AI WORLD HQCreate a soothing bedtime story routine with Alexa
Organise a calming, voice-activated storytime for children, giving you peaceful moments while Alexa takes over with a simple command.
Imagine tucking your child into bed and simply saying, “Alexa, start bedtime story.” In just a few minutes, you can set up a gentle routine that Alexa will read aloud each night, complete with a soothing voice and soft background sounds. Once it’s saved, you can use it every evening with a single voice command, creating a lovely ritual for your family.
- An Amazon account (free).
- The Alexa app installed on your phone or tablet (free).
- A device with Alexa (like an Echo Dot, Echo Show, or similar).
- Access to a bedtime story skill or content (many free options are available; some specific premium content may require a paid subscription like Audible or Amazon Music Unlimited).
- Roughly 10-15 minutes to set up.
Open the Alexa app and find Routines
First, open the Alexa app on your phone or tablet. When it loads, you’ll typically see the home screen with various cards and information. Look at the bottom of the screen for a navigation bar with several icons. Tap the icon that looks like three horizontal lines or a square 'More' button in the bottom-right corner. This will open a menu. On the next screen, find and tap the word Routines. Routines are like your personal scripts for Alexa, telling her to perform a series of actions based on a trigger.
If it looks different: If you don't see "More" or three lines, look for a 'Settings' gear icon, or a menu icon that looks like nine dots or a hamburger menu. The goal is to find the main menu where 'Routines' is listed.
You'll know it worked when you see a screen titled "Routines" with a large "Create Routine" or "Add a Routine" button.
Create and name your routine
Now you're on the Routines screen, tap the + Create Routine or Add a Routine button. The app will then present you with options to build your new routine. The first thing to do is give it a simple, memorable name. Look for a field labelled "Enter routine name" or "Routine name." This name is just for you to keep your routines organised.
If it looks different: The button might be a plus (+) icon in the top-right corner, or simply "New Routine." Tap it to begin.
You'll know it worked when your chosen name appears in the designated field, and you see options to set "When this happens" and "Add action."
Set the voice command (trigger)
Next, you need to tell Alexa what phrase you'll say to start this routine. Under the section labelled When this happens, tap the + or Add button. From the list of trigger options, tap Voice. A new screen will appear where you can type your preferred phrase. This phrase is your "voice trigger" – the specific command Alexa will listen for to activate your routine. Keep it simple and easy to remember for everyone who might use it.
If it looks different: Instead of "Voice," you might see an option like "Phrase" or "Custom command." Select that to type your phrase.
You'll know it worked when your chosen phrase is displayed under "When this happens" on the routine creation screen.
Add the bedtime story action
Now it’s time to add the actual story. Under the Add action section, tap the + or Add button. You’ll see a list of actions Alexa can perform. Since we want a story, we’ll choose a content-playing option. Tap on Skills or Music & Audio. If you choose Skills, you can search for a specific bedtime story skill (many are free). If you choose Music & Audio, you can type "bedtime story" and Alexa will find suitable content from your linked services or free options. Select your preferred story source.
If it looks different: Look for categories like "Play," "Entertainment," or "Listen" if "Skills" or "Music & Audio" aren't immediately visible.
You'll know it worked when the selected story skill or music command appears in the list under "Add action."
Customise Alexa's voice for the routine
You can give your bedtime story a calm, consistent voice. While still on the routine setup screen, scroll down and look for an option called Alexa's Voice (or sometimes "Speaking Style" or just "Voice"). Tap on this to see the available voices. Choose one that sounds soothing, like "Matthew," "Emma," or a specific regional voice such as "Australian (Lily)." This setting ensures Alexa uses this particular voice for all the speaking actions within this routine.
If it looks different: The option might be labelled "Choose Alexa's voice" or "Voice Settings" within the routine.
You'll know it worked when the name of the voice you selected is displayed next to the "Alexa's Voice" option in the routine.
Add a calming background sound (optional)
To make the storytime even cosier, you can add a gentle background sound that plays after the story or simultaneously. Tap Add action again. This time, navigate to Music & Audio (or sometimes "Sleep Sounds" or "Nature Sounds"). Search for a calming sound like "rain sounds," "ocean waves," or "soft piano music." Select your desired sound and confirm. Remember that this will typically play after the story action in the routine unless you adjust the order.
If it looks different: Some background sounds might be listed directly under "Sleep Sounds" as a separate action type.
You'll know it worked when the background sound action appears below your story action in the routine's list of actions.
Save and test your routine
Once you've added all your desired actions and settings, it's time to save your routine. Look for the Save button, which is often found in the top-right corner of the screen. Tap it to finalise your new routine. After saving, the routine will appear in your list of active Alexa Routines. To test it, go to any Alexa-enabled device and speak the voice command you set up earlier.
If it looks different: The "Save" button might be a tick mark (✓) or a "Done" button. If Alexa doesn't respond when you test, double-check your trigger phrase for spelling or pronunciation in the Alexa app.
You'll know it worked when Alexa begins speaking the bedtime story in the voice you chose, potentially followed by the selected background sound.
Mistake: Alexa doesn't respond when you say the trigger phrase. Fix: Go back into the Alexa app, find your "Bedtime Story" routine, and check the spelling of your trigger phrase under "When this happens." Ensure it's exactly what you're saying, and try speaking it slowly and clearly to your Alexa device.
Mistake: Alexa plays the wrong story or just says "playing bedtime story" instead of reading one. Fix: The "Alexa Says" action is for Alexa to speak text, not to play content. Go back to your routine, delete the incorrect action, and add a new one by tapping "Add action" → "Skills" or "Music & Audio" to select a proper story skill or music.
Mistake: The background music is too loud or not playing at all. Fix: If the sound isn't playing, ensure it's added as a separate "Music & Audio" action after your story. If it's too loud, you can add another action "Device Settings" → "Volume" to set a specific volume for your Alexa device as part of the routine.
Open the Alexa app, go to Routines, and create a new routine named "Bedtime Story." Set the trigger phrase to "start bedtime story," add a "Skills" or "Music & Audio" action to play a bedtime story, choose a calm Alexa voice for the routine, and then save it. Say the phrase aloud to any Alexa device to test it out.
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✦ Original step-by-step guide by AI World HQ's AI editorial team. Written in plain language, reviewed for accuracy.
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