'The 9-step routine I swear by for my toddler’s skin.'

Thanks to our brand partner, Huggies

When I tell people my three girls are tucked into bed by 6:30pm, the response is always shock or envy.

Then come the questions. As a parent, I've been grilled on my nighttime routine more than I've had hot cups of tea.

My husband and I both work full-time and our girls juggle school and daycare. Routine isn't just helpful — it's critical to keeping everything from falling apart.

If this sounds tedious, you're wrong. The structure leaves room for things I love: family outings, pilates, sewing (yes, #millennialhobbycore), extra writing projects and nights out with friends. Predictable bedtimes let me confidently book a babysitter knowing they'll be sound asleep.

Okay, I admit the smugness.

But bedtime wasn't always this smooth. In those newborn days, I'd get sidetracked over every tiny bump or rash on my baby's skin and suddenly the routine would derail as I went down a Google rabbit hole.

Now, things are calmer. While I've moved beyond my newborn detective phase, keeping my toddler's skin healthy still matters — it's just part of the ritual.

Yes, nine steps.

I know it sounds insane, but it's surprisingly simple. Tried and tested on all three kids — it works.

Here it is:

1. Start with comfort foods at dinner.

Dinner needs to be simple and comforting, especially when we are still experimenting with introducing new foods.

Image: Supplied. 

Breakfast and lunch we are trying everything and anything but I keep dinner safe and familiar, avoiding exotic flavours or anything acidic that could irritate her gut or skin.

A big glass of milk usually accompanies dinner — it's filling and comforting before bed.

2. Stick to short, gentle baths.

My toddler, Lily, is wearing 20 per cent of the meal by this stage so it's time to get cleaned up.

When it comes to bath time, I've learned that less is definitely more. Bubbles and bath bombs seem fun but can actually irritate delicate skin. I keep bath products simple and fragrance-free.

Ten minutes is our maximum bath time — any longer and skin can get too dry. Water temperature is crucial too; lukewarm is best to avoid irritating sensitive skin. And there's absolutely no need to wash hair every night unless it's genuinely dirty (aka pretty much every daycare night), which stops her scalp getting too dry.

3. Make towel-drying part of the fun.

Damp skin is irritated skin, so thorough drying is crucial for skin health.

But kids being towel-dried? Also very irritated. It's a real conundrum.

If you've ever wrestled a screaming toddler with a towel, try seeing it from their perspective: you're rushing, rubbing too fast, maybe even going the wrong way on their ears? Just a bit?

My husband cracked it first — he made drying part of the routine. Now the girls do little moves like "rocket arms" and "360s" while he says the words and they jump and lift their arms to be dried.

I'm more of a "squeeze method" fan — instead of rubbing, I press the towel on their limbs and gently squeeze all the way along. Like a mini massage. No sandpaper vibes.

4. Let toddlers take the lead on moisturising (within reason).

At around two years old, toddlers are desperate to do everything themselves. I've incorporated little bits of independence into our skincare routine, like letting Lily pump a gentle moisturiser into my palm or helping me rub moisturiser onto her little body.

I focus on any potentially dry areas like knees, elbows and cheeks but keep it light and quick. The key is using a simple, fragrance-free moisturiser that absorbs quickly because no toddler has the patience for a full-body spa treatment.

5. Choose a nappy that keeps everyone happy.

Nappy pants perfectly suit Lily's "I do it myself" phase. I love the Huggies Ultra Dry Nappy Pants, which give Miss Independent a sense of control while I know her skin stays protected.

Image: Supplied. 

For a wriggly toddler who treats her cot like a gymnastics arena, the secure fit stops leaks while still letting her move. Huggies are specially designed with tailor-made absorbency for boys and girls — which means fewer disruptions to our carefully calibrated routine.

What makes Huggies Ultra Dry Nappy Pants different is their Rapid-Dry Technology, which instantly absorbs wetness in under 10 seconds. It's such good overnight protection given Lily is in the same nappy for 12 hours (yes she sleeps all night — don't hate me, hate the routine). I can confidently close her door at night knowing she (and her skin) will stay comfortable until morning.

6. Limit pyjama choices to avoid bedtime overwhelm and irritation.

When it comes to pyjamas — and actually all areas of their life — toddlers want control but too many options can backfire. I've learned to offer Lily two choices maximum. Anything more and she spirals into decision fatigue.

"Do you want the pink pyjamas or the bunny ones?" gives her a sense of independence without the full meltdown of too many options.

When it comes to fabrics, I make sure her pyjamas are soft, breathable cotton or bamboo. My tiny fashionista might go through three outfit changes before lunch but she'll spend the most hours each day in her PJs, so they need to be comfy and kind to her delicate skin.

7. Be consistent with books and boundaries.

We've made it to story time where there's only one rule: just one book.

Image: Supplied. 

This routine is iron-clad, completely consistent between my husband and me. Maintaining the same rules is crucial for setting clear expectations. The girls know exactly what to expect: one book, not a negotiable library session.

Of course, different rules can apply when they're at Nanna or Grandma's house. I'm more than happy to let my mum deal with an extended hour of reading stories. If she makes that bed, she can lie read in it.

8. Use sound to soothe and settle.

Finally, it's lights out with gentle rain noise playing. Our family runs on routine and rain. The sound gives them something to focus on — I once read that babies can't listen and cry at the same time, so we've used rain noise since they were newborns and never looked back.

I even use it myself if my mind's racing at night.

It also helps block out household noise — there's nothing worse than lying in bed hearing a conversation elsewhere. My girls get serious FOMO so this keeps things calm.

9. Close the door and sneak away.

And that's it. The ninth and final step is to enjoy my evening in peace while everyone recharges for another day of chaos tomorrow. Turns out, keeping it simple is the real parenting hack for comfortable skin and a great night for everyone.

Shop Huggies Ultra Dry Nappy Pants at your local supermarket. 

Feature Image: Supplied. 

Huggies Ultra Dry Nappy Pants feature Rapid-Dry™ Technology, which instantly absorbs in under 10 seconds, providing superior dryness.

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