Toddler Tips

Inside: Super easy baby and toddler activities to keep your little one busy & stimulated while helping them meet milestones & practice existing skills!

Tired of racking your brain trying to think of easy baby and toddler activities?

What if you could finally plan easy, fun, cheap, educational activities without spending 3 hours prepping for activities that last 10 minutes?

Finally keep your little one stimulated, busy, and reaching new milestones without wanting to pull out your hair!

Your #momlife JUST got a million times easier…

Plan a week’s worth of easy activities in under 10 minutes to keep your baby stimulated and reaching new milestones.

No more losing your mind trying to find and plan fun, cheap, easy activities to help you finally feel confident teaching your baby new things- you can download it right now!

Imagine if you could…

• Get your little one on a rockin’ play routine without pulling out your hair
• Help your baby reach new milestones & easily track their growth
• Have a simple plan of action for your baby or toddler’s activities
• Keep your little one entertained without breaking the bank
• Quickly prep each activity to maximize your time
• Accomplish a well balanced play routine with independent play AND parent/child bonding

FINALLY, say goodbye to super complicated activities that your little one is going to play with for only 5 minutes…

And HELLO to a whole goldmine of fun, easy, affordable activities that will take you less than 10 minutes to prep AND that your little one will have a blast doing.

Tiny One’s Boredom Buster Activity Toolkit

This treasure chest of fun, easy, educational, and cheap activities for babies and toddlers is perfect for the busy mom who wants to keep their little one growing and having fun…

…without the burden of unnecessary prep and stress!

You’ll get an entire activity planning system— 100 pages of awesomeness to help you feel confident to easily prep fun activities so your baby can continue to grow and thrive!

Plus, the toolkit includes a well-balanced combination of independent play activities as well as activities to encourage parent/child bonding.

That means you’ll be able to not only teach your little one to play on their own (so you can get stuff done!) but also encourage beautiful bonding time between you and your child that will also be strengthening development.

Here’s a glimpse at everything you get!

• 10 Done For You Activity Planning Templates to help you customize each activity to fit YOUR baby
• 35+ Skill-Building Activities with step by step instructions & set up for babies 2 months old to 2 years old!
• 20 Activity Worksheets to whip out when you’re in a pinch
• Everything your little one needs to promote developmental milestones, play independently, and stay stimulated while having fun!
• A detailed review of how to implement activities & independent play in your weekly routine

This activity toolkit is perfectly designed to HELP you take the overwhelm OUT of planning fun, educational & affordable activities for your children while encouraging independent play AND parent bonding!

It’s time to easily organize & plan your little one’s activities for maximum growth & development while eliminating frustration!

Don’t feel tied down to someone else’s play routine- easily create YOUR OWN your baby can thrive!

This is a FLEXIBLE step-by-step activity system where you can easily plan your own weekly activities by plugging in activities based on the provided activity worksheets and templates!

Does this sound familiar?

• “I have no idea what to do with my baby all day”
• “I don’t have much money to spend on activities so I tend not to do fun ones”
• “I don’t have a clue where to even begin with planning activities”
• “I’m tired of doing the same activities over and over again”
• “I just don’t have the time to spend prepping activities”
• “My baby puts everything in her mouth so I can’t do many activities”
• “My toddler gets bored with things easily”

I’m right there with ya! I have felt ALL of the above!

But I can help you feel confident in your little one’s development while they have fun!

The Tiny One’s Boredom Buster Activity Toolkit includes 40+ low-cost, screen-free, easy activities with little to no prep.

With activities for babies and toddlers from 2 months old to 3 years old, and over 10 templates to help you create an easy playtime activity routine that works for YOUR family, this activity toolkit is your life raft back to sanity!

HOW TO USE

Download the easy baby and toddler activities toolkit with the click of a button.

All pages are quick and easy to print.

I know some moms who print the organizer and laminate the pages to keep reusing with a dry erase marker. (Like the picture above!)

Or print out key pages you’ll use every week and place them in an 8.5×11 frame that you can also use with a dry erase marker.

To take advantage of the whole organizer, print and place it in a binder. Even use sheet protectors to personalize them so you don’t have to keep copies of the same page!

With 10+ pages of activity planning templates, 40+ easy activity ideas, AND 25+ worksheets to whip out when you’re in a pinch, you’ll be able to help your little one grow in each stage of development with ease and confidence.

KICK OVERWHELM

Let’s face it––there’s nothing more frustrating than spending 3 hours prepping for an activity that your baby only plays with for 5 minutes. 

And there’s nothing more disheartening than feeling guilty for not knowing what to do with your baby all day. You are not alone!

The truth is that having an easy activity routine is a game-changer, one that will help you feel more connected to your baby, keep your little one entertained & stimulated, and even promote milestone development!

Not ready to purchase the toolkit? Grab this free activity routine!

Related Reading:

• Simple Toddler Morning Routine and Activities
• The Best Toddler Screen Time Rules

Are you overwhelmed with juggling your daily #momlife to-do list AND your baby’s activities? Grab my FREE Mommy & Me Mini Planner and take control of your day!

Inside: Find out all of the best toddler bath time routine tips to help make baths fun, promote parent/child bonding, toddler independence, and better sleep!

I heard my toddler howling for me from across the house. I walked into her room to find her bare-bottomed with a pile of bath toys in her hand…

Even without telling time, my three-year-old knew it was time for a bath!

Having a consistent toddler bath routine is the perfect way to wind down from the day and can even help your toddler sleep better.

I’ll show you how you can begin an easy bath routine with all of the best toddler bath time routine tips to help your little one love baths and end the day with a relaxing, sleep-promoting routine.

We’ll talk about:

• Step by step bathing tips
• How often to bathe your toddler
• Bath time must-haves
• What happens after bath time

No time to read this now? That’s okay! Save it to your favorite Pinterest board for later

Toddler Bath Time Routine

Toddlers love predictability- so they love routines!

A bath routine is a great way to begin your bedtime routine that sends a signal to your little one that it’s time to start winding down from the day and almost time for nighttime sleep.

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How to Bathe Your Toddler

Here’s a step by step bath routine for your toddler:

1. Run Water to Fill the Bath

The first step in the toddler bath time routine is to actually start the bath. Fill the bath with warm water until it reaches the height of your child’s waistline.

The bathwater should be warm- between 90-100 degrees F.

Be sure to double-check the temperature of the water a couple of times to ensure it didn’t get hotter or colder as the water runs. You can dip your elbow into the rising water to feel the temperature your toddler will be feeling.

Remember, fill the tub to about the waistline of your toddler. Too little water will not be enough to wash your little one and too much water is a danger.

Once the water is at a good height, turn off the water. You can also run cold water for the last couple of seconds to prevent your toddler from touching the water spout if it is still too warm.

We use this drain cover to cover the drain stopper so my little ones can’t play with the drain or accidentally hurt themselves. We also have a cute ducky spout cover that goes over the bathtub spout so they can’t hit their heads on it or play with it.

2. Put Toddler in Bath

As your toddler goes into the bath, double-check the water temperature and the water height/water level.

Depending on your toddler’s age, you can put your little one in the bath once the tub is filled and the bath is off or if they are a bit older your toddler can get in the tub as the water is still running.

This is completely up to you as the parent! You know your toddler best 🙂

My daughter is 4 and she likes to stand (& dance!) in the bathroom and get undressed while the bath is filling up and then hop in once the water is at a good temperature and after I am done putting the cover on the water spout.

3. Clean and Scrub

Scrub-a-dub-dub time!

I use soap and water (and sometimes a washcloth) to clean the main areas of my toddler’s body:

• Arms/arm pits
• Legs
• Behind ears
• Face
• Body/torso
• Privates
• Hands/under nails
• Feet/toes/toenails

As she got older, I also use this time to teach her how to clean herself and let her practice. We also sing bath songs to help her remember which areas of her body to clean.

CocoMelon and Mother Gooseclub have fun bath songs you can learn!

Depending on how dirty my little one is determines how I clean my toddler. If we were just in the house all day then I do a quick routine cleaning with soap and water. On the highly likely chance that she got marker or glitter on her body, then I scrub those areas with soap and a washcloth.

If we were outside in the park or in the mixed public, I clean her hair.

I wash my daughter’s hair every 3 days if it stays clean. I immediately wash her hair if it is dirty or has something stuck in it (I’m looking at you slime…)

We use this handy bath rinse cup to wash her hair and keep the water from pouring into her eyes.

I’m not a fan of overly washing/scrubbing because their skin can become irritated from having baths every evening. So, if you just want to use water and a small amount of soap, that’s perfectly fine.

My daughter struggles with dry skin so we are careful and mindful of her skin during her bath time routine.

I like to clean my toddler as soon as they get into the bath and then leave 5-10 minutes at the end of the bath for playtime.  I know some parents who let their kids play first and then clean them right before getting them out of the bath.

It’s totally up to you!

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3. Playtime/Parent Bonding

Now to the fun part…

Bath time is a great time to utilize special connective bonding time with your toddler. Use this time to play games, sing songs, or even just talk about something fun.

Here are some fun interactive bath ideas:

• Count your toddler’s toes and finger (going over numbers 1-10)
• Play “mirror” (make a silly face and your toddler copies you)
• Sing bath time songs (sing “this is the way we take a bath, take a bath, take a bath” to the tune of “The Wheels on the Bus Go Round”)
• Teach your toddler different body parts (elbow, eye brows, knuckle, etc)

You can also give your toddler a couple of minutes to play with toys too. My daughter loves her pretending she’s deep-sea diving with her bath toys.

Here are some fun toddler bath toys:

4. Done with Bath & Get Dried

When bath time is done, before I take my daughter out of the bathtub, I ask her to clean up her toys. We count the toys and place them in a mesh bath toy organizer bag that suctions to the wall.

After the toys are cleaned, I take her out of the bath and wrap her in a towel. Then I drain the water and remove the water spout cover and place it in the bath toy bag to dry.

It’s time to dry off and get dressed.

Be sure to dry all of the cracks and crevices- under the arms, between legs,  neck, etc.

You can put lotion or any type of body care on your toddler before getting them dressed.

I put hydrating lotion on my daughter’s skin (she struggles with dry skin) and then get her dressed. I like to pick out 2 different pajamas and have her choose which one she wants to wear.

Giving toddlers small options throughout the day helps them feel independent (and can prevent those tantrums!)

You can brush your child’s hair or add any other step you need to after getting them dressed.

And bath time is officially over!

Do Toddlers Need a Bath Every Night?

Not every toddler needs a bath every night.

How often you bathe your toddler depends on your toddler’s needs and your family’s daily routine. I mentioned that I only lightly bathe my daughter if we’ve just been at home all day.

Some parents don’t even bother with a full bath every night and just give their child a wipe down. Whatever works for your family is best!

My kids enjoy bath time as a fun activity so we’ve made a bath routine a part of our bed routine every night. My daughter will not put her pajamas on without taking a bath haha.

As long as your child is going to bed comfortable and clean, you choose how often your child should take a bath based on their hygiene needs and comfort.

Toddler Bath Time Routine Essentials

Bath time wouldn’t be complete without some essentials to help make the bath as effective, efficient, and as fun for your toddler as possible.

(Because no one enjoys a screaming toddler flailing water around hollering to get out…)

Here are some of my favorite toddler bath must-haves:

• Healthy & safe soap– I use the Sensitive Baby Dove soap for my kids even after they grow out of “babyhood”. Try to avoid unnecessary sulfates and chemical ingredients as best as possible.

• Thin washcloths– I like to use the thin cotton wash cloths because I find they are easier to maneuver when cleaning your toddler and they also clean better and don’t develop a weird smell after many uses/washes.

These are my favorite toddler bath “convenient items”. I wouldn’t have necessarily purchased these items myself (hello stay-at-home mom budget!), but they were gifted to me and now I couldn’t imagine bath time without them.

You can totally have a successful bath without these items, but they are just some of my favorite bath items that make mom life so much easier.

• Bath water spout cover
• Tub drain cover
• Bath Toy Waterfall for Wall
• Baby skin brush
• Toy Bath Organizer

What Happens After Bath Time?

Bath time is over, now what?

Bath time is just the first step in my toddler bedtime routine!

I create an easy routine to help your toddler unwind from the day and prepare for bed while promoting connection and better sleep.

A bedtime routine is simply just to send a signal to your child that it’s almost time for nighttime sleep.

It’s a great way to unwind from the day, connect, and get your child ready for bed. You’ll want to send certain “cues” to your toddler that it’s nighttime and time for sleep.

Read my step-by-step toddler bedtime routine to help your little one feel as safe, comfortable, and restful as possible while giving them some independence as they continue to grow and develop.

Teaching Your Toddler Privacy

One of the most absolutely essential parenting lessons is teaching your child about privacy. I always use bath time as an opportunity to teach my daughters about privacy.

There are only a handful of people allowed to give my kids a bath (mommy, daddy, and grandma). As my daughters got older, we made sure they knew the 3 people who were allowed to be in the bathroom with them.

It’s never too early to introduce your little one to the topic of “privacy”. You don’t have to introduce medical terms for their anatomy or feel pressured to teach your child something they are too young to understand.

But helping them understand privacy, such as closing the bathroom door when others are around, will create a strong foundation for when those crucial conversations come up in the future.

Download the Free Bedtime Routine!

Access and instantly download a printable toddler bedtime routine chart you can hang up and show your toddler so they can follow along with the routine steps and pictures!

Includes:

• Bedtime tracker
• Printable Pictured Routine for toddlers
• Downloadable step by step routine

Complete the form below to get it sent straight to your inbox 🙂

Recap:

Creating an easy bath routine is the perfect way to help your toddler wind down from the day and can even promote better sleep.

In this post, I showed you how you can begin an easy bath routine with all of the best toddler bath time routine tips to help your little one love baths and end the day with a relaxing, sleep-promoting routine.

Remember, YOU know your little one best! Do what works best for your family while meeting your little one where they need you to.

You got this, mama

RELATED POSTS:

• Simple Toddler Bedtime Routine to Make Nights Calm
• Easy Toddler Morning Routine & Activities
• How to Create the Best Toddler Screentime Rules

Inside: Start a super simple toddler bedtime routine to help make nights calm while flourishing connections and promoting better sleep.

It was 6:45 pm and my toddler was prancing around the house with her pants on her head pretending she was a superhero…

Let’s just say, it felt like bedtime was nowhere in sight.

Bedtime was kryptonite to my toddler!

So I was determined to begin an easy toddler bedtime routine that wasn’t rigid and unbending, but a bedtime routine that was structured enough to be predictable but flexible enough to help my child freely unwind.

And it was a success!

Following this exact routine, my toddler now knows what to expect from before bedtime and it helps her sleep soooo much better!

I’ll share with you the exact step-by-step toddler bedtime routine to help make nights calm, encourage your toddler to unwind, and flourish your connection with them while promoting better sleep.

Score!

Here’s an overview of the 5 step toddler bedtime routine:

1. Cleaning
2. Dressing
3. Drink
4. Bathroom
5. Bonding & Books
6. Bedtime & Cuddles

We’ll dive into the details and activities of each step and I’ll show you how you can add flexibility to each of the steps as well.

You want to make them feel as safe, comfortable and rested as possible while giving them some independence as they continue to grow and develop.

This bedtime routine can be used for little ones 18 months & up all the way to toddlerhood (4-5 years old)! I’ll show you how to add flexibility to the routine based on your child’s age.

Let’s dive in…

Want to instantly download this toddler bedtime routine now?

If you want this toddler bedtime routine right at your fingertips, get the instant download and free printable version sent straight to your inbox!

This printable is toddler-friendly so you can print it out and place it on your toddler’s wall and they can easily learn and follow it with you throughout the evening.

Also, save the step by step guide to your device so you always have it on hand 🙂

Why is a Bedtime Routine Important?

Bedtime routines can be simple as you make them or as detailed as you like.

A bedtime routine is simply just to send a signal to your child that it’s almost time for nighttime sleep.

It’s a great way to unwind from the day, connect, and get your child ready for bed. You’ll want to send certain “cues” to your toddler that it’s nighttime and time for sleep.

These cues can be anywhere from a bath to a book before bed!

Don’t have time to read this now? That’s okay! Save it to your favorite Pinterest board for later!

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Best Toddler Bedtime Routine

Remember, every child is different so feel free to use this routine as a guide and tweak what you need to in order to meet your toddler where they are.

This toddler bedtime routine just has all of the “ingredients” your toddler needs to successfully wind down from the day and promote a calm night with good rest. But you can mix up these ingredients in any way you see fit!

1. Cleaning

It’s bath time!

Bath time has been the start of our bedtime routine since my daughter was 6 months old. It’s a great way for a toddler to transition from dinner to “wind down” mode.

Even if you’re toddler doesn’t have an actual bath every night, this step is just the act of cleaning your child. Whether that’s a bath or a good wipe down, this step is the first one to help your child understand it’s time for nighttime.

Bath time is also a great way to let your little one get the wiggles out before bed. They can play with toys and this could be counted as their last “activity time” of the day.

This time can also be a great connection activity where you sing songs with your toddler and have fun together.

You can make up a “bath time” song or sing a Cocomelon bath song and teach your little one how to clean their body.

Here are some bath toys my toddler loves:

• Baby Shark Swim Bath Toy
• Spill, Spin & Flow Bath Toy Set
• Munchkin Fishin’ Bath Toy

Safety Note: Never leave your child unattended in the bath. I always sit in the bathroom with my children and fold clothes or play with them but I’m always giving them my undivided attention and watching them.

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2. Get Dressed

Now that bath time is over it’s time to get dressed in cozy pajamas.

I like to dry my daughter and apply lotion right after her bath. The lotion absorbs so much better into her skin and leaves her smooth and moisturized.

(My daughter battles itchy, dry skin so this really helps prevent her from scratching all night)

Then, if your toddler is old enough, let them dress themselves as much as possible. If your toddler is still little, get them dressed and use this time to teach them how to put each arm in the shirt and each leg in the pants.

I used to sing my baby the hokey pokey when I was getting her dressed after a 4bath. She associated that song with getting ready for bed!

I also give my children 10 minutes of playtime after they are dressed. Another opportunity to get the wiggles out!

They play with each other and clean up their room getting their beds ready for sleep. When my daughters were little and not able to do as much, I would use this time to connect with them and play little games- like peek a boo.

Remember, each step in the bedtime routine is used to help your child understand it’s almost time for bed and unwind but also connect with them before bedtime.

3. Drink

Ever since my children were little, they always loved milk before bed. Whether it was a few ounces in a bottle when they were babies or a little milk in their favorite cup before bedtime.

I like to give them milk when they ask for it at this time because it’s one of their “nighttime cues”.

I have milk as step 3 because it’s a perfect time – they haven’t gone potty yet so I like to wait a couple of minutes after they drink it and then make them go to the bathroom.

(So we don’t have any potty break night wakings!)

My oldest likes to drink her milk sitting in bed. We get our books ready and her pillow nice and fluffed, then go to the bathroom for our final potty trip.

If your little one is still getting a bottle/sippy cup for any reason, this is the step I used to give it to them. (As I mentioned, I’ve been using this routine since my babies were 1 so it’s changed a lot since they were that age as they continue to grow & develop)

4. Bathroom

Here’s the last potty break!

If your little one isn’t potty trained yet, don’t worry- it will happen when your child is ready. During this bathroom time, you can sit your toddler on the toilet if you’re in the process of potty training or you can just use this time to brush teeth.

If you’re wanting to potty train soon, you can add this to your bedtime routine as early as you like so your child can get used to the routine and it will become very predictable for them when it’s time for them to start going potty. It will be something they’re already used to!

If your toddler is potty trained, make sure they actually go to the bathroom. If they “don’t have to go”, ask them to sit on the toilet for an extra 30 seconds to a minute. Sometimes I play a counting game or sing a counting song to distract my toddler from being antsy as she waits.

Giving them that extra time just ensures they actually don’t have to go and not just saying they don’t. This can help prevent an accident or night potty trip.

If your child is younger and still in diapers, this is the time I change them and apply fresh diaper cream.

5. Book

We finally made it to book time…

I love this step in our bedtime routine because it means we are one step closer to lights off (cue the mom dance!)

When my daughter was little (18-20 months) I would sit with her on the glider and read her a book after her nighttime milk and diaper change.

As my kids got older and we transitioned them from a crib to a toddler bed/twin bed, we tweaked our bedtime routine to reflect their growth.

Now my oldest is 4.5 years old and we read her books laying down on her bed. She chooses 2-3 books and we read them together.

Here are some fun books that we read every night:

• First 100 Words
• Trace & Flip Book
• Princess Bedtime Stories
• Peppa Bedtime Stories
• Mickey Bedtime Favorite Stories

6. Bedtime

That time has arrived—bedtime!

After reading, we…

• cuddle for a few minutes
• turn off the lights,
• switch on the nightlight,
• put on the sound machine,
• and give her a big kiss.

I sit on a chair in her room and sing her a few songs until she drifts into sleep.

Some nights I sit for a few minutes and leave. Other nights I sit for a while until she falls asleep. It depends on my toddler’s mode and what she needs that night.

I’ve used a sound machine for my children’s naps and nighttime sleep since they were babies. It helped them sleep better and was a great sleep cue. As your baby gets older, you can begin to wean from the sound machine as you see fit.

My 4-year-old still uses the sound machine on its lowest setting. She likes the noise because we live in very noisy New York City (the city that literally never sleeps when my kid needs to sleep haha)

But I also know parents who play an hour loop of instrumental lullabies or beach waves for their child to fall asleep.

A good rule of thumb is to use whatever method has been working for your toddler to fall asleep for naps and just replicate it for bedtime.

And there you have it!

How to Get a Toddler in a Bedtime Routine

Babies and toddlers love predictability. It helps them feel secure in what they’re doing throughout the day and helps them know what to expect.

Routines are a great way to offer them that predictability and structure!

If your toddler does not have any bedtime routine whatsoever- do not fret…you can easily start one at any point.

It’s never too late to begin a new routine.

It’s also never too late to tweak or alter an existing routine. If you have a bedtime routine but it doesn’t seem to be working, don’t fear changing it a bit.

It’s all about giving your toddler what they need and meeting them where they are developmentally.

• To start or alter a bedtime routine, it always begins with the first day. Don’t be afraid to just jump in and begin!

• Follow the routine for the first night and see how many steps you get through.

• Explain to your toddler each step as you do it so they understand the importance of each activity in the bedtime routine and how it helps them wind down.

Tell them what the next step is so they can begin to be aware of the predictability of the routine pattern.

• As each night of the week progresses, continue to do the same steps in somewhat the same order (it doesn’t have to be perfect!) while explain to your child what you’re doing, why, and what’s next.

After 7-10 days you should see a noticeable improvement in your bedtime endeavor. More on this later so keep reading!

Also, be sure to download the toddler bedtime routine guide. It not only comes with a download/printable bedtime routine you can follow and teach your child but it also has a nighttime tracker to help you pinpoint changes in your child’s sleep and nighttime mood!

What you document & track will help you tweak the bedtime routine to fit your child’s needs to get you even better results.

Grab the free guide by signing up using the form below!

Keep track of how your child sleeps those nights to see if there are any changes. Tweak the routine as you see fit. Remember, this is all about following YOUR child’s cues!

How Long Should a Toddler Bedtime Routine Be?

Don’t get too hung up on doing this super long, detailed and complicated bedtime routine. A bedtime routine is simply to let your little one knows that it’s time for nighttime sleep.

I’m specific in saying nighttime sleep because nighttime sleep is much different from daytime sleep. A nap ends after 1-2 hours. Nighttime sleep lasts 10-12 hours.

A huge difference!

Little actions such as reading a book before bed or putting on lotion before pajamas are sending your child cues that it’s time for nighttime sleep.

This sample bedtime routine (that I’ve used for all of my kids) is about 45 minutes to an hour long. I begin the routine with a bath, and depending on how long bath time lasts will determine how long from that point it takes for my toddler to go to sleep.

But your bedtime routine can be 30 minutes- that’s totally fine!

You can use the steps in this bedtime routine as a guide and shorten or lengthen it as you see necessary.

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Tips for Toddler Bedtime Routine

Here are some tips to help you be as successful as possible in your bedtime routine…

Be Consistent

Consistency is the key to any good routine. That’s what makes a routine a routine- the pattern and predictability of it!

And that only comes with consistency. Keep in mind, that doesn’t mean every day has to be a minute for minute clone of the previous day!

It just means to consistently keep the same steps and pattern of the routine as best as you can so your toddler can begin to become aware of its predictability.

Give Your Toddler Options

There’s nothing worse than a defiant toddler refusing to do anything you say. Trust me, I’ve been there…

I’ve learned the very hard way a great way to prevent this little tantrum is to give your child options. Not a crazy amount of options that would overwhelm them but a couple of options to help them feel independent.

For example:

• pick out 2 pajamas and let your toddler choose which one they want to wear
• let your toddler choose the books they want to read that night
• offer them 3-4 different bath toys and allow them to choose

Allowing your toddler to make these small choices gives them autonomy and will even help them with growth and development!

Will I see an improvement in our night times?

After 7-10 days of consistently doing a bedtime routine, you should see a noticeable improvement in your bedtime endeavor.

Keep track of how your child sleeps those nights to see if there are any changes. Tweak the routine as you see fit. Remember, this is all about following YOUR child’s cues!

If you see your child is taking a long time to fall asleep, stretch the amount of time your child is up before starting the bedtime routine.

If your toddler is waking up 2 hours after falling asleep to go potty, be sure to take your little one to the bathroom later, preferably right before they lay down.

Tracking your child’s nights can help you see where you need to make those little changes to enable your toddler to have the best night’s rest possible!

FREE Download/Printable Toddler Bedtime Routine & Tracker

Be sure to get the Toddler Bedtime Routine to access my FREE toddler bedtime tracker

It also comes with a printable toddler bedtime routine chart you can hang up and show your toddler so they can follow along with the routine steps and pictures!

Includes:

• Bedtime improvement tracker
• Printable Pictured Routine for toddlers
• Downloadable step by step routine

Complete the form below to get it sent straight to your inbox 🙂

Recap Time!

Bedtime routines are one of the best ways to help your toddler unwind while giving them the “nighttime sleep” cue.

Overview of the 6 step toddler bedtime routine:

1. Cleaning
2. Dressing
3. Drink
4. Bathroom
5. Bonding & Books
6. Cuddles & Bedtime

The goal is to make them feel as safe, comfortable, and restful as possible while giving them some independence as they continue to grow and develop.

This exact step-by-step toddler bedtime routine is designed to help make nights calm, encourage your toddler to unwind, flourish your connection with them while promoting better sleep.

Remember, YOU know your child best!

Tweak this routine as you see fit to meet your child where he/she needs.

Don’t forget to grab that free Toddler Bedtime Routine (fill out the form above!) so you can have these steps sent straight to your device 🙂

You got this, mama!

Related Reading:

• Simple Toddler Morning Activity Routine to Keep them Busy
• How to Easily Create Toddler Screen Time Rules
• Potty Training Tips & Essentials

Inside: Find out the easiest tips to help your toddler adjust to new baby by making them feel included, loved, important, and well prepared so you can make the transition easy!

As I stared down at the 2 little pink lines I was immediately excited but my mind began to race…

How can I juggle 2 kids?

Will I be able to divide my love?

How is my daughter going to handle being a big sister?

My excitement morphed into worry because the relationship I have with my daughter is so special that I didn’t know how she would react to the news that I’m pregnant with another baby.

Fast forward 9 months…

And everything turned out great! Actually, better than I could have ever imagined!

I’ll share my exact tips and tricks to help your toddler adjust to your new baby so you can eliminate jealousy and promote a healthy bonding between your newly grown family.

After you implement these tips, your toddler and baby are on the road to truly becoming best friends 🙂

I’ll walk you through exactly the best steps you can take to help your toddler feel included, loved, and fall in love with your new little one!

No time to read this now? That’s okay! Pin it to your favorite board for later!

These tips will cover what you can do to start preparing your toddler for your new baby starting when you first find out you’re pregnant all the way until you finally bring your sweet little one home.

I’ll help you help your toddler feel helpful and useful instead of unnoticed or overlooked.

Let’s get down to it!

Tips to Help your Toddler Adjust to New Baby

The best way to help your toddler adjust to new baby is to actually begin when you find out you’re pregnant.

These tips will help keep your toddler in the loop as your belly grows and help them feel included while you prepare for your new little one.

If you’re already past this part and your baby is here, you can just skip down to the next section of tips!

How to Prepare Toddler for Baby While You’re Still Pregnant

Tell your toddler the news first

The best tip to help your toddler adjust and prepare for a new baby is to actually tell your toddler you’re pregnant before you tell everyone else.

Your toddler is an important member of your little family so discuss with your husband when is the best time to share the big news with your toddler.

You don’t have to tell your toddler right away, just be sure to tell them before you tell everyone else. Even if it’s just a day before.

You don’t want your toddler to be blindsided in front of your whole family with the news. Especially since you don’t exactly know how your toddler will react.

Maybe they need extra cuddles, maybe they’ll need a better explanation.

And giving them this one on one time will start the whole journey in the best way possible!

Have your toddler help with your pregnancy announcement/gender reveal

Now that your toddler knows your big news, let them help you announce it to your family and friends!

Here are some pregnancy announcement ideas with toddler:

• Toddler holds a balloon that says baby
• Have toddler hold a letter board that says promoted to “big sister” or “big brother”
• Take a family maternity photo

Pregnancy gender reveal ideas:

• Have toddler bite into a pink or blue cupcake
• Toddler can hold a pink or blue balloon
• Toddler can open a box with something pink or blue inside

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Show your toddler books about the baby growing

Another really great tip to help your toddler adjust to new baby is to show him/her how the baby is growing in your belly.

You can use a pregnancy book like this one and walk them through how your baby grows every well.

You can also download an app like Baby Center and your toddler can see pictures and videos of your baby growing.

My daughter absolutely LOVED watching videos of the baby growing every week and every month.

We’d talk about how her sisters finger nails were growing or how she looks inside of the belly when she kicks.

You can use this opportunity also as a way to teach how the body forms and grows and go over parts of the body!

Let them help you pick items for your registry

The next step is to get ready for the new baby and your toddler will looveeee this part.

Plan a day to go to your registry store of choice such as Target or Buy Buy Baby.

Have a special breakfast that morning, visit the store, and let your toddler look at all the items you need. Let her/him pick out crib sheets, patterned burp cloths, a cute onesie, and anything else that you allow them to decide.

This will help your toddler feel connected with your baby when they see the baby using the item they picked out!

Show them the bottles, the baby’s crib, and other baby items.

Tell them what each item does for the baby too!

And if the store has a registry machine, let your toddler scan the items- they’ll have so much fun 🙂

If you’re setting up an online registry like Amazon Baby (which is my favorite option!) you can still make it fun by having your toddler help you scroll through items!

Include Toddler in your Baby Shower

Once your registry is all set up, next, it’s time for the baby shower…yay!

It may be difficult to watch your toddler when you’re waddling around at a party dedicated to you so don’t worry about having your toddler be there the whole time.

Maybe your husband can watch your toddler for most of the shower and your toddler can come help you open gifts or take pictures.

My cousin gave my daughter a gift at my baby shower and it was a sash that said “Super Big Sister” and she wore it the whole time!

Buy toddler baby doll

The last tip to help your toddler adjust to new baby while you’re still pregnant is to let your toddler chose a baby doll of their choice that can become “their baby”.

This can be a pretty baby doll or even a spider man plush!

It doesn’t matter what kind of “doll” it is, as long as your child:

1. Picked it out themselves
2. Learns to care for it

This will come in handy when you need to feed or change your new baby so your toddler can stay involved by taking care of theirs!

Tips to help toddler adjust to new baby when baby comes home

The beauty of having a toddler is they are just a bit old enough to understand more than your baby does. So these tips will help you include your toddler in caring for your baby in simple ways that will have a great impact.

Involve your toddler in everyday baby tasks

Infants need constant care and attention which means that it’s really easy for you to feel torn between your toddler and your newbon.

But it including your toddler in those daily, repetive baby tasks can help you easily juggle both your new baby and your toddler.

I’ll show you 2 easy tips here:

Ask toddler to help with diaper changes

I started off by including my daughter in routines that we would be doing over and over again each day, like diaper changes.

I set up a little toddler chair next to the changing table and would give L different tasks. Such as:

Please give mommy the diaper

Can you open the diaper cream cap?

Please throw the diaper in the trash

Then after a few weeks your toddler will be so used to your diaper changing routine that they will feel needed and helpful instead of feeling jealous or even ignored.

Let toddler help you wash bottles/laundry

If your toddler is old enough to stand on a step stool and help you do some basic chores, this is a great way to help your toddler feel included and adjust to your new baby.

When you have to wash bottles, have your toddler stand on a step stool by the sink and help you rinse or dry the bottles.

When you do your baby’s laundry, ask your toddler to unsnap onesies buttons or throw each piece of clothing int eh washing machine.

Making these everyday tasks into a little game can help your toddler feel even more included and allows them to feel they are helping.

Implement a reward system

If your toddler begins to help you with diaper changes or bottle washing or laundry, begin to start a reward system so your toddler feels like they are working towards something by helping you and the baby.

For every time your toddler helps with a diaper change, give them a sticker. After 20 stickers (or an amount you decide), your toddler can choose one gift out of a special treasure box.

You can fill the treasure box with little items from the Dollar Store or Target dollar spot. Maybe a coloring book or a little surprise egg with their favorite character.

Rewarding your toddler for helping you with the baby will keep them encouraged!

Explain to your toddler what you are doing and why

Toddlers are like sponges. They retain information and process things differently than we do so it’s important to keep them in the loop so they understand what is going on around them.

As you change the baby’s diaper, explain to your toddler how babies go peepee in the diaper and then when they become big girls or big boys, they go peepee in the potty.

As your breastfeeding, explain to your toddler that mommy makes special milk that makes the baby strong and healthy.

As your bottle feeding, explain how feeing the baby sitting in an upright position helps make the baby’s belly less bubbly and gassy.

Use words your toddler will understand but teaching and explaining to them key actions that you do throughout the day will help your toddler feel included!

Have a positive discipline strategy in place

Let’s face it- toddlers can be a handful…and sometimes they can be downright bad.

• Refusng to listen
• Throwing tantrums
• Running away from you
• Making messes
• The list can go on and on.

And if you’re juggling a newborn PLUS a toddler having a bad day, things can get hairy really fast.

The best thing to do is to have a positive discipline routine in place.

Go over the discipline routine with your toddler so they know what to expect when they do not listen to you.

Explain to your toddler how important it is to listen and how they can help you with the baby by putting on their listening ears.

If you’re looking for a positive disciple strategy that actually WORKS, downloadguide this article for my step by step discipline routine.

This is the exact routine I use with my daughter, starting when she was 2 years old!

I created the Positive Discipline Strategy guide with simple steps so you can slowly implement the discipline routine at your own pace and in a way that your toddler will respond well to it.

Download the guide below!

Free Positive Discipline Guide

Have a special snack/treat/show ready just for when you have baby around

There will be many times when you’re caring for the baby that your toddler can’t really help you much.

To be honest, there will be some times where their help will just make the situation harder for you.

And that’s okay!

To keep your toddler calm and not feeling ignored, choose a special treat or snack that they can have during these times.

It doesn’t have to be every day, but your toddler will feel more special by playing with a special toy or eating a special treat instead of potentially feeling unseen.

You can even have a special movie or show that your toddler loves that they can watch just when you’re with the baby.

Use whatever works for your family!

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Related Reading

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Plan quality time with toddler

I noticed that toddler’s love language is quality time. Special time with mommy and daddy is like pure gold to any little one.

I know when my daughter starts saying “Mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy” 50 times a day, she’s really craving time with me.

Toddlers just want your attention and when you have a new baby around, that can seem almost impossible.

But quality time doesn’t have to be a 2 hour movie…

• Sit on the couch and cuddle for 5 minutes.
• Play with your toddler and their favorite toy.
• Ask them what they would like to do for 20 minutes and they get to choose the activity.

Anything that give you and your toddler time together where they are your only attention, is great quality time.

So don’t beat yourself up and feel guilty for not giving 100% of your attention to your toddler 100% of the time.

Just plan little pockets of quality time with your toddler throughout the day and you’ll notice any tantrums start to disappear 🙂

Make Baby & Toddler Life Easy!

Download the FREE Mommy & Me Mini Planner to help you juggle baby feedings, diaper changes, toddler activities AND your to-do list in ONE place!

Download the Free 10 page printable planner + organizer now!

Well there you have it!

I hope this extensive list of tips to help your toddler adjust to a new baby will help you feel confident knowing that you can successfully juggle and newborn and a toddler AND not spread yourself too thin!

Don’t feel guilty for having to split your time between your 2 little ones. They are both getting 100% of your love and care, even if it a looks a little different than it used to.

Remember, the goal is to help your toddler feel loved, appreciated, and important by actively including them in your daily routine with your baby.

Don’t worry, it’ll come like second nature to you <3

You got this mama!

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Read more posts about making life with toddlers easy!

Inside: Want to easily go shopping with kids? Find out the best 5 tips to help you prevent meltdowns!

Have you ever been the mom standing on the checkout line and your child decides to go completely ballistic? You know, full-on meltdown, tantrum stomping, or red-faced screaming…

You try absolutely everything to calm your little one down but nothing seems to be working.

You immediately look around and see all of the other people staring at you, wondering why you can’t “get your baby under control”.

Embarrassment sets in. Anger starts to rise. And you lose your patience.

The domino effect is in full swing.

I have been there ppllleennntttyyy of times!

And if this has ever happened to you, know this—you are NOT a bad mom.

Babies and toddlers are little people with their own emotions who can’t clearly express themselves yet. Yes, meltdowns at the checkout line are not fun—but that’s ok, it’s a part of motherhood!

I’m going to share some of the best tips to help you shop with kids and easily run errands with your baby or toddler.

Of course, you can’t control everything your baby or toddler will do and feel, but you can prevent meltdowns and use special tactics to divert the crisis!

The top 5 tips to easily go shopping with kids are:

1. Pack an epic busy bag
2. Have “special goodies” on hand
3. Plan around routine
4. Practice patience
5. Put on listening ears

With these 5 tips, you will be running errands left and right with your little one—tantrum & meltdown free!

Let’s jump into these tips!

Disclosure: 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! 

5 Tips to Easily Go Shopping with Kids

One day I was standing on the Bath and Body Works checkout line, with a basket filled to the brim with items and my daughter decided to have a full-on “toddler moment”.

Everyone around me quickly glared my way.

I thought to myself how in the world people can be so judgmental and condescending to a mother, who clearly has her hands full.

My anger wasn’t towards my daughter, it was at the people around me for escalating the situation and making me feel like a bad mom.

After that day, I swore to myself I would try to work at making these shopping trips easier for my daughter.

I’ve been implementing these tips for the past couple of days (since our last Bath & Body Works incident) and it’s realllllyyyy been helping….

1. Pack an epic diaper bag/toddler bag

A perfectly packed bag is a complete life-saver!

You want to make sure everything your little one needs is in there. From wipes to snacks, you want that bag to be the one-stop-shop for everything that you will need.

Be sure to pack your child’s favorite snacks, drinks, toys, and games!

Here are some things I always have on hand:

• Apple Sauce On the Go Pouches
• Organic Fruit Snacks
• Happy Baby Freeze-Dried Yogurt Bites
• Apple & Eve Juice Boxes
• Miracle No-Spill Sippy Cup

Here’s my famous diaper bag checklist that I use when for our outings. As my daughter got older, I changed a few items, but the gist of it stayed the same.

You can download my free printable Diaper Bag Checklist below!

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Related Reading: How to Pack the Perfect Diaper Bag

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Fun Apps that don’t need internet

If I know I have to run a lot of errands or shop for a while, sometimes I download Mother Goose Club episodes to the Netflix app so my daughter can watch them without internet.

You can use Netflix, Vudu, Disney+ and other apps to download shows and movies to your device so your child can be occupied, even if you don’t have internet.

I don’t mind letting my daughter watch educational shows while I shop. It keeps her content, it’s educational, and since it’s not a part of her everyday routine—it’s a treat for her!

Here are some fun game apps that don’t require internet:

• Baby Coloring
• Disney Jigsaw! Puzzles
• Disney Coloring
• Daniel Tiger Neighborhood Game

2. Special Goodies

Don’t underestimate the power of the word “special”!

I recently started putting things aside that I know my daughter really likes and only using them during our outings.

She knows those are her “special goodies” for when she’s a good girl and mommy is running errands.

One of her special treats is screen-time (like I mentioned above), but other goodies include glitter stickers, special lollipops.

Here are some “special goodies” that I stock up on:

• Water Wow On the Go Coloring Book
• Toddler Learning Tablet
• Peek & Play Surprise Eggs

By stocking up these fun “special goodies”, you can easily go shopping and your little one will be entertained until no end!

3. Routine is king

If you’re trying to avoid a meltdown in the middle of a store, you want to be sure to go out when your child is most likely going to be in a good mood.

An overtired child is a miserable one.

To easily go shopping with kids, the best thing to do is try to plan your outings around your child’s naps.

If you track your baby’s routine, you’ll see a stretch of time where your little one is happy and content.

That is a primetime window for outings!

(Of course, not all errands can be based off your little one’s routine, but it’s a good rule of thumb for easy outings)

Try to keep your child’s routine as close to normal as possible.

• If your little one needs to nap, try to plan the outing where they can sleep in the car.
• If your baby needs to eat, plan your day to be at a certain place at a certain time so you can feed.

Keeping up with routine will help prevent your child from feeling “displaced” and ultimately needing to have a meltdown!

4. When shopping with kids, Patience is a Virtue

This tip is more for us- the overtired stressed mamas of the world!

Having patience and not overreacting is a big part of keeping your child calm. Our children feed off our emotions and mood.

So, if you want to have a successful & easy outing, try to stay as calm as possible.

I KNOW it’s hard! But you will thank yourself for it 🙂

Picking your battles will probably be one of the hardest things you have to do, but having patience and staying calm with your little one will help them stay calm too.

To go shopping with kids means to put on your patient hat!

5. Listening Ears

This is one of my best toddler tips!

Whenever my Baby L isn’t listening to me I tell her to look at me and then I start to “turn on” my listening ears (making a hand motion as if I’m turning my ears like a knob).

Then I ask her to turn on her listening ears.

All you have to do is:

• Make eye contact with your child
• Do a hand motion as if you are turning your ears like a knob
• Say “please turn on your listening ears”

This is really great to get your kid’s attention and get them to follow directions!

If you’re going shopping with kids old enough to understand when they need to pay attention, “listening ears” is a great tactic to get them involved and motivated to listen.

Using this kind of approach (rather than the “why aren’t you listening to me??” approach) will help you connect with your little one so they are more receptible to what you are asking.

Get a FREE Mommy & Me Planner!

Knowing your child’s routine can be the difference between a smooth, successful outing… and a catastrophe.

To help you understand your child’s routine, it’s best to track their activities, feedings, and naps. After tracking your baby’s activities for a couple of days, you will begin to see a pattern—which is their overall routine!

You can use this routine to help you plan your day, your tasks, your schedule, and your outings.

Knowing your child’s routine is like having GOLD!

To easily help you do this, I created the Mommy & Me mini planner to help you track your child’s schedule AND help you plan your tasks.

Download the free mini planner now!

Let’s recap:

These are some of my tips for running errands with Baby L—and they have been WORKING!

Now you can stroll the mall, skim the stores, run errands, grocery shop, and even hit some sales you have your eye on—with your child in hand…

Tantrum-free!

The top 5 tips to easily go shopping with kids are:

1. Pack an epic busy bag
2. Have “special goodies” on hand
3. Plan around routine
4. Practice patience
5. Put on listening ears

With these 5 tips, you will be running errands left and right with your little one—tantrum & meltdown free!

I hope these tips help you too!

Keep Reading these Related Posts!

• How to Create Your Own Screen Time Rules
• The Best Toddler Morning Activities & Routine

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Inside: Thinking of potty training? Learn the best toddler potty training tips to help you make this pivotal transition an easy one!

I plopped down at my kitchen table, completely exhausted from throwing my daughter’s 2^nd birthday party. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my daughter skipping around her new toys and it hit me– oh my gosh, I have a toddler!

Immediately the thought of potty training flooded my mind.

How am I going to potty train her?

Will it be hard?

At that moment, potty training seemed like a huge mountain I could never climb. I dreaded even starting because of all the horror stories I’ve heard.

But I couldn’t let my fear and anxiety keep me from teaching my daughter this essential life skill.

So I buckled down and began potty training my toddler. And to my amazement—it wasn’t that hard!

On my potty training journey, I learned some amazing tips and tricks that made toddler potty training an absolute breeze.

Within 10 days, my daughter was completely out of diapers, using the potty, and accident-free!

I don’t necessarily believe in those “potty train your baby in 3 days” articles, mainly because like with any other milestone, potty training is a process.

But with these tips and tricks, I’m hoping to make your toddler potty training process as simple and stress-free as possible 🙂

So let’s get down to it!

Best Toddler Potty Training Tips

Remember to be patient with your toddler and yourself. Trust your instincts and take it one day at a time!

This post contains affiliate links. 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. Stock up on Potty training essentials

The last thing you want to do is start the potty training process without your major essentials. That’s like baking cookies without any ingredients—it’s impossible!

Make sure to have all of the essentials before you start potty training. That way, nothing will disrupt your process once you’ve begun.

You can read my list of potty training essentials here.

Or you can download my free Potty Training Essentials Checklist below!

2. Involve your child in buying underwear

The first potty training tip is to involve your little one in as much as possible in this transition. Starting with buying their first training underwear. If you read my potty training essentials article, then you know how amazing these training undies can be!

They come in different characters and colors so your toddler can get excited about wearing their favorite underwear.

When you involve your toddler in the buying process and let them choose their own underwear, it sets them up for success because they feel empowered that they are making their own choice. And ultimately, entering into their “big kid” phase!

3. Make your bathroom as comfortable as possible

The next toddler potty training tip is to make your bathroom a toddler sanctuary. You want your child to know the difference between playroom and bathroom, but also not be intimidated by the bathroom.

Many toddlers are afraid of bathrooms because it is a foreign concept to them. They know diapers and wipes but the porcelain chair and flushing are completely foreign to them!

That’s why you want to get your child accustomed to the bathroom by making it comfortable for them. When you remove their reservations, they are way more likely to actually *want* to use the bathroom.

That way, you aren’t forcing your child to sit on the potty. They are asking to go.

I made some minor changes to our bathroom during potty training season. I purchased a fun Finding Nemo shower curtain, a fun toddler toilet seat, added some fun color towels, and made a “potty basket” filled with potty books and potty training dolls.

As soon as Baby L saw the bathroom with Nemo, she immediately wanted to go in!

4. Create a reward system

I am a strong believer in reward systems because not only do they work but then can be completely customized to fit ay family!

My favorite potty training tip is to use a Potty Chart. (You can get my FREE potty training chart here!)

This helps get your toddler involved with their potty training! For every time they sit on the potty, use the potty, flush the potty, and wash their hands, they get a different reward. This encourages then to learn each step of the potty training process as easy as possible!

Step by Step Reward System

Because every part of the potty training process is important, I like to reward Baby L for every time that she does anything potty related.

• If she sits on the potty and tries to go, she gets to play with her fish toy in the bathroom sink.
• If she actually goes, she gets a chocolate chip (I buy sugar-free chocolate chips that are healthy so no worries about overloading your child with sugar!)
• If she does the whole process, flushes the toilet and washes her hands, she gets a sticker on her potty chart that she completed the steps.
• If she gets 4 stickers that day, she gets a surprise.

I went to the dollar store and bought $10 worth of toys, coloring books, and little surprises to give her over the course of her potty training days. (You can find all of these on my potty training essentials checklist here!)

It’s worked like a charm!

And if she initiates to go on the potty without me asking, she gets an extra surprise. This could be her playing with a certain toy that she’s not allowed to play with all the time or something else that is meaningful to her.

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel!

Use rewards that make sense to your child

It doesn’t have to be big or elaborate. Just something that is special to them.

To help you perfectly track your toddlers potty training progress, I created a customizable Potty Training Chart & Tracker for you!

The potty chart includes a chart for you to check off each time your toddler does one of the potty training steps. You can print the chart so they can see their progress and they can even use a marker to check off each star once they are done!

Then you can let them put a sticker on the chart so they can feel accomplished 🙂

It also includes a tracker to help you keep track of what is working and what isn’t. Plus it has a place for you to write notes about each potty trip as well.

This is the exact chart and tracker I used and it was perfect!

You can download the FREE Potty Training Chart & Tracker by clicking below!

5. Set some time to be home

My next potty training tip is to set a couple of days aside to just be home. You don’t want to start potty training your little one only to find that you need to run a bunch of errands. This can disrupt the training process and cause a delay.

I made the mistake of starting to potty training during a week where we had a lot to do. This confused my daughter because she didn’t know when it was okay to go in her diaper and when it wasn’t.

If you truly want potty training to stick the first time, you’ll have to teach your child that going to the bathroom in a diaper isn’t an option anymore. Of course, there will be accidents and special cases! But as a whole, the goal is to teach them the new place to do their business is on the potty, and nowhere else.

This will help them understand what it means to “hold it” and go pee-pee on the potty.

If they are confused about when they can go on themselves and when they can go on the potty, it will be hard for them to understand what going on the potty actually means.

To eliminate all confusion, being in the comfort of their own home where they can go potty as they please will really help solidify potty training!

6. It’s okay to have accidents

This potty training tip will cause some controversy but that’s okay!

I truly believe that it is okay for your child to have accidents during the potty training process. This is completely normal. After years of going to the bathroom in their diaper, they are now learning that it’s something they cannot do. And with that, comes a huge learning curve.

My daughter would have an accident at least twice a day. She either wouldn’t make it to the bathroom or she would just be playing and would pee—because she forgot she wasn’t wearing a diaper.

Don’t worry, this is normal!

Having accidents will actually help teach your toddler that they need to go on the potty. When they feel wet, they will know something isn’t right and then you can use that situation as an opportunity to take them to the potty.

Also, because they have on their training underwear, the mess isn’t as bad too!

Don’t forget to have some disinfectant on hand for those accidents too 😉

7. Set a reminder for every hour

To prevent a million accidents taking place in one day, my final potty training tip is to set a reminder for your little one to go potty.

Every time your little one has some water or juice, make a note of the time and set a reminder. At first, they won’t understand that they need to hold it until they get to the potty. So to help them, you sit them on the potty even if they aren’t telling you they have to go. Because odds are, they do!

8. Celebrate it up!

Don’t forget to celebrate every time your toddler uses the potty! Jump up and down, sing a song, clap your hands—use positive reinforcement to give them as much praise as possible.

And don’t forget to give yourself some praise too. After your baby foes to sleep, have a cup of coffee, treat yourself to your favorite snack, watch a guilty-pleasure show and take a breather. You deserve it! Potty training is not easy. Teaching your child something new is always a difficult task so don’t forget to take some time out for yourself too J

Download the Free Potty Training Chart & Tracker!

Don’t struggle through potty training! Download the free potty training chart and tracker to help you easily keep track of your child’s progress. Plus use the potty chart as a reward system to keep encouraging your toddler!

Keep track of any notes and your toddler’s potty progress during this pivotal step in their development!

Take the stress out of potty training!

Download the free chart now!

And there you have it!

I hope these potty training tips were able to bring you some relief about starting to train your toddler to use the toilet.

Now potty training doesn’t have to be a daunting mountain that feels like you can never climb. With these easy tips and resources, make potty training a celebratory step into toddlerhood!

Have any questions or other potty training tips you’d like to share? Drop it in the comments below!

You got this, mama!

Check out these other toddler hacks!

• Potty Training Must-Have Essentials to Make it Easy
• How to Handle the Terrible Twos with ONE Easy Thing
• 3 Routines Your Toddler Needs for a Tantrum-Free Day

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!

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

• Sesame Street: P is for Potty!
• Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Potty Time
• The Potty Book: for Girls
• The Potty Book: for Boys

Toys

• Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Potty Time Toy
• Drink & Wet Baby Doll with Training Potty

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!

• How to Create Toddler Screen Time Rules & Routine
• How to Keep Your House Clean with a Toddler: Easy Step by Step Guide!

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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!

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 🙂

Related Reading:

• How to Easily Keep Your House Clean With a Toddler
• The Best Toddler Activities & Routine for an Easy Morning  
• How to Create a Simple & Awesome Daily Toddle Schedule

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!

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I think you’ll love these articles too!

• How to Easily Keep Your House Clean With a Toddler
• The Best Toddler Activities & Routine for an Easy Morning  
• How to Create a Simple & Awesome Daily Toddle Schedule

Inside: Want to keep your toddler busy? Find out the best morning routine and easy toddler morning activities to help keep your baby engaged and having fun!

It was 6:30 in the morning and my toddler was standing at the foot of my bed with Playdoh in her hands. She was eagerly ready to play…and I barely was able to keep my eyes open.

One thing I quickly learned about toddler life is — toddlers are so vivacious in the morning!

In order to keep my sanity, I started coming up with different toddler morning activities to engage her to learn but also keep her busy.

Because let’s face it, sometimes you have to keep your little one busy so you can get stuff done 🙂

If you’re looking for some fun and easy toddler morning activities and a rockin’ morning routine then you’ve come to the right place!

This morning routine, including the toddler morning activities, is the perfect mix of independent play and one on one playtime to help your toddler learn and keep your toddler busy.

To help create your own toddler morning routine, I created a free printable for you to download and follow along!

So let’s get down to it!

The Perfect Toddler Morning Routine

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! 

I truly believe the success of any day with a toddler strongly depends on the routine. Babies love routine and predictability so once they get into a routine and rhythm they like, they thrive!

I’ve tested several toddler morning routines (with weeks of trial and error) and this one has been the best so far!

 

7:00 am: Wake

Your morning routine will fluctuate around what time your toddler wakes up. Some toddlers wake up at 6 and some toddlers wake up at 8. Time doesn’t matter—the routine can be followed no matter what time you start it.

 

7:30 am: Breakfast

I like to involve my daughter in the breakfast routine. She helps me get the bowls out and prepares her little table.

I’m a stay at home mom so she’s starting to see and replicate my “homemaking” qualities! So cute 🙂

8:00 am- 9:30 am: One on One Playtime

I usually try to fit 2-3 activities into this time. (See different activities below!)

I strongly believe in the bonding between parent and child and having 1-2 hours each morning where you are having one on one time with your toddler is so important!

It also boosts their mood and confidence, which is such a delight to see. Since I’ve started sitting with my daughter every morning to play with her for 2 hours, she has completely transformed. She listens to instructions SO much better!

Making playtime with your child intentional is like sowing a seed and seeing the fruit later. Those 1-2 hours every morning is going to pay off!

I use 30 minutes of our One on One Playtime for “learning time”. So we read books, go over the alphabet, colors, numbers. As Baby L gets older, I’m trying to incorporate learning into all of our one on one playtime activities. Be sure to see the exact activities I use below!

Just remember to make one on one time as special as possible. Try to turn off your phone and give your toddler your undivided attention. It’s really hard but so worth it!

BONUS: Get the FREE Toddler Morning Activity Routine Download so you can follow these activities! It also comes with a “create your own routine” template so you can write down your own morning routine! Click here to GET IT NOW!

 

9:30- 10:30 am: Independent Playtime

I love independent playtime because it teaches your toddler that you don’t have to be sitting next to them in order to play. Some toddlers will freak out if their mom walks away and then will follow her.

It’s great to start a healthy balance between playtime with mom and independent playtime.

When your toddler engages in independent play they are stretching their imagination and creativity.

Plus, it helps you get things done without your toddler clinging on to your leg the whole day!

See my fun independent activities below that you can fill this time with!

 

10:30- 11:00 am: Chores

I love to teach my children chores at an early age. Toddlers can start to help you around the house!

I like to include my toddler in easy chores that teaches her directions and responsibility.

Easy commands like…

“please take this napkin to the trash”

“help mommy pick up the clothes”

“put your toys in the basket”

…can really help your toddler learn new words and understand directions.

Some chores I like to teach my toddler are:

• Toy clean up (I ask her to put the toys away in the bin)
• Laundry folding (I ask her to hand each article of clothing to me)
• Drying dishes (I give her a little towel and plastic dishes to dry)

There are chores she can’t help with, but I do those chores when she is having her independent play and take advantage of this time to show her how she can help around the house 🙂

11:00- 11:30 am: Educational Show

Some parents don’t allow their toddler any screen time or TV at all. That’s perfectly okay!

I personally like certain education shows because ever since Baby L started watching them, she has learned her nursery rhymes and sounds.

I really like the “Mother Goose Club”. You can find it on YouTube Kids for free or on Netflix.

I also really LOVE the LeapFrog Letter Factory. It’s a DVD that I ordered on Amazon that teaches kids the sounds of each letter of the alphabet. It’s so cute and so much fun.

In a matter of a week, my daughter was sounding A-D. I was so proud of her!

I use the educational shows to reinforce what I teach her during our one on one playtime and “teaching” time.

Do some research and choose educational shows that you like best!

 

11:30/12:00: Lunch

While Baby L is watching her educational show, I start to make Lunch. This schedule works perfectly!

 

12:30 pm: Nap

After lunch, we have a “wind-down” time to prepare for a nap. Then we do our naptime routine and she naps for 2 hours!

And that wraps up the morning routine!

Want to see what my full day looks like with my toddler?? Read all about my simple & awesome daily routine here!

Let’s dive into the different activities that you can do with your little one.

Toddler Activities:

You can use the activities for any time of the day, not just morning. I usually recycle some activities throughout the day to fill in any dead spots so she doesn’t get bored.

I found that bored/un-entertained toddler = tantrums

So, I like to keep my toddler busy with fun things to do all day! These are also EASY activities that won’t cost too much money or take up ALL of your time.

 

Reading

My family loves books! We started reading to Baby L when she was 4 months old. She loved to follow the pictures and words so we added book time to her bedtime routine and she’s been in love with books ever since. Every morning we read her favorite books and go over her favorite pictures.

I add reading/books in our one on one playtime and she plays with books for her independent time too!

Favorite Books:

Playdoh

I wasn’t always a fan of playdoh. When I was a teacher for 2-year-olds, all my kids did was eat and throw playdoh at each other.

So when I had my daughter, I swore I wouldn’t let her play with playdoh!

But we recently went away with the in-laws and my mother in law gave Baby L some playdoh to play with. She had so much fun!

So my heart has been melted and now I’m back on the playdoh train.

She only plays with it during our one on one playtime and not during independent play. I’m sure once Baby L gets older, she’ll be able to handle the playdoh by herself 🙂

These are our favorite Playdoh accessories:

 

Coloring

I love color time! We use a variety of different materials during our coloring time.

When Baby L was under 2, we bought her the Color Wonder Mess Free markers and coloring book so if she colored on the table or her clothes it wouldn’t show up.

You can find those materials here:

It’s seriously a gift from God to parents!

Now we use washable markers, coloring pencils, and crayons. Each week I’ll try to do a fun coloring activity to change it up a bit. This week we colored huge Disney Princess floor coloring sheets. Last week I bought a cardboard house that we built that she had so much fun coloring all week.

As a stay at home mom, you gotta keep it interesting so the kids don’t get stir crazy and rob your sanity!

Water Play

Baby L LOVED playing in the water. We don’t have a backyard or water table so I fill up the bathroom sink with some water and create a “makeshift” water table.

I bought her a play sink and play dishes and she pretends to wash dishes and plays with the water.

It can get a little messy so I always put a towel on the floor!

 

Educational Toys

I absolutely LOVE educational toys! From old wooden ones to Vtech alphabet laptops—Baby L loves them all.

I like to have certain playtimes to be without electronic toys, so she can use her imagination and learn to play with things that don’t always light up and talk. (This playtime is usually before her nap)

But then there are other playtimes that we give her educational laptops and keyboards. (This is usually after her nap.)

I found from experience that toddlers respond best when you give them a few toys to play with and choose from—and not ALL of their toys.

If your toddler has TOO many toys at once, playtime can become overloaded and unproductive. But only giving your toddler a category of toys per playtime can be really beneficial!

Here are some of my favorite educational toys:

Wooden Train

Play Kitchens

Play “working stations”

Alphabet laptop

Vtech Learning Table

Play Piano

 

Grab your Free Toddler Morning Routine Printable!

Want to follow this awesome toddler morning routine?? Don’t forget to download the Free Toddler Morning Routine Printable! It includes a printable toddler routine PLUS a routine template for your to create our own!

So there you have it! By using these activities and routine, I was finally about to keep up with my vivacious toddler!

Now you can keep your toddler busy every morning with this perfect routine and fun activities.

You got this mama!

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