A bedtime routine chart: how to set one up and use it
A bedtime routine chart turns the evening into pictures your child can follow: bath, pyjamas, teeth, story, lights out. Instead of you repeating every step, the chart shows what comes next, and your child gets to lead the way.
This page is run by Amor Picture Books (Nova Group), publisher of the Amor picture books by Samaher Thabit and Martin Törnell.
Pick 5 to 8 steps
Keep the chart short. Here is an example evening, in the same order every night:
- Wash or bath
- Pyjamas on
- Brush teeth
- Toilet
- Choose a book
- Story time
- Cuddle and goodnight words
- Lights out
A simple routine chart to copy
Copy this onto a sheet of paper, draw a small picture next to each step, and tick it off together.
| Step | Picture | What happens | Done |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wash or bath | ☐ | |
| 2 | Pyjamas on | ☐ | |
| 3 | Brush teeth | ☐ | |
| 4 | Toilet | ☐ | |
| 5 | Choose a book | ☐ | |
| 6 | Story time | ☐ | |
| 7 | Cuddle and goodnight words | ☐ | |
| 8 | Lights out | ☐ |
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Adjust it to your child's age
- Around 2: four or five steps, pictures only. You point, your child follows.
- Around 3 to 4: your child ticks a box or moves a peg after each step.
- From about 5: add simple words under the pictures and one small choice, like which book.
How to introduce it
- 1
Make it together
Let your child colour or decorate the chart, and put it where they can reach it.
- 2
Ask, do not tell
"Let's look at the chart. What comes after teeth?" A question gives your child the job of remembering.
- 3
Keep the order the same
The same order every night is what makes the chart useful. Change steps only when you change them together.
- 4
Praise the step, not the child
"You did pyjamas all by yourself." It keeps the focus on what happened.
- 5
Give a choice inside a step
"Dinosaur pyjamas or stripes?" A small choice often makes the big routine easier to accept.
When the chart stops helping
Many children lose interest after a few weeks. Go back to pointing at it together, or redraw it with your child. If stickers turn into a race or a battle, drop them. The chart works best as a map of the evening, not as a reward system.
Looking for the last step, the story? See our picture books for toddler bedtime.
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Questions parents ask
What age is a bedtime routine chart for?
Many families start around 2 or 3, when a child can follow pictures. Keep it simpler for younger children.
How many steps should a bedtime chart have?
Usually 5 to 8. Fewer steps are easier to follow at the end of a long day.
Do I need stickers or rewards?
No. Many children like simply ticking a box or moving a peg. The point is knowing what comes next.
What if my child refuses to follow the chart?
Point at it together, keep the order the same, and offer a small choice inside a step, like which pyjamas.
Is there more help for bedtime battles?
Yes. Our guide to bedtime picture books lists short, calm books for toddlers, and the Amor newsletter sends book news and storytime ideas.