One of my biggest pieces of advice as a sleep coach is to establish a bedtime routine early in your child’s life (or even in utero!) and to stick with it throughout their childhood. Creating a bedtime routine doesn’t have to be complicated. Keep it simple with a bath, maybe a little infant massage, and include 5-10 minutes of stories or sleepy songs depending on the age of your child. Picking 1-2 books for a bedtime routine with your infant is a good start.

Here are a few of our favorite bedtime stories that can enhance your family’s bedtime routine and help your little one drift off to a peaceful sleep.

Llama Llama, Nighty-Night by Anna Dewdney

Stories with Mama are one of the best parts of bedtime!! Follow along as Llama Llama and his sweet Mama go through their own bedtime routine — from taking a bath and putting his red pjs on, to brushing teeth, to cuddling with Mama. This adorable book helps families introduce a simple, regular bedtime routine.

The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton

When I was a nanny this was one of my absolute favorites to read at bedtime! It is playful and the rhymes just roll off the tongue perfectly. This classic bedtime story is great for winding down the day as a silly & joyful group of animals go through their bedtime routine of scrubbing in the tub, brushing their teeth, and finally rocking to sleep.

Kiss Goodnight by Amy Hest

This adorably cozy bedtime story is sure to help any child feel loved as they get ready for sleepy time. Mama Bear goes through the bedtime routine with little Same. As Mama goes through the series of steps to tuck Sam into bed (reading aloud, tucking him in tight, giving him warm milk), Sam waits for his goodnight kiss from his Mama! These are sweet opportunities for real-life kisses, cuddles and hugs as you read the story.

Honestly, there are too many good bedtime books to include in our list but we love how these 3 in particular illustrate the bedtime routines! What is your favorite bedtime story to read to your kiddos?