the easiest to put down to sleep because he loves bed time. I kid you not, he actually loves it. All you have to do is tell him it's bed time, he gets his blankey, and starts to climb upstairs.

Then I go to my big kids room only to find my older kids not ready for bed yet. It doesn't matter that I asked them to get ready. They tend to be playing hide and seek or jumping on their beds (trying to stay away from the lava.) I remind them, for the countless time to get ready for bed. After a bit of help, they get ready and race into their room.

7:30 This is my kids favorite part of the night. Game story. We all pile into one of our kids beds and get our creative juices flowing. Everyone starts to jump in saying who gets to start the story. It usually ends up being my husband or myself.

Game story rules: Each person gets to tell a small portion of the story. After someone takes their turn, the next person will start off where they stopped.

Game story has become a family tradition in our house. We even include any houseguests we may have. 

8:00 We tuck the kids in bed, give them kisses, turn on their clock night light, and close their door.

8:02 The kids ask for a drink of water.

8:03 The kids ask for another drink of water.

Our Bedtime Routine Essentials

Blanket / Coconut Oil / Kid's Clock / Game Story Printable

What does your bed time routine look like?