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Bedtime Routine Timer
Choose 20, 30 or 45 minutes and press Start. The timer walks through each step in order and beeps when it is time for the next one.
Step 1 / 5
Pajamas 5, teeth 2, story 10, hugs and lights out 3. For nights without a bath.
Bath 10, pajamas 5, teeth 2, story 10, hugs and lights out 3.
Tidy 5, bath 12, pajamas 5, teeth 2, story 15, hugs and lights out 6.
A 30-minute bedtime routine chart
| Starts at | Step | Length | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0:00 | Bath | 10 min | Bathroom |
| 0:10 | Pajamas | 5 min | Bedroom or bathroom |
| 0:15 | Brush teeth | 2 min | Bathroom |
| 0:17 | Story | 10 min | In bed, lights low |
| 0:27 | Hugs and lights out | 3 min | In bed |
| 0:30 | Asleep time begins |
The default plan. The 20-minute plan drops the bath; the 45-minute plan adds 5 minutes of tidying, a 12-minute bath, a 15-minute story and 6 minutes to say goodnight. The lengths are guides: use Skip when a step finishes early.
How to use it
- Work out when lights should go out, then start the routine that many minutes earlier: 30 minutes before for the default plan.
- Pick a length, lower the volume so the beeps are soft, and dim the screen. Prop the phone or tablet up where you can see it; it stays with you, not in your child’s hands.
- Press Start and name the first step. When it beeps, say what comes next and move there together.
- If a step is done early, press Skip and the next one begins. When the last step ends, the lights go out.
How long should a bedtime routine be
Sleep guidance commonly recommends a short, predictable routine of about 20 to 30 minutes, or up to 45 with a bath. The length matters less than the pattern: the same steps in the same order every night, moving toward the bedroom and ending there. A child who knows that story follows teeth and lights out follows story has less to bargain over, and the routine itself becomes the signal that sleep is coming.
The timer keeps the steps from stretching. Bath does not turn into forty minutes of play and “one more book” has a visible end. Turn screens off before the routine begins and lower the lights as you go. That applies to this screen too, which is why it belongs dimmed and with the parent.
Working back from wake-up time
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine, in recommendations endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, advises this much sleep in every 24 hours: 11 to 14 hours including naps at ages 1 to 2, 10 to 13 hours including naps at ages 3 to 5, 9 to 12 hours at ages 6 to 12, and 8 to 10 hours at ages 13 to 18.
To find a bedtime, count back from the morning. A five-year-old who gets up at 7:00 am and does well on 11 hours needs to be asleep by 8:00 pm. With the 30-minute plan, the routine starts at 7:30 pm. A bedtime routine for toddlers who still nap works the same way, with the nap counted toward the daily total.
Common mistakes
- Starting the routine when your child already looks exhausted. Overtired children fight sleep harder; begin by the clock, not by the yawns.
- Changing the order from night to night. The sequence is what makes it a routine, even when the length varies.
- Leaving the TV or a tablet on until the bath starts. Screens off first, then begin.
- Loud beeps in a dark room. Turn the volume down, or switch Beeps off and watch the screen change.
- Letting the story step grow by a book each night. Agree the number of books before you open the first.
Questions people ask
How long should a bedtime routine be?
About 20 to 30 minutes for most children, and up to 45 minutes if it includes a bath. Much longer and the routine starts to delay sleep.
What is a good bedtime routine for toddlers?
Bath, pajamas, teeth, one or two short books and a cuddle, in the same order each night and finishing in the bedroom. The 30-minute plan on this page follows that order.
What time should my child go to bed?
Take the wake-up time and count back the sleep your child needs. A seven-year-old who gets up at 6:30 am and needs 10 hours should be asleep by 8:30 pm, so a 30-minute routine starts at 8:00 pm.
How much sleep does a 6-year-old need?
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends 9 to 12 hours in every 24 hours for children aged 6 to 12.
What if we do not have a bath every night?
Use the 20-minute plan, which starts at pajamas. Or stay on the 30-minute plan and press Skip on the bath step for a quick wash.
Can my child run the bedtime timer alone?
Older children can follow it with you nearby. For young children it works best as the parent’s tool: you watch the screen, they hear the soft beep and your voice saying what is next.