7 Playful Bedtime Games for Toddlers to Help With the Wind-Down
Bedtime… the events of the whole day determine how this last routine goes. How much sugar have they had? How long – or late – was their nap? What kind of mood are they in?
But the fate of bedtime doesn’t just depend on them – it also depends on us as parents. For me, it’s the part of the day I look forward to and dread in equal measure. If it goes well – teeth brushed, pyjamas on, ready for a story and then tired enough to get straight into bed – what a great feeling! That hour or two of freedom before I go to bed, just to sit and do whatever I want, is sacred. So when bedtime goes wrong, it starts eating into that time, and that’s exactly where my patience wears thin.
So yes, I can start snapping – “It’s not playtime anymore, it’s bedtime!” “Stop messing around and get into bed!” And then either the tears start, or they turn into a dead weight by the bedroom door.
So, here’s where the games come in.
They’re not about hyping them up right before sleep – quite the opposite. They’re about using play to ease them through each step of the wind-down, so the transition feels like something exciting they want to be part of.
7 playful bedtime games for toddlers
Here are seven playful bedtime ideas I have played with my little ones. Perfect to pull out when the wind-down has turned into a nightly negotiation.
1. The Pyjama Invisibility Suit
Best for: Toddlers who won’t stop playing long enough to get changed
What you need:
- Pyjamas
The idea
If getting changed is where the battle starts, turn it into part of the game rather than something to stop for.
How to play
“These pyjamas have special powers – once you put them on, you turn invisible!”
Start narrating as soon as an arm or leg goes through a sleeve or leg hole: “Whoa, where did your arm go?!” With any luck, that’s enough to encourage them to disappear completely.
2. Say Goodnight to Everyone
Best for: Toddlers who don’t want to leave the living room or their toys
What you need:
- Nothing extra
The idea
Instead of pulling your toddler away from what they’re doing, give them a reason to say a proper goodbye to it first.
How to play
Walk around the room together, saying goodnight to things one by one.
“Goodnight, teddy bear!” “Goodnight, blocks!” “Goodnight, big blue sofa!”
Keep the goodnights going as you head towards and up the stairs, throwing in the silliest object you can find – “Goodnight, door handle!”
3. The Teddy Hunt
Best for: Toddlers who resist actually getting into bed
What you need:
- A favourite soft toy
The idea
Rather than asking your toddler to go up to bed, give them a reason to go looking.
How to play
Hide a soft toy somewhere in the bedroom – keep it simple, so you’re not playing hide and seek for hours!
“Help! I’ve gone the wrong way. I’m so sleepy – please come and find me and take me to bed.”
To make it feel more like a game, add in clues, or call out “warmer” and “colder” as they search. This is age-dependent, of course – my three-year-old just likes shouting “warmer” and “colder” without really applying it to the hunt! But it works well for my four-year-old.
4. Monster Tea Party
Best for: Toddlers who are scared of monsters
What you need:
- Some toy food and a toy or two – though imagination works just as well
The idea
If your toddler is afraid of monsters, telling them “monsters aren’t real” isn’t always enough. Turning it into something fun can help instead. This one worked really well with my four-year-old – though play it with caution, since you know your own child best. If it’s likely to unsettle them further, it might be one to skip.
How to play
“Monsters aren’t interested in scaring you — they’re usually just looking for a bedtime snack and something to play with. Let’s get some food and a toy ready so they can be on their way home.”
Have fun preparing some toy food together and leaving it wherever your toddler chooses in the bedroom. It’s a nice, calming way to say goodnight.
5. Sleepy Animals in the Dark
Best for: Toddlers who are still wound up and full of energy
What you need:
- A torch (a phone torch works fine) and some toy animals
The idea
Some toddlers can’t settle simply because their body hasn’t caught up with the idea that it’s bedtime yet. A slow, sleepy game can help take the energy down a notch.
How to play
Line up a few plushies or animal figures around the room. Turn off the light and shine the torch on each one in turn.
“Shh, the cat’s stretching and yawning, ready for her basket.” “That bear’s ready to hibernate – he’s curling up nice and tight.” “Can you see the bunny’s eyes, slowly closing?”
Let your own voice get quieter with each animal. You could chat about where each one might be sleeping, and once your toddler’s in their own bed, what position they might sleep in too. It’s a gentle way to turn the volume of the evening right down.
6. The Sleep Helper
Best for: Toddlers who keep finding reasons to get back up
What you need:
- A favourite toy and a small cup
The idea
Rather than your toddler stalling by inventing jobs (“I need water,” “check for monsters,” “one more hug”), give them one real job to complete before lights out, so there’s a clear end point.
How to play
“You’re my sleep helper tonight. Your job is to make sure the curtains are closed all the way, teddy’s got his water, and he’s tucked in tight with a kiss and a cuddle. Once that’s done, it’s lights out.”
You could start this routine before the bedtime story and have your toddler help “read” their favourite book to teddy, or make up a story together to help them wind down.
7. The Lullaby Music box
Best for: Toddlers who need predictability to settle
What you need:
- A couple of songs you’re happy to sing on repeat
The idea
For toddlers who like routine, having the exact same song, in the exact same spot, every night, can be the thing that finally signals “it’s really time to sleep now.”
How to play
Tell your toddler the pillow is a music box. Press an imaginary button before you start singing.
Keep the song and the order the same every night, so it becomes a reliable cue rather than something new to negotiate over. You could set button one for singing together, button two for humming together, and button three for you alone – only pressed once their eyes are closed.
What If Your Toddler Still Won’t Settle?
We’ve all been there – nothing seems to work, and your toddler looks like the furthest thing from sleep. These games are certainly not a guaranteed ticket to the land of nod, but in my experience, they’ve definitely helped. They give your toddler a fun pathway into the bedtime routine, designed to help them wind down. Getting them into that zone is a much nicer place to be than dragging them kicking and screaming up the stairs.
The games also work best when they’re not rushed – allow yourself a bit of extra time to play them out calmly, rather than trying to impatiently usher your toddler into bed because it’s already late. (Yes, I’ve delivered a few of these in a shrill voice, which does not have the intended effect!)
How to Choose the Right Bedtime Game
You don’t need all seven games every night.
In fact, if your toddler is already overtired and resisting, you probably don’t want to stand there running through a list trying to decide what to do.
Think about what’s making tonight difficult specifically.
| If your toddler… | Try… |
| Won’t stop playing to get changed | The Pyjama Invisibility Suit |
| Doesn’t want to leave the living room | Say Goodnight to Everyone |
| Won’t get into bed | The Teddy Hunt |
| Is scared of monsters | Monster Tea Party |
| Is still full of energy | Sleepy Animals in the Dark |
| Keeps finding reasons to get back up | The Sleep Helper |
| Needs predictability to settle | The Lullaby Music Box |
Having a variety of games up your sleeve helps you match the mood of your toddler from evening to evening.
Turn Bedtime Into a Routine They Can Participate In
We all know how important predictable routines are for toddlers, but actually sticking to the routine is easier said than done. It’s one thing whisking them out the door in the morning – you can’t exactly whisk them into bed and expect them to stay there. That’s why giving them a genuine part to play in the routine tends to work so much better.
It’s also a lovely way to finish the day, especially after an evening of cooking dinner, clearing it all away, prepping for tomorrow, and not really getting any quality time in with your toddler. It can become a routine you both look forward to, instead of something to dread every evening.
More Playful Toddler Routine Ideas
Bedtime rarely exists in isolation – if it’s tricky in your house, there’s a good chance the run-up to it is too, whether that’s getting into pyjamas, brushing teeth, or just winding down from a busy day.
The same idea works across most of these moments: find the playful way in, rather than the direct instruction.
I’m working on exactly that with Brush to Hush – my new book packed with playful games for brushing teeth, bath time and bedtime, with funny illustrations and free printables to go with them. I’ll share more as it gets closer to release.
If mornings are where your battles happen instead, I’ve already got something for that: my free Morning Routine Games Starter Kit, with playful ideas for getting dressed, breakfast, and getting out the door. Pop your email in below and I’ll send it straight over.
Because most nights, bedtime doesn’t need fixing. It just needs a calmer way in.