Bedtime Routines That Actually Work During the Holidays

Simple, flexible ways to help toddlers wind down when December gets busy.

The holidays are magical… and also a lot. Between travel, school events, family gatherings, sugar cookies, and excitement levels that spike the second the sun goes down, it’s completely normal for bedtime to feel a little upside-down in December.

But good news: you don’t need a perfect schedule to help your little one settle in at night. You just need a few repeatable, calming touchpoints that give kids a sense of predictability—even when the rest of the day looks different from usual.

Here are simple, realistic bedtime tips for the holiday season, designed to help toddlers relax, unwind, and sleep well (or at least better!) during the busiest time of year.

📅 1. Create a Flexible Holiday Sleep Schedule

Keyword: holiday bedtime routines

December comes with late dinners, out-of-town guests, and special events that can throw your usual bedtime off by an hour or two. Instead of fighting that reality, try building a flexible schedule that focuses on patterns, not exact times.

A few easy ways to do this:

• Aim for roughly consistent wake and nap times, even if bedtime shifts.

• Use the same bath → pajamas → story → lights out flow every night.

• If bedtime gets pushed back, try offering a slightly earlier nap the next day.

• Let go of “perfect” and focus on “good enough.” Consistency in rhythm matters more than the clock.

Toddlers love predictability, and repeating the same sequence helps their bodies recognize: Okay, it’s time to wind down now.

🛁 2. Add One Calming Ritual

Keyword: bedtime hacks for toddlers

Instead of overhauling your nighttime routine, choose one simple calming ritual you can keep up through the whole month. The goal is to create a sensory cue that helps their nervous system shift into “rest mode.”

Try one of these:

• A warm bath or shower

• Dimming the lights in bedrooms and hallways

• A short calming playlist or gentle holiday instrumental music

• A lavender-scented lotion massage

• Five “quiet breaths” together in bed

The “one thing” rule keeps bedtime from feeling overwhelming—and gives kids something to look forward to.

📚 3. Build a December Story Rotation

Keyword: toddler sleep tips

Books are one of the easiest ways to help toddlers transition from holiday chaos to calm. Consider choosing a small rotation of favorite winter or holiday books and reading one each night.

Why it works:

• Familiar stories reduce overstimulation

• Repetition helps kids anticipate bedtime

• It creates a special, cozy moment—no matter how busy the day was

Pro tip: keep 5–7 books in a small basket near the bed to make choosing one fun and simple.

🧸 4. Travel-Friendly Sleep Tips (Grandparents’ Houses, Hotels, Late Nights & More)

Traveling in December? Sleeping in a new place can throw kids off, but a few familiar comforts go a long way.

Try packing:

• Their regular pajamas

• A favorite blanket or stuffed animal

• A white noise machine or app

• Their usual bedtime book

• A nightlight

And if bedtime ends up later than ideal (which will happen), adjust gently the next day rather than trying to force a reset all at once. Holiday sleep is a marathon, not a sprint.

🍓 5. Keep a Small, Clean Snack Handy for “I’m Hungry!” Moments

Toddlers are famous for the classic bedtime stall:
“I’m huuuungry.”

During the holidays, dinners are often earlier, later, or less predictable. When the day’s schedule gets thrown off, a tiny, clean, real-food snack can prevent the “my tummy is empty” meltdown.

Think:

• A small handful of Breakfast Oat Melts

• A few Smoothie Melts

• A single-serve pouch you can grab quickly

This isn’t about adding more food into bedtime—it’s about avoiding the emotional spiral that happens when kids truly didn’t get enough during a chaotic day.

Keep it light, simple, and sugar-free so it supports sleep rather than spiking energy.

🎧 6. Try a Kids’ Sleep Story or Guided Meditation

Keyword: toddler sleep tips, kids sleep meditation

When December feels overstimulating (lights! visitors! sugar! excitement!), a sleep story or guided meditation can work like magic to help little bodies settle.

The gentle rhythm of storytelling, paired with slow breathing cues, helps toddlers shift from “holiday hype” to “rest mode.” The key is keeping it simple and consistent.

Here are a few parent-tested options:

Sleep Story Apps

• Calm Kids: Short, peaceful sleep stories narrated slowly to cue relaxation.

• Headspace for Kids: Mindful breathing exercises and imaginative “wind-down” stories.

YouTube Sleep Meditations

These are great when you’re traveling or don’t have your usual setup:

• New Horizon – Kids Sleep Meditation: Gentle, dreamy guided stories with soft background music.

• Soothing Pod Kids: Bedtime meditations that are calm, slow, and toddler-friendly.

• Cocomelon Bedtime Meditations (quiet versions): Light, familiar melodies with slow breathing cues.

How to Use Them

• Play them at a low volume while kids are already in bed.

• Pair them with dim lights or a nightlight.

• Choose the same 1–2 stories for the whole month so your child builds a strong routine cue.

This simple addition can make an enormous difference on days when your little one is extra wound up from holiday activities.