There’s no one-size-fits-all answer—unless you count “long enough to make you question your life choices.” Whether you’ve got a milk-happy 3-month-old or a chatty 5-year-old philosopher who asks existential questions at bedtime (“Mum, where do dreams come from?”), bedtime routines are part magic, part meltdown.

Let’s break it down by age, because of course the routine changes every time you feel like you've finally cracked it.

When it comes to baby sleep, not every family wants—or needs—to jump into formal sleep training. If you’re looking for a gentler, more gradual approach, the key lies in establishing a predictable, loving routine. Babies thrive on rhythms that help them feel secure, and those rhythms don’t need to include tears or rigid schedules.