For many parents, getting their child ready and into bed is the most difficult part of the day. All we want is for our kids to brush their teeth, don their pyjamas, climb into bed, and gradually drift off into a peaceful sleep. And what do we get? Arguments, tantrums, and a small child full of energy, running here and there, bouncing from one bed to another.

While there isn’t one immediate and easy fix for peaceful, tantrum-free bedtimes, creating a consistent bedtime routine is a huge and positive step in the right direction, and will make a world of difference! And here’s why.

Why is it so important to keep to a bedtime routine?

When our preschoolers were still babies, chubby-cheeked and completely adorable, they required very little actual routine. We fed them when they were hungry, let them sleep when they were tired, and changed them when they needed changing. However, now that they’re a little older, sleeping whenever and wherever they feel like it no longer suits them or you. After all, how can you possibly plan your day knowing your child might fall asleep at any moment?

By introducing a peaceful and consistent routine — brushing teeth, putting on pyjamas, washing their face, reading a story, getting into bed, and eventually turning off the lights at the same time each night — your child will find it much easier to transition from that energetic, boisterous little monster to the sweet and sleepy kid who falls asleep happily and quickly.

A consistent routine should put a stop to a lot of the arguing, dawdling, and rushing about that so often comes with bedtime. What’s more, as it becomes a mainstay you can basically function on autopilot at the point of the day when you’re likely most tired and weary.

Right about now, you’re probably thinking that a bedtime routine sounds pretty great, but how will your preschooler react to the change?

How will my child react to a bedtime routine?

In this great, big, sometimes overwhelming world, a consistent routine creates feelings of security and reliability in a child’s life. In fact, most children really thrive when a routine is introduced and adapt surprisingly fast. In the mind of a preschooler, 2 weeks of going to bed at 8:30pm can quickly become ‘always’ having gone to bed at 8:30pm. We, as parents, can take advantage of their natural desire for routine and create a bedtime routine that almost effortlessly ends in sleep.

So, how does one create a good bedtime routine?

The following 6 steps should help you and your little one to build and maintain a healthy bedtime routine.

First, let’s quickly recap how much sleep your child needs per night. Generally speaking, a preschooler will need between 10 - 12 hours of sleep per night, though some may need a little more and some a little less. Based on this advice and your family’s daily schedule, set a sleep time that caters to your child’s sleep needs. For example, if your little one needs to be up by 7am, set their sleep time for 8pm.

It’s also important to start the bedtime routine nice and early, allowing for at least an hour from start to finish. When we rush through the bedtime process, quickly putting on pyjamas and brushing teeth, we can easily create tension that leads to a tantrum. So, if you want your little one in bed come 8pm, begin the bedtime routine at 7:20pm.

Try to keep the pre-bedtime hour dimly lit and as peaceful and quiet as possible. This will help increase the release of melatonin (the natural sleep hormone) and guide the transition from wakefulness to sleepiness.

Reading a good story or listening to a calming audiobook will help to induce sleep, whilst also developing your child’s language.

If your child loves to draw and create, make up a bedtime chart that they can help to decorate and colour. List the evening’s routine, including bathing, teeth-brushing, putting on pyjamas, and reading a story, and whatever else you want to include and stick it on the wardrobe door. You could even come up with a fun name for the routine, such as ‘bedtime bonanza!’.

And finally, shift your mindset and try to view the bedtime routine as a special time to be treasured with your child. Enjoy the 1 or 2 hours you get to spend with your little one before bed, reading a nice book or having a conversation about their daily goings-on. It should be as much about appreciating the connection between you as it is about getting them to brush their teeth and settle down to sleep.

Why is a consistent bedtime routine so important?

Children thrive on routine.