A bedtime routine chart is a simple picture list of the steps your child does before sleep, such as bath, pajamas, teeth, story and lights out. It helps kids see what comes next, so bedtime feels predictable and you spend less time repeating yourself.
You can make one with paper and crayons in ten minutes, or use our printable bedtime routine chart for free. Below, you will find why visual charts work so well for young children, what to put on a chart at each age, how to use rewards gently, and a sample chart you can copy.
Why a visual bedtime routine helps kids
Young children live in the present. "Get ready for bed" is a big, vague instruction. "Next is teeth" is a small, clear one. A chart breaks bedtime into small steps a child can understand.
It shifts the job from you to the chart
Instead of "I've told you three times to brush your teeth," you can say, "What does the chart say comes next?" The chart becomes the reminder, and you get to be the helper instead of the nag.
It gives children a sense of control
Many children resist bedtime because it feels like something that happens to them. When they can point to the next picture, move a marker or add a sticker, they are taking part. That small sense of ownership often means fewer battles.
It helps children who struggle with transitions
Some children find it hard to stop one activity and start another. Seeing the whole sequence ahead of time can make each change feel less sudden. If your child has a very hard time with transitions or sleep, your pediatrician is a good person to talk to.
It works even before children can read
A visual bedtime routine for kids relies on pictures, so a two or three year old can follow it as easily as a seven year old. Use simple drawings, clip art or photos of your own child's toothbrush and bed.
What to put on a bedtime routine chart by age
The right chart depends on your child's age. Fewer steps for little ones, more independence for older kids.
Ages 2 to 3: three to five big pictures
Toddlers and young preschoolers do best with a short chart and large images.
- Bath or wash
- Pajamas
- Teeth
- Story
- Lights out
Keep it to one row, low on the wall where they can touch it. At this age, you do most of the steps together, and the chart is mostly about knowing what comes next.
Ages 4 to 5: five to seven steps with some independence
Preschoolers and kindergarteners can handle a few more steps and start doing some on their own.
- Tidy up toys
- Bath or wash
- Pajamas
- Potty and last drink of water
- Brush teeth
- Pick a story
- Cuddle and lights out
Add small words under each picture. Many children this age like to "read" the chart to you, which is great pre-reading practice. For a full sample timeline for this age, see our post on a bedtime routine for preschoolers.
Ages 6 to 8: a checklist they run themselves
School-age children can manage most of the routine alone. Their chart can be more of a checklist with times.
- Pack school bag for tomorrow
- Lay out clothes
- Shower or bath
- Pajamas
- Teeth and floss
- Reading time
- Lights out at a set time
At this age, let them help design the chart. They might choose the order of a few steps or decorate it themselves, which makes them more likely to use it.
Sample bedtime routine chart
Here is a sample chart for a four to six year old. Copy it onto paper, add a drawing or picture for each step, and leave space for a sticker or check mark each night.
| Step | Picture idea | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Tidy up toys | Toy box | |||||||
| 2. Bath or wash | Bubbles | |||||||
| 3. Pajamas | Pajama top | |||||||
| 4. Potty and drink | Cup of water | |||||||
| 5. Brush teeth | Toothbrush | |||||||
| 6. Story time | Open book | |||||||
| 7. Cuddle and lights out | Moon and stars |
If you would rather not draw, our printable bedtime routine chart has pictures for each step and space for stars. Print it, stick it at your child's eye level, and you are ready for tonight.
How to use rewards gently
A sticker or star at the end of each step can make a chart feel like a little game. Used kindly, rewards help children notice their own progress. Used heavily, they can turn bedtime into a bargaining session. A few principles help.
Stick to stickers and stars, not treats
Stickers, stars, stamps or a colored check mark are usually reward enough for young children. Avoid sweets or screen time as rewards for bedtime. Sugar is not great right before sleep, and screen time as a prize can make screens feel even more exciting.
Reward the steps, not perfection
Give a sticker for each step completed, rather than one sticker only for a flawless night. A child who did four of seven steps still gets four stickers. That keeps the chart encouraging instead of discouraging.
Keep bigger rewards small and shared
If you want a weekly goal, make it something you do together: choosing the Saturday pancake shape, an extra story on Sunday, or a trip to the park. Shared time tends to mean more to young children than things.
Never take stickers away
Removing stars as a punishment turns the chart into a source of worry. If a night goes badly, just start fresh tomorrow. "Tomorrow is a new chart day" is a comforting thing to hear.
Phase rewards out slowly
After a few weeks, many children do the routine out of habit. You can move from a sticker for every step to a sticker for the whole routine, then to just a high five. Keep the picture chart even when the rewards fade, since the pictures are what make the routine predictable.
Tips for making the chart work
- Put it where the routine happens. The bathroom door or the bedroom wall at your child's eye level works well.
- Introduce it in daylight. Show your child the chart earlier in the day and walk through it together, rather than springing it on them at bedtime.
- Let them help make it. Children are more interested in a chart they decorated or chose pictures for.
- Keep the order the same. The chart only works if the routine is predictable. Change it rarely, and talk about changes ahead of time.
- Point, don't nag. When your child drifts off task, point to the chart and ask, "What's next?" Let the chart do the reminding.
- Make the last step something to look forward to. Ending with a story and a cuddle gives the whole routine a happy finish.
How Tuck Tales can help
We make Tuck Tales, a bedtime story app, and it includes a sleep-stars routine chart for teeth, pajamas and story. Your child collects a star for each step, with story time as the last one.
That story is brand new every night, with your child as the main character and their own pet or favorite toy along for the adventure. Stories come in 3, 7 or 12 minute lengths and can be read aloud in a calm narrator voice. After "The End," sleep mode plays a gentle lullaby or rain sound while the screen dims, and a bedtime lock keeps the app closed until morning.
You can use the sleep-stars chart in the app alongside a paper chart on the wall. The paper chart covers the steps around the house, and the story is a cozy way to finish.
Frequently asked questions
At what age should I start a bedtime routine chart?
Many families start around age two, when children can recognize pictures and enjoy pointing to them. A simple three to five step chart works well at that age. You can add steps and words as your child grows.
How many steps should a bedtime chart have?
For toddlers, three to five steps. For preschoolers, five to seven. School-age children can manage a longer checklist, but keep it focused on the real bedtime steps so it does not feel like a chore list.
Should I give rewards for following the bedtime routine?
Small rewards like stickers or stars can help, especially at the start. Avoid sweets and screen time as rewards, never take stickers away, and slowly fade rewards once the routine becomes a habit.
What if my child ignores the chart?
Try letting them help make or decorate it, and introduce it during a calm moment in the day. Point to the chart instead of giving instructions, and praise each step they finish. If bedtime is a struggle for many weeks, it can help to talk to your pediatrician.
Is there a free printable bedtime routine chart?
Yes. Our printable bedtime routine chart is free to print at home. It has a picture for each step and space for stars across the week.
Print it tonight
A bedtime routine chart is one of the simplest tools for calmer evenings. Keep it short, keep it visual, keep rewards gentle, and let your child take the lead where they can.
Grab our printable bedtime routine chart, and if you would like a new story waiting at the end of the routine, download Tuck Tales. The first story is free. For ideas on what to read once the lights go down, see our short bedtime stories for kids.