Routines! It’s one of the most important factors when it comes to getting babies to sleep easier. Whether you choose to follow BabyWise to the letter or you choose to co-sleep and your child goes to bed when you do, those routines are a cue of what the child should expect next.
One of our favorite routines around our house–and sometimes only routine–is sitting down right before bedtime in a rocker or on my toddler’s bed and reading a story with our little ones. My husband and I usually take turns with each child, but even at a young age, a book is just expected before bedtime! It’s a great way to calm down at the end of a long day (or after tickle match on the floor) and it’s a really special time we’ve found for bonding.
Over the last 2 and half years we’ve gotten our routine nailed down so much that we really haven’t strayed from our favorite bedtime stories, so thanks to the help of fellow DMB contributors, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite bedtime books that can be enjoyed by kids of all ages!
Our top 10 list of favorite bedtime stories are:
- Dr Seuss’s Sleep Book
: Dr. Seuss is a tradition all on his own. If you haven’t brought in these classics to read to your children, don’t wait! Although the recommended reading age is 5-9 years old, I’ve been reading the Sleep Book to my son since he was 2. Not only does he love the book, but he even recites the rhymes. It’s a silly book that starts off describing how 1 person’s yawn became infectious and what other “funny things” happen during the night in the world of Dr. Seuss. Warning: This book is 64 pages long; however, with a little parent planning, you can easily skip a page here or there and your little kiddos will be none the wiser.
Guess How Much I Love You
by Sam McBratney:: This sweet book can be read even to newborns! Little Nutbrown Hare shows his daddy how much he loves him: as wide as he can reach and as far as he can hop. But Big Nutbrown Hare, who can reach farther and hop higher, loves him back just as much. And the story goes on with each “I Love You” getting bigger and bigger! Using hand motions and animation is great for capturing the attention of little babies!
- Goodnight Moon
by Margaret Wise Brown: Originally published in 1947, this is another timeless classic! Goodnight Moon takes your child through a little bunny’s room and says goodnight to all the little details. Both my son’s as young as 6 months were obsessed with this book because of the images. The illustrator, Clement Hurd, takes you from black and white to bold pops of color. To this day, my son will always touch the fireplace in the drawing because to him it pops off the page! And even now, my 2 and a half year old knows it so well he can read it to his brother! 
- On the Night You Were Born
by Nancy Tillman: Nancy Tillman’s books are so sweet and poetic. This particular book describes how the world changed when your child was born; from “the moon staying up til morning next day” and when “ladybugs land and decided to stay.” It’s all because they’re trying to catch a glimpse of your child. I also love the amazing artwork in all of her books!
- If I Could Keep You Little
by Marianne Richmond: If I Could Keep You Little is actually a new book (2012), but it speaks straight to every parent’s heart! It describes the emotions a parent has of wanting to keep their babies little; however, knowing what we’d be missing if they never grew up.
- The Going-To-Bed Book
by Sandra Boynton: Who doesn’t love a silly bedtime book? Sandra Boynton always does a great job in her words and illustrations for making books fun and enjoyable for kids! This book uses her signature animals to walk a child through the bedtime routine! Definitely toddler friendly!
- Steam Train, Dream Train
by Sherri Duskey Rinker: From the outside, this book looks like it might be intended for older kids; however, it’s a GREAT preschool age book. The dream train pulls into the station, and one by one the train cars are loaded: polar bears pack the reefer car with ice cream, elephants fill the tanker cars with paints, tortoises stock the auto rack with race cars, bouncy kangaroos stuff the hopper car with balls. Get ready for some amazing dreams!
- The Runaway Bunny
by Margaret Wise Brown: Another great book by Margaret Wise Brown originally printed in 1942. A little bunny rabbit thinks about running away and ends up playing a game of hide-and-seek with his mother. Of course, each time she finds him and comforts him.
- I Love You, Stinky Face
by Lisa McCourt: This is definitely a silly book, but a fun one for a mom to read to her toddler! Throughout the book, a little boy continues to ask his mom “Would you love me if…” and he goes through funny, icky, characters that I’m sure are in a little boy’s imagination– a swamp monster, a green alien that eats bugs instead of peanut butter, or a smelly skunk!
- Five Minutes Until Bed by Dorthea Deprisco Wang: When in need of a short bedtime book that will capture attention, this one is perfect; especially if you get the version with the sliding numbers. Five Minutes Until Bed takes you through 5 different forest animals asking to stay up just a little longer.
This is just our list…what books are your favorites?
