Bedtime Routine to Help Kids 3-5 Transition to the School Day

A bedtime routine includes everything you and your child do to transition them from the school day or after-school activity and get their body — and brains — ready for a good night's sleep. Young children do not understand the concept of time, but they can grasp that things happen in a certain order. Consider making a bedtime routine checklist with pictures for your little one to follow.

Try this school night bedtime routine for kids ages 3-5:

1. Ensure any take-home work is done (parent forms signed, etc.)

2. Bath time [link to bath time fun article]

3. Put on pajamas

4. Brush teeth

5. Prepare clothes for the next day

6. 15-20 minutes of calm play in their bedroom with dim lights

7. Read a book

8. Use the bathroom one last time

9. Lights out

The evening routine will vary slightly depending upon if you need to bathe your child. Remember that young kids only need baths two to three times a week⁴. It is best to use kid-friendly bath products like Aveeno® Kids range of toiletries, that effectively cleanse without harsh cleansers. When you use Aveeno® Kids products, you can be sure that your kid's skin and hair is gently cleansed and hydrated, and hair manageability is improved. The Aveeno® Kids Face and Body Wash with oat extract gently washes away germs and dirt from the skin while retaining skin moisture. When you wash your kid’s hair, using Aveeno® Kids 2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner is a convenient one-stop-shop solution for kids with straight or slightly wavy hair. The Aveeno® Kids Curly Shampoo and Curly Conditioner work together to gently clean and provide more moisture to super wavy or curly hair.

Bedtime Routine Dos and Don'ts

As you develop a bedtime routine, here are some things to consider:

Dos:

• Do actively participate in the routine with your child

• Do make the routine age-appropriate

• Do make the kid's room dark but not too dark (use a nightlight)

Don'ts:

• Don't allow stimulating activities before bed (i.e., too much screen time)

• Don't wait until the child is restless to put them to bed

• Don't let your kid have caffeine (commonly found in sodas, teas, and chocolate) in the afternoon or evening

Solid bedtime routines are the foundation of stress-free school mornings. While your kid is getting the required amount of sleep, try to get some morning tasks out of the way in the evening before you have time to yourself. For example, you can make lunches ahead of time and prep an easy grab-and-go breakfast. Gathering the kids' school items (backpack, shoes, coat, lunch box, etc.) in one area by the door will help facilitate getting out the door in the morning. Once the preparations are completed, don't forget to try and schedule some "you time" to reboot before the next day!