When you become a mom, life is all about adapting to change. Because let’s face it: the only thing that is constant in motherhood, is change itself! However, the older your baby gets (and the closer they become to being a toddler), the easier it can be to form a schedule that works. Today we’re going over a basic schedule for you, as a stay at home mom with a toddler!
Download PDF of the schedule here.
Finding your groove
It can be difficult to find your groove when you become a mom. It really wasn’t until my son turned 18 months that I truly felt like “Okay, I think I’ve got this”. My maternity leave money had run out, and I was officially fully committed to being a stay at home mom. This time coincided with coming up with a loose daily schedule that really works for me and my family.
What to include in your schedule
Try to think of everything that you realistically do throughout the day (and things that you want to get done). As a toddler mom, I am conscious of working around my son’s nap time so that he gets a good, long nap and is well-rested for the afternoon. Things I incorporate into my daily schedule are:
- Meal times
- Outdoor play
- Nap times
- Chores, housework
- Cooking
- Exercise for mama, specifically walking
These are all really important broad things that I include in my life everyday to feel fulfilled as a stay at home mom. You may notice that I don’t have “errands” on my list, and that’s because we have one vehicle and live rurally. So, when my husband goes to work, he takes the car. We always do our errands and grocery shopping on the weekend. Thankfully that seems to really work for us!
Sample schedule from wake-up to bedtime
Download PDF of the schedule here.
6:45 am: Everyone wakes up
7:00 am: Toddler eats breakfast while mom gets ready for the day (toddler is visible the whole time!)
7:15 am: Clean up breakfast and make coffee
7:30 am: Read books & play
8:30 am: Change diaper if needed & get ready to go outside
8:45 am: Go for a walk in the stroller
9:30-10:30 am: Play outside
10:30 am: Make lunch for toddler
10:45 am: Eat lunch
11:00 am: Clean up lunch, change diaper
11:15 am: Nap time for toddler & alone time for mama
1:00-1:30 pm: Wake up from nap
1:30 pm: Play indoors, small snack if hungry
2:30 pm: Go for second walk in the stroller
3:00-4:00 pm: Play outside
4:00 pm: Head inside and start making dinner
4:30 pm: Daddy comes home from work
5:00-5:30 pm: Dinner time
5:30 pm: Clean up dinner
5:45 pm: Bath time (one parent does bath, one parent does the dishes)
6:15 pm-7:00 pm: Read books, hang out as a family
7:00 pm: Brush teeth and get into jammies
7:15 pm – whenever: Bedtime for toddler: Husband & wife time / solo time / relaxation!
Download PDF of the schedule here.
Important to remember
It is so, so important to remember that this schedule provided is a typical day in my life as a stay at home mom. It doesn’t, however, include tantrums, meltdowns, sporadic diaper changes, early wake ups, rainy or snowy days, etc. You always have to adapt as a mom and it’s okay if your day doesn’t always look perfect or the way that you intended. That’s just life.
I hope that this schedule is helpful for you to base your day off of. Let me know if it’s anything like yours, and remember, you’re doing a great job mama!
Simple Little Moments 
Leave a comment