Kids thrive when they have engaging routines. Familiarity with going to school and eating meals teaches them essential skills. They learn how to manage their time and keep a schedule, but sometimes their structure doesn’t include bedtime. 

What your child does before they fall asleep can help them physically and emotionally. Read about the best habits for your kid’s bedtime routine so they get all the help they need to grow into self-sufficient, successful adults.

End Electronics Early 

Most children love using electronics whenever they get the chance. They want to play video games, use apps and watch TV. Even though those things can be engaging and educational, they’re not great to use right up until bedtime. 

Ending electronic use early in the evening is one of the best habits for your kid’s bedtime routine. The longer they sit in front of a screen, the more they interact with blue light. Blue light restrains the production of melatonin, which regulates the circadian rhythm. 

Your child will enjoy deeper, more restorative sleep if the electronics become off-limits at least a half-hour before bed.

Stop the Snacks 

Childhood sets up the habits your kids take into adulthood. If they always snack before bedtime, it tells them that mindless eating is okay. When it becomes a permanent part of your lifestyle, late-night snacking results in gut irritation, along with weight gain. 

It will be harder for your children to quit this habit after years of indulging. A small dessert after dinner should be the only snack they have after their last meal of the day. Give their bodies a chance to slow down and prepare for sleep without the added energy and work that comes from eating more.

Brush Their Teeth 

Most people would acknowledge that brushing your teeth is essential, but how often do you reinforce that with your kids? Neglecting their dental health because it’s faster or easier could ruin their teeth early on. Avoid costly dental surgeries and complications by prioritizing teeth brushing every night. 

Make sure you pick a toothpaste that helps your child’s teeth between dental visits. Look for ingredients like calcium carbonate, which rebuilds damaged or lost enamel due to acidic drinks or foods. It will also improve their gum sensitivity, making your child less sensitive to the temperature of their food and beverages.

Use the Bathroom 

Sometimes kids can’t fall asleep because they’re uncomfortable and don’t know why. Forgetting to use the bathroom before bed might be the source of this problem.  

Your child is also still learning about how their body works. By asking them to use the bathroom every night before they fall asleep, they’ll learn if that’s the most likely time for bowel movements. Becoming more in touch with their bodily functions will help your child understand if something’s not right as they experience puberty and see many changes happening within themselves.

Read Every Night 

Even young kids who can’t read will benefit from sitting with you while you read a book every night. Seeing words and hearing their meaning makes it more likely that they’ll pick up reading skills faster when they enter kindergarten and early grade school.  

Find age-appropriate reading material they can understand. Point out the words that correspond with pictures on the page or ask older kids to read every other paragraph. Enjoy the extra bonding time while you prepare them for their academic career.

Ensure Their Safety 

As the adult in the room, you might wave off your child’s nightly fears of the dark. They might outgrow it with time, but you can still make them feel safe in their room without confirming their fears.  

If your kids can’t sleep because they’re scared, ensure their safety with rationality. Check under their bed, open their closet and turn on a nightlight. When this step becomes part of their bedtime routine, your child will routinely see that their imagination isn’t reality and fight those fears less often.

Ask What’s on Their Mind 

Even with the best habits for your kid’s bedtime routine, they might fight you when it’s time to wind down for the night. Checking in with them can always be something you do before bed. Ask them what’s on their mind and why they don’t want to sleep. 

It could reveal that they’re just not tired or they might talk about their anxieties. Research shows that nearly 48% of children aged six to 10 years old experience bullying at school or online, but it’s possible that they don’t know how to talk about it. The same research revealed that 60% of middle and high school students suffer from bullying, so your child will likely deal with it at some point. 

Discuss why they’re stressed, anxious or fearful. It could be the only thing keeping your child from getting rest. You’ll also know how to help them in other aspects of their life so they become happier and feel more fulfilled.

Set an Alarm 

It’s tempting to wake young kids up with a kiss on the cheek, but you can also set an alarm for them every night. Even if you’re the reason they wake up as the alarm goes off, it gets them in the habit of setting the nightly alarm. Practicing this skill encourages better time management so they wake up on time when they take on more independence as teenagers.

Adjust Your Routine as Needed 

These are the best habits for your kid’s bedtime routine, but remember to adjust it as your child grows up. They could start reading or brushing their teeth on their own once they get old enough. As long as they begin these habits when they’re young, you’ll set them up for more success with each passing year.