One of my readers ask me to post about my daily schedule with the girls. As they continue to grow, things are always changing, what I did last year with them is very different from this year. I am learning to go with the flow, learning being the operative word. With that being said, I also know kids need a routine, not a set schedule, in order to thrive.
At the beginning of each month, give or take a few days, I try to sit down and figure out what kinds of activities I can bring the girls to. Most of the time it is something at the library since it is free, but we also have a zoo pass, children’s museum pass, and the girls get music class as a gift each winter. When the weather is nice we play our in our yard or go to several different playgrounds near us. Last winter we signed up for an indoor open gym at a local gymnastics place and it was worth the $20/month!
I try to stay home 2-3 days a week because of my youngest. She just turned one and no longer naps on the go unless she’s on a long stroller walk or car ride. She definitely needs two naps, a morning and an afternoon, but sometimes it can be a struggle for us. I always feel bad because my oldest needs to get out of the house, so on the days we are out, Abby will get one big nap anywhere from 11:30-2:30. In a perfect world she would get both naps every day; thankfully she takes it like the little champ she is. On the days we stay home I will put her down for both naps and she will have a slightly later bed time. As she gets older I know it will get easier and she will just take the one long nap.
As for my two year old, where do I begin?!? She has never been the best sleeper and it has always been a struggle getting her to take naps when we was supposed to. We had a good nap run, but I think those days are in the past. I definately took it the hardest, that was my one part of the day I got to have a little time to myself, maybe even check and email or two! I have been trying everything you can imagine to keep her napping, but have failed and it only added stress for both of us. As of right now she has a quiet time in the middle of the day and goes to bed by 7pm.
Daily Routine if we Stay Home (2-3 days/week)
Morning
- 6-6:30am wake up
- nurse baby while toddler snuggles in bed with us
- eat breakfast
- playtime
- make our way upstairs by 9-9:30ish
- get dressed / brush teeth / wash face
- nurse baby and nap at 10am (my toddler plays in her room while I do this)
- snack for toddler around 10:30am
- play outside with toddler (I bring the monitor of course) / craft / indoor playtime (all depends on weather)
Afternoon
- baby wakes up around 11:30am-12:00pm
- lunch
- playtime
- upstairs to read books and play with puzzles
- toddler quiet time around 1:30-2:30pm
- nurse baby, down for afternoon nap around 2pm
- activity with toddler (craft, play dough, etc.) / TV time (I only started this after she stopped napping so I could get a few things done; 30 min tops)
- baby wakes up around 3:30pm
- go for a walk / play outside / indoor playtime
- get dinner ready (baby plays in pack & play, toddler in play area entertaining herself, well sometimes)
Night
- dinner around 5:30-6pm (depending when my husband comes home from work)
- upstairs for bedtime routine
- bath
- brush teeth
- read books to baby / nurse / bed 6:30-7pm
- read books to toddler / bed 7-7:30pm
Daily Routine if we Go Out (similar to above)
Morning
- 6-6:30am wake up
- nurse baby while toddler snuggles in bed with us
- eat breakfast
- head upstairs to get dressed / brush teeth / wash face
- get bags together (if I didn’t the night before)
- nurse baby before we go
- shoes / coats, etc.
- story time / zoo / children’s museum / music class / park / run errands , etc.
- snacks on the go
Afternoon
- back home around 11-11:30am (sometimes later depending on the activity)
- lunch
- upstairs for nap rountine
- nurse baby / down for nap 12:30pm (sometimes earlier)
- toddler quiet time around 1:00-2:00pm
- activity with toddler (craft, play dough, etc.) / TV time (I only started this after she stopped napping so I could get a few things done; 30 min tops)
- baby wakes up around 3pm
- run errands (usually Target since we live 5 minutes from there) / indoor playtime (if we want to stay home)
- get dinner ready (baby plays in pack & play, toddler in play area entertaining herself, well sometimes)
Night
- dinner around 5:30-6pm (depending when my husband comes home from work)
- upstairs for bedtime routine
- bath
- brush teeth
- read books to baby / nurse / bed 6:30-7pm
- read books to toddler / bed 7-7:30pm
What are your daily schedules like with your children? Feel free to leave comments so other people can see what you might do differently!
