Toddler Taming 101: Calm Bedtime Routines for Exhausted Moms Leave a comment

Hey there, fellow mama!
If you’re reading this with a toddler climbing on your back and another one yelling about a missing sock, just know—you’re not alone. As a mom of three little girls (ages 3 to 8), I’ve survived (barely) the bedtime chaos more times than I can count. And if your evenings look anything like mine—full of giggles, messes, and last-minute “I need water!” cries—you’re probably looking for a bedtime routine that actually works.

Let me share with you what’s helped bring a little more peace and a lot less stress to our nights. Spoiler alert: it’s not magic, it’s consistency, cozy tools, and a whole lot of patience (and maybe coffee for mom). Oh—and a few Amazon faves I swear by!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase through my links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for supporting BizeeMom808!

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Step 1: Set the Mood with Blackout Curtains

Let’s start with the environment. Toddlers are basically nocturnal if you let them be. Once I invested in blackout curtains, the game changed. They block out that lingering sunlight (yes, even at 7:45 PM in the summer), and help signal to their little brains that it’s time to wind down.

🛒 Blackout Curtains We Use & Love

These are affordable, come in cute colors (my girls picked lavender), and they really work.

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Step 2: Add a Soothing Sound Machine

I never believed in white noise machines until I had baby #2 and needed her to sleep through her older sister’s… everything. Now, we have one in every room.

🛒 White Noise Machine That Saved My Sanity

This one is compact, travel-friendly, and has a heartbeat sound that even I find calming.

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Step 3: Bath Time = Wind-Down Time

If your toddlers are like mine, bath time turns into a splash party. But if you time it just right and use calming lavender bath bubbles, it starts the wind-down signal.

🛒 Calming Lavender Bubble Bath – smells like bedtime in a bottle.

Tip: I play soft music during bath time to start shifting the energy from “wild monkeys” to “sleepy bunnies.”

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Step 4: Pick 2 (Not 10) Bedtime Books

My girls would have me read every book on the shelf if I let them. We stick to two favorites (and rotate weekly). This creates a predictable routine they look forward to.

📚 Our current bedtime MVPs:
🛒 “Goodnight Moon”
🛒 “The Going-To-Bed Book” by Sandra Boynton

They’re short, sweet, and calming—even for the squirmiest toddler.

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Step 5: Cozy Pajamas + Nightlight Magic

A toddler in the wrong pajamas is a cranky toddler. We love breathable cotton PJs with fun prints and a soft nightlight that casts stars on the ceiling (yes, even for my 8-year-old).

🛒 Star Projector Night Light – they ooh and ahh every night.
🛒 Matching Cotton Pajama Sets – because matching siblings is too cute to pass up.

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Step 6: “Mommy Snuggle, Then Lights Out”

My girls know the routine: 2 songs, 1 snuggle, kiss for the unicorn, and then lights out. Giving them this little “snuggle cue” signals it’s officially sleep time—and they actually respond to it!

Pro tip: If your toddler keeps calling you back, try a “Sleepy Time Chart” with stickers for every night they stay in bed. (DM me if you want a free printable—I’ve made a few cute ones!)

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Final Thoughts from a Bizee Mom

Look, bedtime will never be perfect. There will be nights when the baby pees on the floor, your toddler throws a tantrum over the “wrong” pillow, and you can’t find the sound machine’s charger. It happens.

But with the right tools, a little planning, and some deep breaths, you really can create a bedtime routine that helps even the wildest toddlers drift off to dreamland.

Here’s to calmer nights and finally finishing that episode of your show (before you fall asleep on the couch).

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XO,
BizeeMom808 💕

P.S. Got a wild bedtime story or product you swear by? Drop it in the comments or tag me on IG @bizeemom808!