Nighttime Checklist for Toddlers

The typical toddler needs about 10 to 13 hours of sleep. A stable bedtime routine allows your little one to wind down from a busy day of romping about and prepares her to get the rest she needs. A successful bedtime checklist should include a few relatively brief calming activities, explains KidsHealth.org, a website published by the Nemours Foundation.

  1. Bedtime Bath

    • Baths -- especially bubble baths -- are a fun and relaxing bedtime ritual for your toddler. While a little splashing around with a rubber duck or other bath toy is fine, the main goal of the bedtime bath is to soothe and of course cleanse your toddler. Try to schedule your tot's end of-the-day bath at the same time each evening. Once your toddler is towel-dried, help him put on the pajamas he picked out earlier. Giving your tot a little control over his nightly checklist may help him be more eager to cooperate.

    Teeth Brushing

    • Once your tyke's body is in her pajamas, it's time to help her brush her teeth. Although your tot's teeth should be brushed twice daily, the most important time to brush and floss is right before you tuck your toddler into bed, points out WebMD. Only serve your tot water if she wakes up thirsty during the night. A process known as demineralization occurs when sugar and starches mix with bacteria and form acids that promote tooth decay. The water-only rule allows your child's clean teeth to remineralize overnight from the calcium and phosphates in the saliva and toothpaste as the water enters the demineralized areas of teeth.

    Do's and Don'ts

    • Reading your toddler a bedtime story or quietly singing a lullaby or other favorite song once he's tucked in bed can help ease him into sleep. Lowering the thermostat slightly and keeping noise levels to a minimum in other areas of your home can help promote sleep, notes the American Academy of Pediatrics. Don't keep your tot up later in hopes that it will make him sleepier come bedtime. You may be greeted by a cranky tot the next morning. Any food or beverage caffeine should be off limits starting around six hours prior to bedtime. Don't get carried away with lengthy or complicated routines. The bedtime process should last a maximum of 15 to 30 minutes.

    Considerations

    • An established bedtime routine allows your toddler to know what to expect next, explains ZerotoThree.org, a website published by the National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families. Some parents use a timer or a "five-minute warning" to prepare their child for a change in activity such as letting him know that his bath is almost over and he'll soon be brushing his teeth. Whatever your specific nighttime checklist happens to be, your toddler counts on it to be consistent.

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