Evening Routine Checklist for Toddlers

Twelve to 14 hours or so hours of play, tantrums, snacking, toddling, giggling and whining all come to an end with one glorious moment: bedtime. Putting your toddler to bed is your reward for surviving another day of challenges and victories, but getting to the point of lights-out sometimes requires bargaining, pleading and warning. Cut bedtime squabbles off at the pass by creating a consistent evening routine that signals your toddler when it's time to drift off.

  1. Food and Drink

    • Dinner is the first element of your toddler's evening routine. Ideally he'll eat a well-balanced meal, including protein and plenty of fruits and veggies. If he's picky, take this tip from AskDrSears.com: give him a dish full of nibbles, like small bites of chopped fruits, hard-boiled eggs, chicken or cheese. If his bedtime is more than two hours after dinner, he might also need a snack about 30 minutes before bed. Avoid anything heavy and fat-laden, suggests Dr. Timothy Morgenthaler of MayoClinic.com. Give your toddler a graham cracker, a bowl of diced fruit, a handful of dry cereal or a small container of yogurt. If you're nursing, you may want to do one final feeding just before bedtime; if not, give your toddler a drink of water 10 or 15 minutes before bed.

    Play

    • Play is an important part of the evening routine for most toddlers. When dinner's at 5 p.m. and bedtime isn't until 7:30, providing him with some appropriate activities in between allows you to help him wind down. Two hours before bedtime, turn the lights down a bit in his play area. If other adults or noisy older kids are playing there, take him to his room or another quiet spot. Give him some puzzles, books and non-battery-operated toys to play with. Let him play quietly until about an hour before bed, before moving on to the bath and bedtime routines. Try playing the same quiet, relaxing songs at this time each day. Eventually, those tunes will signal to him that bedtime is imminent and it's time to settle down.

    Bathing and Brushing

    • Giving your little one a dip in the tub might help him feel soothed and cozy, the perfect precursor to a good night's sleep. Bathe him in warm water and lower the bathroom lights if possible. If he already bathed that morning, skip the soap and just let him lounge in the warm water. Rub him down with a soft towel and dress him in a nighttime diaper or pull-ups and pajamas that fit comfortably and are free of interior tags and scratchy seams. Later, just before bed, head to the bathroom for tooth-brushing time; the American Dental Association recommends introducing this routine as soon as a child's teeth grow in. If he's under 2, brush his teeth with just a soft-bristled toothbrush and water. Once he turns 2, use a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste. If he'll let you, floss his teeth with a small floss pick.

    Bedtime

    • Once he's clean, warm, sleepy and snug, lead your toddler to his bedroom. Check if he needs a diaper change, then help him get tucked in and cozy. Turn down the lights and begin story time. Two or three books is adequate for most kids. Decide how many books you'll read each night and stick to that number every night. Establishing these limits keeps your routine from getting too long. If your toddler is currently teething, you may opt -- with your pediatrician's OK -- to administer a children's pain reliever to prevent pain from waking him during the night. Finally, give him a kiss and hug, turn on a night-light, sing a lullaby if necessary, turn out the lights and leave the room.

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