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Bedtime

Bedtime is one of the biggest transitions in a small child's day: putting down the toys, letting go of the people they love, and settling into the dark alone. Stories about it give children a chance to rehearse that moment while they are calm and safe, and to see that the routine always ends the same reassuring way. A well-made bedtime story keeps its pace slow, its voices soft, and its ending certain.

For 2-year-olds

At two, bedtime is mostly about the body and the routine: bath, pyjamas, teeth, the same book, the same goodnight. Toddlers this age cannot yet talk about missing you, so the comfort has to come from rhythm and repetition. Look for stories with very little happening, long quiet moments, a soft voice, and a familiar sequence that repeats every time. Darkness should look calm and friendly rather than something to be brave about.

In the Night Garden

In the Night Garden

Makka Pakka Washes Faces

recommended age co-watching from 2

The narrator opens with 'someone I know is safe and snug and drifting off to sleep' and closes by telling each character to go to sleep.

Miffy and Friends

Miffy and Friends

Miffy's and Aggie's Teddy Bears

recommended age co-watching from 2

A central segment shows tucking in, hearing noises, opening the door for light and finally falling asleep.

Get Rolling with Otis

Get Rolling with Otis

The Sheep Who Couldn't Sleep

recommended age co-watching from 2

The episode is built entirely around the farm going to sleep for the night.

Guess How Much I Love You

Guess How Much I Love You

Can You Touch the Stars?

recommended age co-watching from 2

The evening ends with the little hare too tired to keep his ears up and settling to sleep.

Guess How Much I Love You

Guess How Much I Love You

Rainy Days

recommended age co-watching from 2

The episode closes with Little Nutbrown Hare and his father settling down to sleep.

Me & Winnie the Pooh

Me & Winnie the Pooh

Help Piglet Go Back to Sleep

recommended age co-watching from 2

Piglet spends the whole episode trying to fall back to sleep at night.

Bea's Block

Bea's Block

Sam's Campout

recommended age co-watching from 2

The episode centers on getting settled to sleep in a tent for the night.

Ready Eddie GO!

Ready Eddie GO!

Camping

recommended age co-watching from 2

Eddie settles into his sleeping bag for a night away from home.

Get Rolling with Otis

Get Rolling with Otis

Otis and the Kittens

recommended age co-watching from 2

The episode ends with the kittens being settled into a soft bed and wished 'sweet dreams.'

Guess How Much I Love You

Guess How Much I Love You

Fly Away Home

recommended age co-watching from 2

The episode closes with father tucking in his son and the 'Guess how much I love you' bedtime ritual.

See all Bedtime shows for 2-year-olds

For 3-year-olds

Three-year-olds start to protest bedtime on purpose, because they now understand they are missing something. This is also the age when the dark begins to feel bigger and the imagination fills it in. Stories help most when a character voices the same reluctance and is met with patience instead of a raised voice. A gentle bedtime routine shown from start to finish gives your child a version of the evening they can recognise in their own home.

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood

Daniel's Babysitter

recommended age co-watching from 2

Prince Tuesday tucks Daniel in and sings the good-night song.

Esme & Roy

Esme & Roy

Noisy Naptime

recommended age co-watching from 3

The whole episode is built around getting a little monster to settle down and sleep at naptime.

Max & Ruby

Max & Ruby

Max's Bedtime

recommended age co-watching from 2

The episode centers on putting Max to bed for the night.

Jessica's Big Little World

Jessica's Big Little World

Small Uncle's Big Bath

recommended age co-watching from 2

The episode closes with Jessica snuggling the clean toy as she goes to bed.

Little Bear

Little Bear

Up All Night

recommended age co-watching from 2

The episode is one long bedtime, with Little Bear tucked in and getting up many times.

Trash Truck

Trash Truck

Slumber Party

recommended age co-watching from 2

A long sequence covers brushing routines, tucking in and saying goodnight.

Little Bear

Little Bear

Little Bear's Shadow

recommended age co-watching from 2

The final scenes show Little Bear being tucked in and saying good night to his shadow

Do, Re & Mi

Do, Re & Mi

Best Buggy Blues

recommended age co-watching from 3

Mi is tucked in and says 'Night Presto, wherever you are' before falling asleep.

Jessica's Big Little World

Jessica's Big Little World

Bedtime Routine

recommended age co-watching from 2

Jessica practices her nightly routine before sleep.

Jessica's Big Little World

Jessica's Big Little World

Glow Toy

recommended age co-watching from 2

Jessica is tucked in and says good night to her mother at the end.

See all Bedtime shows for 3-year-olds

For 4-year-olds

By four, bedtime worries get more specific: a noise in the hallway, a bad dream, the wish for one more of everything. Children this age can follow a small story and hold onto how it ends. Look for a character who names the worry out loud and finds a way through it, with an adult nearby who takes it seriously. Simple ideas your child can borrow, a nightlight, a soft toy, a check under the bed, work better than being told there is nothing to fear.

Bluey

Bluey

The Weekend

recommended age co-watching from 2

The final long sequence shows Mum tucking the puppies into bed for a story.

Bluey

Bluey

Fruit Bat

recommended age co-watching from 2

The core of the episode is the bedtime sequence from announcement to lights out.

Puffin Rock

Puffin Rock

The Salmon Leap

recommended age co-watching from 4

The core task is getting Pip, Pop and Baba to fall asleep.

Bluey

Bluey

Chickenrat

recommended age co-watching from 2

The story is framed by Mum putting the children to bed and exchanging goodnights.

Llama Llama

Llama Llama

Lost Tooth

recommended age co-watching from 2

Llama Llama plans to put the tooth under his pillow before sleep and settles in at the end.

The Berenstain Bears

The Berenstain Bears

Go to Camp

recommended age co-watching from 2

The story centers on settling down to sleep outdoors under the stars.

Llama Llama

Llama Llama

Forgotten Fuzzy

recommended age co-watching from 2

Getting ready for bed and being tucked in is the heart of the ending.

Helpsters

Helpsters

Singing Starlett

recommended age co-watching from 3

The entire plan is about helping the starlet fall asleep with a pillow, story, and bear.

Puffin Rock

Puffin Rock

A Special Seashell

recommended age co-watching from 4

Baba is tucked into a feather bed and lulled to sleep at the end.

Puffin Rock

Puffin Rock

Back to the Pond

recommended age co-watching from 4

The puffins are asleep at the start and are sent off with 'Night-night, Puffins' at the end.

See all Bedtime shows for 4-year-olds

For 5-year-olds

Five-year-olds can talk about sleep with real curiosity: why we dream, what happens while we are asleep, why bedtime comes before they feel tired. They also negotiate. Stories that show a character taking part in their own routine, choosing the book or setting out clothes for tomorrow, support that growing independence. A little more plot is fine at this age, as long as the ending settles back into calm rather than leaving something unresolved.

Fancy Nancy

Fancy Nancy

Nancy's Devine Sleepover

recommended age co-watching from 3

The girls are put to bed and Nancy spends the night trying to fall asleep.

Doc McStuffins

Doc McStuffins

Ben/Anna Split

recommended age co-watching from 2

Ben is settled into a clinic bed with a lullaby and a bedtime story.

Llama Llama

Llama Llama

Snow Show

recommended age co-watching from 2

Mama tucks Llama Llama in, saying 'Good night, sweetie', though he is too excited to sleep.

Pete the Cat

Pete the Cat

Begin to Begin

recommended age co-watching from 2

Pete is told 'time for bed' and settled with 'sleep tight' after a full day.

Llama Llama

Llama Llama

Bully Goat

recommended age co-watching from 2

Llama and Mama have a bedtime talk before he sleeps on the problem.

Llama Llama

Llama Llama

Secret Santa

recommended age co-watching from 2

Mama tucks Llama in and tells him to sleep for the big day.

Doc McStuffins

Doc McStuffins

Tea Party Tantrum

recommended age co-watching from 2

The story hinges on Susie not getting enough sleep the night before.

Max & Ruby

Max & Ruby

Camp Out

recommended age co-watching from 2

The episode is about getting ready to sleep outside for the night with sleeping bags and pillows.

The Berenstain Bears

The Berenstain Bears

Count Their Blessings

recommended age co-watching from 2

The story ends with the cubs being tucked in and hugged goodnight.

64 Zoo Lane

64 Zoo Lane

The Story of Snowbert the Polar Bear

recommended age co-watching from 4

The episode is framed by Lucy's mother calling her to bed and Lucy listening to a bedtime story from the animals.

See all Bedtime shows for 5-year-olds

For 6-year-olds

At six, most of the routine is familiar, and what keeps a child awake is more often a busy head: something that happened at school, a worry about tomorrow, an idea they cannot let go of. Stories with a slightly longer thread and a character who thinks things over before sleep fit this stage well. Look for endings that name the feeling and set it down, so your child learns that the day can be closed off. Anything with a tense or unfinished last scene works against the moment.

Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum

Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum

I Am Harry Houdini

recommended age co-watching from 4

The story centres on Brad trying to settle and stay the whole night, with repeated 'good night' exchanges.

Pinecone & Pony

Pinecone & Pony

Sleepless at the Sleepover

recommended age co-watching from 4

The story hinges on the children trying to sleep in their sleeping bags.

Bounce Patrol

Bounce Patrol

Lullaby Sleepy Head

recommended age co-watching from 4

The entire song is about getting ready for bed and falling asleep, 'Now it's time to go to bed'.

Phoebe & Jay

Phoebe & Jay

Bird Sitting

recommended age co-watching from 2

The episode is structured around a bird's step-by-step bedtime routine.

Lucas the Spider

Lucas the Spider

Lonesome Lucas

recommended age co-watching from 2

The episode follows Lucas trying to fall back asleep through the night.

Dino Ranch

Dino Ranch

Pterodactyl-Doodle-Doo

recommended age co-watching from 3

The plot revolves around several nights of trying to get Teddy and the ranch to sleep.

Work It Out Wombats

Work It Out Wombats

Campout Confusion

recommended age co-watching from 3

The group settles into tents to sleep outdoors at night

Dora and Friends: Into the City!

Dora and Friends: Into the City!

The Search for Mono

recommended age co-watching from 4

The rescue is timed around Miguel needing Mono to fall asleep, and the toys note bedtime matters most for a stuffed toy.

Pete the Cat

Pete the Cat

Bedtime Blues

recommended age co-watching from 2

The episode centres on the friends resisting and finally reaching sleep at bedtime.

Pajanimals

Pajanimals

A Super Sweet Night

recommended age co-watching from 2

The episode is one long bedtime routine, from getting ready for sleep to a closing lullaby.

See all Bedtime shows for 6-year-olds

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