Goodnight lines to say at bedtime

The last words a child hears before sleep matter more than we think. They do not need to be clever. They need to be the same, night after night, so that they become a kind of key that locks the day. Choose one or two of these, or change them until they sound like you. All of them were written for this site.

Very short: for the doorway

• Goodnight. I love you. See you in the morning.
• The day is done. You did well. Sleep now.
• Eyes closed, heart happy. Goodnight.
• I am just outside. Sleep well.
• Sweet dreams, my little one. The morning will wait for you.
• Goodnight, sleep tight. I will be here when it is light.

Little rhymes

• The moon is up, the lamp is low, the day is done and off we go.
• Stars are out and birds are still. Sleep, my child, until you've had your fill.
• Close your eyes and count to three: one for you, and two for me, and three for where your dreams will be.
• The fan goes round, the night is deep, the whole wide house is going to sleep.
• Down goes the sun, up comes the moon. Morning will be here quite soon.
• Small hands, small feet, small sleepy head. Time to rest them all in bed.

Goodnights to say to the room

Toddlers love saying goodnight to things. It turns leaving the day into a game. Walk round, or just point:

• Goodnight, window. Goodnight, door. Goodnight, toys upon the floor.
• Goodnight, shoes. Goodnight, school bag. See you both tomorrow.
• Goodnight, fan. Keep turning. Goodnight, lamp. Stop burning.
• Goodnight, moon outside. Goodnight, me inside.

Thank-you lines

For children of four and above, ending the day with one good thing is a calming habit.

• Tell me one nice thing from today. Now keep it under your pillow.
• Thank you, day, for the play. Thank you, night, for the quiet.
• Today is finished and put away. Tomorrow is new.

For a child who is worried

• You are safe. The door is shut, the house is quiet, and I am near.
• Whatever it is, it can wait till morning. Morning is good at solving things.
• Put your worry in my hand. I will hold it tonight.
• Breathe in slowly, like smelling a flower. Breathe out slowly, like cooling hot milk.

In Hindi

• शुभ रात्रि, मेरे बच्चे। सुबह मिलते हैं।
• आँखें बंद करो, निंदिया रानी आ रही है।
• चंदा मामा जाग रहे हैं, अब तुम सो जाओ।
• दिन पूरा हुआ। अब आराम करो। मैं यहीं हूँ।
• मीठे सपने देखना। सुबह तुम्हारा इंतज़ार करेगी।

(Meanings: Good night, my child, see you in the morning. Close your eyes, Queen Sleep is coming. Uncle Moon is awake, now you sleep. The day is done, rest now, I am right here. Dream sweet dreams, the morning will wait for you.)

How to use them

1. Pick and keep. Use the same line for weeks. Its power comes from being the same.
2. Say it slowly and low. Half your normal speed.
3. Say it last. After the line, nothing more: no reminders about tomorrow, no "and don't get up".
4. Let the child answer. Many children make up a reply, and the pair of lines becomes your family's own.

A line works best at the end of a steady order of steps. See a simple bedtime routine, and choose tonight's story from the story list.