A bedtime book basket is useful when it makes choosing a book easier. If it contains every favorite, several library loans and a stack of books that no longer interest anyone, it becomes another pile to search. Give it a small role: hold a few suitable choices for the current routine.
Choose a container and location that fit the sleeping space safely. Keep walkways clear and do not place books, baskets or other objects inside an infant's sleep space. The basket belongs in an appropriate reading area, with access and supervision suited to the child.
Offer enough choice to feel like a choice
A few familiar books and perhaps one newer option can be plenty. Let the child have a say where appropriate, but keep the selection manageable for the time available. A long book can be read in parts; finishing the entire story is not required every night.
Return library books to a separate clearly identified place if mixing them makes due dates difficult to track. Keep damaged books aside for appropriate repair or return instead of letting loose pieces remain in the basket around young children.
Change the selection when it stops working
There is no need for a strict rotation schedule. Swap books when the child asks, when interests change or when the basket becomes crowded. Repetition can be welcome, so do not remove a frequently chosen book merely to create variety.
If several children share the routine, include choices that let each participate without making the basket enormous. Different bedtimes or ages may call for separate small selections rather than one collection expected to suit everyone equally.
At the end of reading, return the books together according to ability. Keep the basket easy to carry or move safely if that is part of the routine. Avoid stacking it so full that retrieving one book sends the rest onto the floor.
The point is a calm, usable selection rather than a display of how many books the household owns. When the basket is small enough to browse and simple enough to reset, choosing the next story becomes part of the evening rather than another task to organize.