Bedtime Routine for Kids: Picture Cards, Step by Step

Bath, pyjamas, teeth, story, bed. On paper, bedtime is simple. In real life it's "one more drink", a sudden need to reorganise the Lego, and a grown-up saying "teeth!" for the fifth time.

A picture-card routine can take some of the talking out of it. Your child can see what comes next, do it, and tick it off. You get to point at a card instead of repeating yourself. Here's how to set one up, step by step, with or without printables.

What is a good bedtime routine for kids?

A good bedtime routine is the same few steps, in the same order, most nights. It doesn't need to be fancy. It needs to be predictable, so your child learns the pattern: this is what happens before sleep.

Most routines have four parts:

Wind down: toys away, screens off, lights a little lower.
Wash: a bath or a quick wash, teeth and a toilet stop.
Get ready: pyjamas on, a small drink, things ready for tomorrow.
Settle: a story, a cuddle, the nightlight, lights out.

How do I make a picture bedtime routine chart?

Step 1: Watch two ordinary evenings

Before you change anything, jot down what actually happens and roughly when: dinner, bath, the first yawn, the first "I'm not tired", lights out. You'll spot where the evening stalls, and that's where a picture card can help most.

Step 2: Choose your steps

Fewer is better. Four or five steps suits most three-year-olds. Children in their first years of school can usually manage six to eight, especially if they help choose. Here's a fuller sample using our Moonlight Bedtime Task cards, with the words printed on each one. For a younger child, pick four or five.

Tidytail, Tidy up toys: "Pop your toys back in their homes."
Turtledown, Screens away: "Screens go to sleep before you do."
Splashmoon, Bath time: "Warm water, bubbles and a gentle wash."
Pyjamoo, Pyjamas on: "Pick your pyjamas and pull them on."
Sipraffe, Last drink: "A small sip of water."
Brushbeam, Brush teeth: "Brush every tooth, top and bottom."
Loolee, Toilet stop: "One last go, then wash your hands."
Pagepip, Pick a story: "Choose one story to share tonight."
Cuddlecub, Goodnight cuddle: "A big goodnight hug or cuddle."
Shushnail, Lights out: "Lights out, eyes closed, rest."

Notice the drink comes before teeth, and the toilet stop comes just before the story. Small choices about order like these can save a lot of trips out of bed later.

Tidytail, a Calmlings card: Tidy up toys — The start of the evening: tidy up, bath, dry off and pyjamas on. Every card has a box to tick.

The start of the evening: tidy up, bath, dry off and pyjamas on. Every card has a box to tick.

Step 3: Put the cards where the routine happens

Try a strip on the bedroom door, a row along the hallway at your child's eye level, or pegs on a ribbon. Some families split them up: bathroom cards by the basin, bedroom cards by the bed. The best spot is wherever your child will actually see them.

Step 4: Tick the box

Every Moonlight Bedtime Task card has a little box and the words "Tick the box when it's done!" Many children love that moment. Slip the cards into plastic sleeves or laminate them, tick with a dry-wipe pen, and wipe them clean in the morning. No pen handy? Turn each card over when it's done, or drop it into a "done" envelope.

Step 5: Let the card do the talking

This is the bit that can change the feel of the evening. Instead of "Teeth. Now. Please," try "What does the next card say?" Your child gets to be the one who knows. You get to be the calm one, pointing at a picture.

Step 6: Keep it the same for two weeks

New routines often wobble for the first few nights. Keep the same order for a fortnight before you change much, unless something clearly isn't right for your family.

Bathroom steps: brush teeth, toilet stop, wash your face and a last drink.

How long should a bedtime routine take?

Many families find 30 to 45 minutes is about right for young children, with a bit more on bath nights. Much longer, and it can drift into a negotiation. Start earlier than you think you need to, so there's room for a slow night without rushing the end. A rushed "lights out" is where a lot of bedtime tears begin.

On school nights, two cards can help your morning too. Packpip says "Get your bag ready for tomorrow." Foldhog says "Lay out your clothes for the morning."

How do I stop bedtime stalling?

A lot of stalling is a child asking, in a roundabout way, for a little more of you. A few ideas:

Build the usual requests into the routine. When Sipraffe (Last drink) and Loolee (Toilet stop) are already on the chart, the answer to "I need a drink" can be a friendly "Look, we ticked Sipraffe."
Agree on the number of stories before you start. Pagepip says "Choose one story to share tonight." One story is the plan, and the card said so, not you.
Offer small choices inside the steps. Which pyjamas, which story, which teddy. Teddyseal's card says "Bring your comfort toy to bed."
Save your best connection for the end. A proper Cuddlecub cuddle and a few minutes of chat, then lights out. After that, keep your voice quiet and your words few.

The last steps in the bedroom: pick a story, a goodnight cuddle, tuck in and lights out.

What if my child is worried or scared at bedtime?

Bedtime is when the day goes quiet, and worries can get louder. Try a slow breath together once they're tucked in. Practise it in the daytime first: our free Breathe with Breatho page shows the pace on screen, so at night you can do it together without one. A soft light can help too. Nightjelly's card says "Switch on your cosy nightlight."

The Complete Collection has 30 more Moonlight cards with calm-in-bed moves and night-time tricky moments. Moonmoth's move is "Breathe slowly, like the moon rising." Frightflit is a card for bad dreams, with Heartpup and Dreamboat as the moves to try.

Calm-in-bed ideas for a child who isn't sleepy yet

Each of these is a Moonlight night helper card, with the words printed on it. Pick one or two, and try them on an easy night first.

Count the stars. Countastar says "Count stars slowly up to ten."
Lullaby. Lullawhale says "Hum a soft, slow lullaby."
Floppy body. Flopsloth says "Let each part go floppy, toes to nose."
Cosy socks. Sockitten says "Warm socks help sleepy feet."
Blanket burrito. Burritoala says "Snuggle in like a cosy burrito." Keep the blanket below your child's chin, and let them wriggle out whenever they like.
Pillow squeeze. Pillowlamb says "Squeeze your pillow, then let it go."
Dream journey. Dreamboat says "Imagine sailing to a calm, quiet place."
Soft sounds. Pitterpat says "Listen to rain or gentle sounds."
Night wish. Wishling says "Make a kind wish for tomorrow."
Heartbeat hug. Heartpup says "Feel your heartbeat slow right down."
Bedtime stretch. Sleepurr says "Stretch slowly like a sleepy cat."
Glow jar. Glowbug says "Watch the glow fade slowly."

The night-time tricky moments are cards too, and each one names two helpers to try. Night noises: Pitterpat and Lullawhale. Spooky shapes: Glowbug and Bravely. Waking at night: Countastar and Moonmoth. Sleeping alone: Burritoala and Lullawhale. Tomorrow worries: Wishling and Pillowlamb.

If bedtime fears are big or carry on for weeks, or you're worried about snoring or how your child sleeps, have a chat with your GP or your child's doctor.

What about toddlers and older kids?

Toddlers and preschoolers: use four or five cards, do each step together, and make ticking the box the fun part. Keep the words short: "Bath. Pyjamas. Teeth. Story. Cuddle."

School-age kids: hand over the list. Let them run it, tick it and choose the order of a step or two. Add Packpip and Foldhog for the morning. Some children like a small reward after a week of ticked boxes. Many are just as happy with you noticing out loud.

For picture routines across the whole day, see our guide on how to use a visual schedule for kids.

Where does a bedtime routine workbook fit in?

The cards are what your child sees. The Kids Bedtime Routine Workbook is the plan for you. It's a gentle 14-night reset that starts with two nights of simply tracking what happens, then adds one small change at a time. Inside are a "My Bedtime Routine" poster, a Bedroom Check (dark, cool, quiet and calm), calm-in-bed tools, a plan for night waking, and scripts for grown-ups for the evenings when you're running on empty.

Would you like the workbook and the cards together?

The Bedtime Bundle is US$15 and has both: the Kids Bedtime Routine Workbook plus all 20 Moonlight Bedtime Task cards, from Tidytail to Shushnail, each with a box to tick. Print them at home, lay them out in your order, and let the cards do some of the talking.