Family Travel (old)

Mastering Mommy & Me Planner

Have you ever felt being a mom is a lot like being a professional juggler? Just when you have a handle on all the balls, someone throws you another!

As a busy mom, I know how crazy overwhelming mom life can be. Between caring for my daughter, keeping track of plans, and cleaning my house—I was always so overwhelmed. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of stress.

Are you,

one step behind your to-do list?
constantly trying to keep up with your baby’s transitions?
overwhelmed by household tasks?

I was too!

But I found that with a solid schedule, an easy routine, and a brilliant planning organizer you can easily get organized and take control of the chaos.

And that’s why I created the ultimate mom planner, the Mastering #MomLife 2020 Organizer. It was exactly what I needed to help me plan, track, and organize my whole life in one place. Completely stress-free!

Are you tired of the chaos and crave organization? I think you’ll love the Mastering #MomLife 2020 Organizer!

Want to get a taste of how the planner can help you? Get 15 FREE pages of the planner right now by filling out the form below and pressing the yellow button. (Plus get a really awesome discount for the full planner!)

You’ll get a mini version of the planner, called the Mastering Mommy & Me Planner, and see that this planner can truly become your new mom life bestie. If you’re totally convinced that you need the full Mastering #MomLife 2020 Organizer, keep reading! 🙂

Make 2020 the year of mom!

Mastering #MomLife 2020 Organizer

Want to truly kick chaos on its head??

With the FULL Mastering #MomLife 2020 Organizer, you can make 2020 the year of MOM.

Are you tired of having to do a million things but never having enough time to actually get them done?? This is the perfect planning system to help you reduce stress, save time and organize your life like a pro!

The full Mastering #MomLife 2020 Organizer is 50 pages of planning templates, trackers, and checklists to help you truly feel in control of ALL of your responsibilities.

Keep track of your baby’s naps, feeding, and activities.
Plan your to-do list and important tasks.
Organize your family’s plans.
Meal plan like a boss.
Track your goals.
Focus on your self-care
Keep up with household chores.

Here’s a glimpse of all that you get in the Full Planner!

With 5 sections dedicated to making your #momlife easier, it’ll help you stay ahead of the chaos.

Make 2020 the year of MOM! Become the best, less stressed version of YOU 🙂

Interested in the full Mastering Mommy & Me 2020 Planner?? Take advantage of my LIMITED OFFER here!

GET THE FULL PLANNER NOW!

This planner is the life raft you need to help you stop surviving and start thriving!

Check out these other #momlife posts!

The 7 Best Fun & Unique Disney Gift Ideas for Mom

Seasonal & Holidays

Inside: These Disney gift ideas for mom are almost practically perfect in every way! Keep reading to find out 7 unique gift ideas…

You don’t need to fork up your savings and bring mom to Disney World for her to feel the magic of the Mouse. Sprinkle some pixie dust on the Disney lover in your life with these magical gifts!

As a Disney fanatic, any one of these gifts would soar me into the sky singing “I can fly, I can fly, I can fly!”.

These gifts are not only magical but unique. She’ll be the belle of the ball with the best castle and everyone will ask her where she got her Disney gear!

Let’s dive into the gifts sprinkles with pixie dust…

10 Magical Disney gift ideas for mom

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please view Mastering Mom Life’s Terms, Disclosure & Disclaimer Policy and Privacy Policy. I wholeheartedly believe in all of the products I recommend and use them all!

1. Ambrie Disney Leggings

No true Disney mom can get away without owning a pair of Park Inspired leggings.

Leggings + Disney = Best Outfit Ever

Ambrie is not only my absolute favorite Disney inspired apparel, but it is also my favorite leggings in general. They are soft, uber comfortable and come in a jaw-dropping range of sizes.

Plus, these leggings are penny-pinching affordable. As a stay at home mom, I don’t always have the budget to buy novelty apparel, but with Ambrie’s prices and sales, I’m able to afford the best Disney apparel!

I personally own 5 pairs of Ambrie Disney leggings!

Plus, they make matching family Disney apparel like shirts, dresses, and blouses in women’s, men’s, and kid’s sizes.

My family owns about 4 different matching outfits that we rocked at Disney World this year. We received so many compliments about our clothes!

All thanks to the Ambrie.

These leggings (or anything Disney apparel they make!) are sure to add some magic to your day.

Use this link to get $5 off of your order!

2. Main Street Welcome Sign

Making your home feel like a Disney paradise is easier than ever! I love homemade, personalized, handcrafted items to add much-needed Disney magic to my home.

There’s nothing like your first stroll down Main Street. The sweet smell of sugar cookies from the bakery, the bustle of people going in and out of main street stores, the fresh baked smell of waffle cones from the ice cream parlor, and the twinkle in everyone’s eye as they see the beloved castle at the end of Main Street.

It’s perfection!

This sign is the perfect piece to add to your home to remind you of the happiest place on earth.

You can find this handmade Main Street Welcome Sign here!

3. Haunted Mansion Sign

“Welcome Foolish Mortals” …cue the infamous eerie voice!

From the unnerving stretching room to the spooky doom buggies, The Haunted Mansion is a Disney classic. Celebrating its 50^th Anniversary, there’s no better way to bring the love of the ride to your home than with this awesome sign.

You can find this handmade Foolish Mortals Haunted Mansion Sign here!

Interested in more Disney Signs? Take a peek at these fun plaques!

4. Adventure Book from Up

This book scrapbook is a picture-perfect gift! It’s a DIY expandable scrapbook album so you can create your own adventure.

5. Mickey Waffle Maker

No Disney day is complete without chowing down Mickey waffles! This Mickey waffle maker is perfect for any breakfast Disney lover. It’s easy to use and nonstick so you don’t have to spend much time cleaning up after your delicious Disney park inspired breakfast.

6. Disney Alex and Ani Bracelets

One of my favorite Christmas memories is my husband giving me this little perfectly wrapped gift box with a huge grin on his face. I anxiously unwrapped my gift to find a little black Alex and Ani gift box.

My heart started pounding so fast in anticipation of what was inside.

I slowly opened the box and found the bracelet I’ve wanted for soo long—a Disney Alex and Ani bracelet that read “Happily Ever After.”

Ever since that Christmas, my husband now gets me one new Disney bracelet a year! There are so many beautiful designs out now that it’s so hard to just want one.

You can find Disney Alex and Ani bracelets here!

7. Disney Mom T-shirt

Leggings—check

Mom bun—check

Disney t-shirt—check

No mom outfit is complete without a fun mom shirt! Plus, make it a Disney mom shirt and it’s double awesome.

This t-shirt is one of my favorites!

There you have it! These Disney gift ideas for mom are almost practically perfect in every way and any Disney fanatic would love them—including me!

Now all you need is some Disney wrapping paper and you’ll be good to go 🙂

Happy Disney Shopping!

Interested in more gift guides? Check out this Ultimate Stay At Home Mom Gift Guide!

Wait! Do you love free printables??

Become part of the Mastering Mom Life Insider tribe and get instant, exclusive access to my Mom Treasury filled with FREE printables + worksheets to make mom life easier!

The Best 8 Potty Training Essentials you Absolutely Need

Toddler Routines

Inside: Want to find out the best potty training essentials to help make potty training as easy and stress-free as possible? Keep reading!

Goodbye diapers, hello big kid underwear!

Saying goodbye to diapers is not only a huge milestone for your little one but it’s also a whole lot lighter on your wallet.

The thought of potty training can be extremely stressful but with these essentials, potty training is going to be more like potty fun-ing!

These 8 potty training essentials will help you prepare your kiddie for the potty training process to help them feel comfortable and confident in this huge transition. These essentials will also help you accomplish potty training in the easiest way possible.

It’s a win-win!

To help you really master potty training, I created a FREE essentials checklist so you know exactly what to get and never forget anything. Be sure to grab it below!

8 Potty Training Essentials

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please view Mastering Mom Life’s Terms, Disclosure & Disclaimer Policy and Privacy Policy. I wholeheartedly believe in all of the products I recommend and use them all!

Potty

One of the first potty training essentials you need is a potty seat that fits into your potty.

It’s best to look for a seat that is comfortable and it attractive to your child. That way, they will *want* to sit on it.

At first, I purchased a child-size potty but I found that Baby L was getting used to playing with it instead of using it. It also didn’t accurately prepare her for using the toilet in public places.

So, I purchased a potty seat that fits into our toilet and it did the trick!

You can find inexpensive potty seats here!

Training undies

The second must-have potty training essential is training underwear. Potty training undies are specially designed for training your little one to use the toilet because they are extra padded.

If your child has an accident, it’s prone to be waayyy less messy because most of the liquid will be soaked up in the extra underwear padding.

You want to give yourself enough pairs of underwear to be able to switch out if multiple accidents happen in one day.

Where to Find Training Underwear

I purchased 3 packs of training undies, where 3 came in a pack. I washed them by hand and then threw them in the dryer so I can have clean ones for the next day.

You can find training underwear in your local Target, Walmart or multi-purpose store. Be sure to look at the packaging for the term “training underwear”. You don’t want to waste money on normal toddler underwear that isn’t padded or designed for toilet training.

You can purchase training underwear on Amazon with free shipping here!

Toys & Books

A huge potty training hurdle is actually getting your child to sit and stay on the potty. So, you’re going to have to whip out some goodies to keep your little one entertained.

That’s why the third potty training essentials are toys and books.

Use the toys and books as an opportunity to further teach your child about going to the bathroom. You can purchase books that talk about the potty and toys that help your child understand what using the toilet means.

These are some really great toys and books that helped my daughter not only stay on the potty, but *want* to use the potty.

I started putting a doll on a little training potty that we didn’t use anymore and I helped my daughter so much!

She started sitting on the potty when I put her doll on the potty because she wanted to be just like her doll. But then she started wanting to put her doll on the potty and pretended like she was potty training her little baby.

Sometimes the silliest and simplest things work!

Where to Find the Best Potty Training Books & Toys

Here’s a list of some of my favorite books and toys to help your little one fall in love with the potty.

Books

Toys

Incentive Treats

The fourth potty training essential is purely for incentive reasons. Whether it be snacks or stickers, having incentives will encourage your baby to use the potty because they know and awesome reward is on the horizon.

Some parents opt out of snacks because they don’t want their child having 15 snacks a day, but the decision is ultimately up to you and what you think would work best for your child.

Our incentive started out very simple—chocolate chips. Baby L would get one chocolate chip if she sat on the potty and tried to go.

If she actually went, then she would get a sticker.

After a couple of days, we weaned her from the chocolate chips because she started telling us when she needed to go. And we didn’t have to bribe her with a chocolate chip anymore!

When she started getting better at potty training, we would give her one snack at the end of the day as her reward.

Don’t be afraid to start with snacks if you know it would work for your child. You can always find organic and sugar-free snacks that are a healthier option too!

You want your incentive item to be something your child would normally not play with or eat on a normal basis. This will help make the incentive item special and associated with accomplishing going to the bathroom on the toilet.

My favorite incentive items:

Organic Lollipops
Chocolate Chips
Stickers
Bag of plastic toys (like little toy soldiers or rings)
Fruit Snack Gummies
Cheddar crackers

You can find some potty training reward sticker books and packets here!

Timer

The next essential is a timer.

You may be thinking, “why in the world do I need a timer?”

Because when you first start potty training, you’ll need to sit your little on the potty every 20-30 minutes to get them used to sitting on the toilet and to start catching when they have to actually pee or poop.

It’s really easy to lose track of time and then by the time you remember, you have an accident on your hands.

Normally, whenever I gave Baby L some water or juice, I set a timer for 30 minutes. This would remind me to ask her if she needs to go to the bathroom!

If I’m not cooking, then I use my ovens built-in timer, but then I purchased a little, inexpensive old-school timer and it worked perfectly.

You can also find nifty potty training timers that are fun for your toddler to use that will help them know when they have to use the toiler. Here are some cool ones!

BONUS: Don’t forget to download the FREE Potty Training Essentials checklist for an easy and stress-free potty training! Click here to get it now!

Disinfectant wipes

Potty training is awesome, but it also means that you’ll have a lot of accidents on your hands. But that’s okay!

The sixth potty training essential is disinfectant supplies. You want to have on hand some disinfectant spray and wipes that are easy to use and that can be easily accessible.

Simply wipe down the floor where your little one had an accident with some disinfectant as soon as it happens and you won’t have to deal with any longe term stains, smells, or messes.

You can use these alcohol-free Seventh Generation multipurpose wipes or original Lysol wipes.

Dreft spray

The seventh potty training essential goes hand in hand with the sixth—stain remover.

Now that you have your floors and house clean from the accident, you’ll have to deal with the actual clothes your baby was wearing.

Whether the accident was number 1 or number 2, I found that Dreft spray is the best to use! It takes out the stain almost immediately and you never have to worry about having a residual smell or foul color on the clothes.

It’s also super affordable and can be found at most local stores, like Walmart or Target. I actually started ordering Dreft spray through my Amazon Family subscription and you can save 15% on each bottle. You can choose for the spray to come every month, 2 months or 3 months and it automatically ships when you tell it to. It’s really neat!

If you don’t have an Amazon Family account yet, you can sign up for a FREE 30-Day trial here!

Travel potty

Because you trained your little one on a potty seat, it’ll be hard for them to immediately transition to a large rimmed toilet when you go out. If your child is still small, the toilet hole might even be way too big for your child to even sit on!

To solve this problem, purchasing a portable child potty seat is perfect! I found this travel potty seat on Amazon and it’s been a lifesaver. It suctions to any size toilet and it super comfortable for the kiddos. It also folds up small enough for you to just throw in your bag.

You can find different travel potty seats here.

Bonus: On the Go Potty Training Essentials

Here are some other potty training essentials that I use when I’m on the go:

Clorox travel wipes- to wipe down the bathroom in case if it’s dirty.
Lysol travel spray- to spray travel potty seat down before putting it back in your bag.
Extra outfit- in case of an accident.
Ziplock bag- for dirty clothes after an accident.
Flushable wipes- they are softer on your baby’s bottom than public restroom toilet paper.
Travel size Dreft Spray– to eliminate stains on soiled clothes.

Download the Free Potty Traning Essentials Checklist!

Don’t forget to grab your copy of the free checklist! Potty training can be stressful, but with this checklist, you’ll have everything you need to stress-free potty train your kiddie from A to Z.

I also include my exact list of potty training items that I pack in my bag for when we are on the go!

There you have it! Potty training can be a stressful milestone, but if you are properly prepared it can really easy.

These potty training essentials can help you say bye-bye to stress and help you enjoy the transition of your baby turning into a toddler.

Plus, your wallet will thank you for not having to pay so much for diapers anymore 🙂

Happy potty training!

Do you have any potty training tips? Let me know in the comments below!

Check out more posts about making toddler life easier!

Wait! Do you love free printables??

Become part of the Mastering Mom Life Insider tribe and get instant, exclusive access to my Mom Treasury filled with FREE printables + worksheets to make mom life easier!

10 Frugal and Fun Toddler Christmas Traditions

Seasonal & Holidays

Inside: Start these fun, easy, and affordable toddler Christmas traditions to make your holiday extra special. Keep reading!

You’ll always remember your child’s first snow angel– when your toddler comes running into the house with a huge smile, rosy cheeks, and a frost-bitten nose.

Creating these priceless moments are beautiful. And I’ll show you how you can easily create more!

If you’re looking for fun, easy, and affordable toddler Christmas traditions then you’ve come to the right place.

Traditions are so special because it gives something for your little one to look forward to every year and you’ll get witness first hand just how much your child has grown each year. Traditions are also really awesome because they are something your child can do for years to come—and even do with their family one day!

Don’t forget to grab a camera before you start these traditions. You’ll want to capture the memories!

Top 10 Toddler Christmas Traditions

This post contains affiliate links. Any purchases you make through these links, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you! Mastering Mom life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please view Mastering Mom Life’s Terms, Disclosure & Disclaimer Policy and Privacy Policy. I wholeheartedly believe in all of the products I recommend and use them all!

1. Make your own ornaments

This tradition is not only super fun but very affordable— aka…cheap!

Here’s all you need:

Salt dough
Mod podge
Cookie cutters

To make salt dough, all you need is 4 ingredients:

4 cups flour
1 cup of salt
1 ½ cup water

Super easy!

Make your dough, roll it out, cut it, and brush it with mod podge—done!

You can add glitter and paint them too. I love to use these kid-friendly glitter glue and glitter markers. The possibilities are endless!

This toddler Christmas tradition is great to start with your little one because you’ll start to accumulate ornaments for years that can later become heirlooms.

Plus, the salt dough is kid-friendly and non-toxic. Which is always a plus!

2. Take a memorable family picture

Pictures last a thousand words. Why not make it a good one!

Each year since my daughter has been born, my family takes a fun picture. We took a picture with Santa, took a picture in front of a giant tree, and even took fun matching pajama pictures. We do something fun or silly so we can remember each year!

You can even use these pictures for a Christmas card too! A 2-in1 tradition 🙂

3. Read a Christmas story every night of December

One of the best habits your toddler can learn to do is read on a regular basis. Why not add some Christmas magic to reading and make it a fun tradition!

Find inexpensive Christmas books on Amazon or at your local store and read one book a night, leading up to Christmas.

My favorite book to read on Christmas Eve is “It was the night before Christmas”—cliché right?? But it’s so much fun!

4. Bake cookies

Cookies are a staple of Christmas at my house. I have to hide the cookie cutters because as soon as Baby L sees them, she runs around the house asking for cookies.

Baking cookies (or any family dessert) is an awesome toddler Christmas tradition. It’s fun, affordable and the whole family can get involved. And it’s really tasty!

Here’s my favorite sugar cookie recipe.

5. Drive around to look at lights

A Christmas without lights is like peanut butter without jelly—odd.

My family stocks up on lights when they go on sale (hint, hint…the day after Christmas) and we always put up hundreds of feet of lights.

Then we drive around neighborhoods to see lights around the town!

This toddler Christmas tradition is so special because you can even get your family and friends together and walk the neighborhood with some yummy hot cocoa.

6. Visit a Christmas tree farm

This is one of my new favorite toddler Christmas traditions because we JUST found a Christmas tree farm. (We live in NYC so we have to drive far to find farms!)

But words cannot express how happy I am to start this tradition. Even if you don’t buy a tree, you can visit the farm and experience walking around and smelling the delicious scent of pine.

Your kids can go crazy and run around too!

Some tree farms have fresh pies and activities for the kiddies so be sure to check for them.

7. Write Christmas cards

Your toddler may not be able to write but your little one CAN add stickers, color, and throw some glitter on Christmas cards!

Writing Christmas cards is one of my favorite traditions because you can send your family and friends cards in the mail and it’s a gift in and of itself.

You can make your own Christmas cards with construction paper or purchase come cards that you can color and write on. You can also incorporate your family picture into the Christmas cards and send a family photo to your loved ones.

8. Advent calendar

This tradition is like a tale as old as time, but it’s still so much fun!

An Advent calendar is a special Christmas calendar that counts down the days in anticipation of Christmas. You can make your own advent calendar or buy one.

Some advent calendars come with activities and candies that make each day special.

You can check out fun advent calendars here.

9. Decorate the house together

This tradition is so exciting!

Make sure everyone in your family is home and schedule a night to decorate the house! Throw on some Christmas tunes, make hot chocolate and let your family go crazy with tinsel, lights, ornaments, and stockings.

You can even let your children decorate one area of the house, like the one corner of the living room or one side of the tree.

Your toddler will always look forward to this night each year!

10. Decorate your own stocking

Stockings are an awesome toddler Christmas tradition. If you are crafty, you can make your own and design them. Or if you’re like me, you can buy the cheap stocking kits and have your family assemble their own stocking.

You can easily find the “create your own stocking kits” in Michael’s or Hobby Lobby for under $5.

Whether you’re a crafter or don’t have a crafting bone in your body, you can still partake in the joy!

Your toddler can decorate their own stocking and feel like a “big girl/boy”.

If you’re not into Christmas stockings, then you can choose another holiday craft that you can do each year. Try to choose a craft that your child can display each year so they feel accomplished!

Don’t forget your free Christmas Digital Planner Spreadsheet!

Easily plan, track and organize your Christmas list without stress and without printing a planner! Spend less time making your list and more time checking it off 🙂

And there you have it!

Christmas traditions are the best because it’s not about how much money you have or who has the biggest gift.

It’s about creating lasting memories that your child will never forget!

So bring on the frostbitten noses and secret family hot chocolate recipes. Grab your camera and start making memories!

The Best Toddler Screen Time Rules: 15 Easy Examples

Toddler Routines

Inside: Worried about screen time? Find out how to create your own screen time rules for toddler plus read 15 real-life screen time examples from moms!

The cringing words — screen time.

When I was a new mom, everyone I knew pounded me about the dangers of screen time. Everywhere you look, everyone has something to say about screen time.

“Don’t let your baby have screen time until 4 years old”. “Screen time causes your kid to act out”. “Make sure your TV is always off when your child is home”.

And on and on and on…

One thing I’ve learned since being a mother is— only YOU can decide what rules you are going to set for your child. Of course, you want the best for your child, but you know what’s best based on your family’s lifestyle.

So today I’m going to share with you the 3 steps you can take to help you create your own screen time rules for your toddler. To help you create your screen time rules, I’ll also show you 15 different screen time rules from different moms.

These are real-life screen time rules by real moms!

That’s why this post isn’t about what you should or should not do…it’s about celebrating our differences as parents and how to create your own rules!

There’s no passing judgment or eye-rolling because as moms, we are just trying to raise our kids as best as we can. And we all deserve a pat on the back 🙂

Before we jump into those 3 steps, to help you get a handle on your everyday tasks while managing a toddler, download my FREE mini mom planner — it’s my gift to you!

Let’s get down to it!

How to create your own screen time rules for toddler

Step 1: do your research

If someone is telling you something that you should or should not do, politely respect and acknowledge their opinion and then go research it for yourself. Don’t take what someone is saying as fact.

It very well may be a fact, but you want to know it for yourself…not just because someone said it.

Step 2: Make a decision

Once you know for yourself what you believe and don’t believe, draw your own conclusion about how you feel about screen time.

Maybe you’re okay with an episode a day. Or maybe you just want to allow it on the weekends.

Only you can say what is too much and what is too little.

Of course, there are extreme cases where you don’t want your 2-year-old glued to the tv for 8 hours a day. That’s probably not what’s best for him. So, take moderation into consideration.

My daughter had to have head surgery when she was 20 months old. We were in the hospital for 4 days and she was miserable. She had 2 iv’s in her arms and one in her foot. She barely ate or slept.

The only way she would sleep in that hospital is if I let her watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on my phone. And you know what, I didn’t even mind!

All that mattered to me was that she was happy at that moment and that she was sleeping.

When we came home and during her recovery process, she continued to watch those episodes because it brought her comfort in her time of misery.

This may be an extreme case but the principle rings true. Only YOU can decide what is acceptable for your child to watch. Not your friend, not your mom, not Instagram—you 🙂

Also, what does screen time mean to your family? Does it mean no phones or tablets? Or no Tv at all?

Working through your options and being as specific as possible will help you create your own screen rime rules.

Step 3: trust & willingness

Once you make a decision about what your child can and cannot do, trust your decision. Maybe it’ll only work out for a week and you see that you have to change it.

You don’t have to answer to anyone for your choices as a parent, as long as you are doing what it best for your child and making changes as necessary.

Trust yourself that you know what’s best and be willing to change when needed.

These are the 2 biggest struggles with parenting!

I would want to curl up and die of embarrassment when someone visited my house and my daughter was watching her shows. I felt like they were judging me for letting her watch tv. But I trusted myself and my decision and saw that she was learning from it!

But when I saw that my daughter was getting cranky and irritable if she wasn’t watching her show at a certain time, I took a step back and pivoted by screen time rule.

Motherhood is all about confidence and being willing to change 🙂

Real Life Screen Time Rules

So now that you know how to create your own screen time rules for your toddler, here are 15 real examples from different moms!

Maddie Morrow

“I don’t have a set amount of screen time for my two-year-old. As long as I’m not seeing adverse effects (stops responding when I talk to him, etc) I’m ok with it.

He watches cartoons (Sesame Street, Pooh Bear) basically all he wants but 95% of the time is also building blocks, race cars, trains etc, so not just staring at the tv.

For the iPad, I’m a bit more particular, since it’s close to his eyes. For that, it’s about 1 hr a day, broken up into segments. He watches color and counting videos, or videos about specific animals, cars, etc.”

SoCal Fun Family

“My kids get 1 show on the weekdays after homework and chores are done. We call Fridays, free-day Friday– where, as long as their room is clean they can have unlimited screentime unless doing something. Saturday, they get 1-2 hours after chores are done. None on Sunday.”

Millennial Mom Confessions

“My kid has been watching Sesame Street since he was about 4 months old and he LOVES it. It has become part of our daily routine and I wouldn’t change that for a minute!

I know he’s learning and I think that show does a terrific job of addressing prevalent issues.”

Manda

“We used to give the kids the freedom of however long until it became an issue. We moved to one hour a day on their Ipad for 10 and 7. If they don’t do their morning chores or disobey us, we take 5 minutes away per offense.”

Katie from Mrs. Wentworth

“Sometimes screen time is literally the only way I can eat a hot meal. We’ve limited my 7 to long car rides or trips and she gets it for quiet time before bed. My 1-year-old gets it more but he’s really not interested unless it Thomas so maybe 5 minutes 3 times a day.”

Brittney

“I don’t have a problem with screen time because he enjoys learning. So, if he’s watching videos about shapes and ABC, counting, then as long as he wants. Plus he likes music! But any cartoons, I do 1-2 when it’s not nice outside.”

Magically Martinez

“Our kids get no video games Sunday through Thursday. Minimal family tv on weeknights.”

Arlem Hawks

“The standard for us is one half-hour show per day and a movie on weekends. But there are definitely times we let them have more (such as when I have deadlines for projects or I/they sick)

They don’t do any sort of phone or computer time right now. They’re still pretty young.”

Sound Mama

“Our son used to scream in the car for hours so we decided to give him a phone to distract him. But it became a crutch every time after he would scream until we gave him the phone. So we cut back on screen time for a week or two…

No more tech in the car for drives less than 3 hours. We try to go outside before we resort to screens. And if for some reason we need extra screen time (to help us get stuff done) we do signing time or Spanish nursery rhymes videos.”

I love hearing from real moms and real-life issues! Sometimes we can get to detached from reality that we don’t know what we even believe about a topic anymore. And I feel screen time is definitely one of those taboo topics.

Laurie Umlaf

“No real rules – once their homework if any Is done, I offer alternatives- I’ll play a game or cards, puzzles, help with dinner, take a walk, read to me while I get dinner ready. Then close to bedtime they can have screen time. They usually fall asleep soon after. my kids usually prefer the alternative activities over screen time.”

Alexis Lewandowski

“My son is 2 and I use screen time 2 ways

1. to occupy him while I do chores

2. some days when he doesn’t nap but I need to rest we watch cartoons/movies together.”

For Birthday Grownups

“Am I desperate to have breakfast without talking to someone? Screen time

Do I need to make dinner without crotch goblins all over me? Screen time

Pretty much we restrict WHAT we will let them watch and try to ad not to go overboard.

…I have twin 3 year-olds.”

Mrs.Plan Ahead

“I let my oldest play games and educational games daily. Some days we are so busy we forget all about the tablet. But to relax after dinner since school is busy for a little while is fine by me.”

Stumbling Through Wonderland

“Must be educational to some degree. Out at dinner, so we can enjoy a meal. If I’m trying to do chores at home the tv is on but he’s usually still playing.”

Stephanie Creaser

“None until their rooms are clean. They often find something to play with while cleaning anyway.”

That’s it!

When you know what is best for your child, you’ll create screen time rules and parameters that fit your child!

Moral of the story is– screen time doesn’t HAVE to be bad. And you shouldn’t feel judged if you do allow your child to have screen time.

Every mom is different. Every child is different. And you know your child best–what is healthy and what isn’t.

Now, when someone asks me, “oh you let your daughter watch tv?”…

I confidently reply, “Yes, her screen time reinforces what we learn during our reading time.”

Don’t Forget Your Free Mom Tracker!

Mom life is hard. Planning your tasks, tracking your children’s activities and organizing your family’s life is no ball game! To help eliminate the everyday stresses of motherhood, I created this FREE mom tracker to help you plan and organize your whole day in ONE place!

Download it the free printable NOW!

Give yourself a gold star mama, you’re doing great!

Wait! Do you love free printables??

Become part of the Mastering Mom Life Insider tribe and get instant, exclusive access to my Mom Treasury filled with FREE printables + worksheets to make mom life easier!

Family Travel (old)

Keep track of your baby’s naps, feeding, and activities.

Plan your to-do list and important tasks.

Organize your family’s plans.

Meal plan like a boss.

Track your goals.

Focus on your self-care

Keep up with household chores.

Here’s a glimpse of all that you get in the Full Planner!

Check out these other #momlife posts!

10 Magical Disney gift ideas for mom

1. Ambrie Disney Leggings

2. Main Street Welcome Sign

3. Haunted Mansion Sign

4. Adventure Book from Up

6. Disney Alex and Ani Bracelets

Wait! Do you love free printables??

8 Potty Training Essentials

Potty

Training undies

Where to Find Training Underwear

Toys & Books

Where to Find the Best Potty Training Books & Toys

Incentive Treats

My favorite incentive items:

Timer

Disinfectant wipes

Dreft spray

Travel potty

Bonus: On the Go Potty Training Essentials

Download the Free Potty Traning Essentials Checklist!

Check out more posts about making toddler life easier!

Wait! Do you love free printables??

Top 10 Toddler Christmas Traditions

1. Make your own ornaments

2. Take a memorable family picture

3. Read a Christmas story every night of December

4. Bake cookies

5. Drive around to look at lights

6. Visit a Christmas tree farm

7. Write Christmas cards

8. Advent calendar

9. Decorate the house together

10. Decorate your own stocking

Don’t forget your free Christmas Digital Planner Spreadsheet!

Read more related posts!

Wait! Do you love free printables??

How to create your own screen time rules for toddler

Step 1: do your research

Step 2: Make a decision

Step 3: trust & willingness

Related Reading:

Real Life Screen Time Rules

Don’t Forget Your Free Mom Tracker!

Wait! Do you love free printables??

I think you’ll love these articles too!