Traveling parents
How to do a bedtime routine over video call
Make the call the calm first part of bedtime, not the last: call at the same time each night, keep it quiet, read the story or sing the song, say your goodnight words, and hand off to the parent at home for the rest of the routine. That keeps you part of bedtime and keeps the last stretch before sleep screen-free, the way the AAP suggests.
Updated October 26, 2026
Why bedtime is the one you miss
Of all the things you miss on the road, it is this one.
Bath, pajamas, the same book for the fortieth time, the small voice asking for one more song. Bedtime is when kids are softest and closest, and it is the part of the day a traveling parent misses most. A rushed call from the airport does not feel like bedtime. It feels like a reminder that you are not there.
It can be better than that. A video call can be part of a real bedtime routine if you plan it like one. The trick is fitting the call into what pediatricians already recommend instead of fighting it.
The AAP says all children thrive on a regular bedtime routine, recommends "brush, book, bed" for younger children, and suggests turning off all screens at least an hour before bedtime (HealthyChildren.org). So the best bedtime call comes early in the routine, and the parent at home finishes it. Your voice and your story are the start of winding down, not something that keeps them up.
Step by step
How to do a bedtime routine over a video call
- 1
Pick a call time and keep it
The AAP suggests making bedtime the same time every night (HealthyChildren.org). Do the same with the call. Agree with the parent at home on a time early in the routine, for example right after bath and pajamas, and put an alarm on your phone so a meeting does not swallow it.
- 2
Set the scene at home
Lights low, the room calm, the kids settled on the couch in pajamas. A screen they can see from across the room means nobody has to hold a phone, which keeps the call calm instead of a wrestling match over the device.
- 3
Start quiet, not with a show
The AAP notes that active play right before bed can make a child too excited to sleep. Skip the silly faces and the tickle game for this one call. Ask about the best part of their day in a quiet voice.
- 4
Read the story or sing the song
Bring the same book on the trip, or a copy on your tablet, and read it the way you would at home. Hold the pictures up to your camera. If they have a favorite song, sing it. Familiar is the point.
- 5
Say your goodnight words
Use the same words every night, home or away. It gives the call a clear ending, and it is the part they will remember.
- 6
Hand off, and turn the screen off
Say goodnight and end the call. The parent at home finishes the rest: brush teeth, a short book if they want, and bed. The AAP's Brush, Book, Bed routine works the same whether you are in the room or not (HealthyChildren.org).
- 7
Leave a message for the nights you cannot call
Flights, late dinners and time zones will get in the way sometimes. Record your story or your goodnight ahead of time so the parent at home can play it at call time. Zero to Three suggests a quick video for the at-home parent to share when a call is not possible (Zero to Three).
Plan it
A sample bedtime with a parent on the road
| Time at home | Who | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00 p.m. | Parent at home | Bath and pajamas |
| 6:15 p.m. | Parent on the road | Video call: quiet talk, the story, the song, goodnight words |
| 6:30 p.m. | Parent at home | Screens off. Quiet play, brush teeth, a short book |
| 7:30 p.m. | Parent at home | Bed and lights out, an hour after the screen went off |
Times are only an example. Fit the call into your family's own routine, and keep the last part before sleep screen-free.
Make it easier
Small things that make bedtime calls work.
Same book, two copies
Buy a second copy of the favorite book for your suitcase. Reading the real book, page by page, feels like home to them.
Time zones
If their bedtime is during your workday, step out for ten minutes. If it falls while you are flying, record the story the night before.
One minute each
With more than one child, give each a minute of their own before the story, so the story time stays calm.
A morning message
Record a short good morning before you go to sleep. Starting their day with you helps the next bedtime too.
Where FamilyView fits
Read the bedtime story on the living room TV.
With FamilyView, you call the family's living room TV from the FamilyView Android app or any web browser. The kids see you life-size from the couch, in their pajamas, and nobody has to hold a phone. Your partner gets to sit with them, in the picture, for the story.
On the nights you cannot make it, record a video message up to 2 minutes long, your goodnight or a short story, and it plays full screen on the family TV at bedtime.
FamilyView is coming to the Samsung TV app store. You can start free today and set up your side now.
Calls to the TV and video messages are on the Family plan, $14.99 a month, month to month, cancel anytime. Families with two homes can use Multi-House, $34.99 a month for up to four households. Read more for traveling parents, see what the TV at home needs, and compare plans on the pricing page.
Questions about bedtime over video
Will a video call at bedtime keep my child awake?
It can if it is exciting or right before sleep. The AAP suggests turning screens off at least an hour before bed and keeping the routine calm (HealthyChildren.org). Call early in the routine, keep it quiet, and let the parent at home finish.
How long should a bedtime video call be?
There is no set length. Long enough for a quiet talk, one story and goodnight is plenty. Zero to Three notes young children have short attention spans, so a short call is not a failed call.
Is video chatting OK for a baby?
The AAP says video chats can be beneficial to help build relationships between your child and loved ones (HealthyChildren.org).
What if I cannot call at bedtime?
Record your story or goodnight ahead of time. With FamilyView, video messages up to 2 minutes play full screen on the family TV.
What do I read over video?
The same book you read at home. Bring a second copy on trips and hold the pictures up to your camera. Familiar beats new at bedtime.
Sources
- Healthy Sleep Habits: How Many Hours Does Your Child Need? (AAP, HealthyChildren.org), regular routines, brush book bed, screens off an hour before bed
- Brush, Book, Bed (AAP, HealthyChildren.org)
- Toddler Won't Go to Sleep? 7 Tips to Help End Bedtime Battles (AAP, HealthyChildren.org), same time every night, a quiet routine
- Staying Connected While Separated from Your Young Child (Zero to Three)
- Kids & Screen Time: The 5 C's Questions to Ask for Infants (AAP, HealthyChildren.org)
Read the story tonight, from wherever you are.
Set up the family TV before your next trip. The Family plan is month to month, and you can cancel anytime.