Toddler Tips

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

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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!

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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!

Wait! Do you love free printables??

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I think you’ll like these awesome posts too!

 

Inside: Want the perfect stay at home mom daily toddler schedule? Here are the tips you need to create an awesome and easy everyday toddler schedule!

My toddler had just finished playtime and I was exhausted. I glanced at the clock and rolled my eyes…it read 9:23 am. I wanted to die. It was only 9 in the morning and it felt like 3 in the afternoon!

Finding what to do ALL day with your toddler can be exhausting. The secret to not only getting through the day with a toddler but making each day awesome is to have a daily toddler schedule.

Having a daily toddler schedule will help you have an overall plan for each day so you never have to wonder “what do I do now?”. A daily toddler schedule also improves toddler development because your toddler is learning routines, which is healthy for their growth!

The key is to make a daily toddler schedule that is exciting, structured, attainable, and most of all, flexible. Building these key elements into your daily toddler schedule will help make each day an awesome one!

Having a schedule doesn’t mean you’re tied down to doing the same exact thing every day. It just means you have an overall outline for the day that you can fill with whatever you want!

It’s also important to remember that a daily toddler schedule doesn’t have to be restricted by “time”.

Meaning, your schedule doesn’t have to solely be based on an exact hour. The purpose of a schedule is not to do everything at the same TIME every day. The purpose is to have an overall routine for the day, where your activities are based on what came first and what comes next.

An overall daily toddler schedule at its simplest form looks like this:

• Wake
• Breakfast
• Play
• Lunch
• Nap
• Wake
• Snack
• Activity
• Dinner
• Play
• Bath
• Bedtime

 

Let’s talk about how you can make your own simple but awesome daily toddler schedule!

How to create a perfect daily toddler schedule

Here are some things to keep in mind to create an amazing schedule…

Routines:

The first thing you want to do is figure out which routines your toddler does each day. It can be morning routines, naptime routines, feeding routines, playtime routines, and bedtime routines. Whichever routines your toddler does, make sure to incorporate it into your overall daily toddler schedule.

The key is to try to do the same activities each day at the same time. This becomes your toddler’s overall routine for an individual activity. When your toddler is accustomed to doing something at a certain time or in a certain order, they eventually learn how to do it themselves.

 

Independent Play:

Another important element in a daily toddler schedule is independent play. You want to incorporate at least twice a day a time where your toddler is learning how to play independently. This means that your toddler is engaging in an activity by their self.

This teaches your toddler how to play alone and actually helps brain development. it also helps you get things done that you need to, without having to worry about your toddler following your every move.

Some independent play activities include coloring, mat time, block building, table time, etc. Independent play helps your toddler be able to do something alone, which build independence!

 

Track your toddler’s day

If you have no idea where to start when creating a daily toddler schedule, it’s best to just start by tracking what your child does every day and at what times. By doing this, you are essentially seeing what your toddler’s schedule is already. Each child has a routine or schedule because there are things that they do every day that they are used to. This is their schedule by default!

If you are noticing that your toddler’s day isn’t as productive as you would like it to be, then start changing some activities and routines to create a daily schedule that works for you!

A Daily Toddler Schedule that works!

Now that I’ve given you some tips on how to create your own daily toddler schedule, here’s my sample schedule that I do with my toddler each day. This schedule has helped her thrive day in and day out and has given her the ability to grow leap and bounds!

If you want to download this sample schedule to use or to use as a guide to creating your own, you can download the sample schedule here!

 

Sample Schedule

 

7:00am- Wake

Baby L wakes between 7:00-7:30am each day. Some children wake earlier or later depending on what time they go to bed.

 

7:30am-Breakfast

I usually try to mix things up every other day or so. That way, your toddler isn’t eating the same thing every day. I tend to give my daughter a lighter meal here and she drinks about 3-4 ounces of milk with her meal and I then give her a larger meal for lunch. She just turned 2 so she’s still transitioning out of her “baby daily schedule”.

Some options are yogurt, cereal, oatmeal, fruit, apple sauce, eggs, etc.

 

8:00-10:00 Activities:

-8:00am Reading Time

Every morning for a half hour or so we read books and go over the alphabet and numbers. Having interactive books helps make reading time fun and exciting!

 

-9:00am Coloring/Drawing

After reading time, we have some table activities and I give my daughter coloring/drawing time. I put on some music and she colors and plays with stickers while I clean up breakfast and do the dishes.

This is considered the first independent play of the day. I can easily get about 30 minutes of chores done because she is at the table playing and coloring. Sometimes if she’s done coloring I’ll give her blocks or her toys to play with so she can continue her independent play.

-10:00am Chores

After her independent play, I let my daughter help me with chores. This is teaching her to help around the house also allows me to get things done while my toddler is up and with me. She helps me fold, sort laundry, sweep, vacuum, and clean up toys. It also is a great way to show her what happens around the house. If your toddler is still developing speech, this is a great way to interact with your child without it being with toys.

It’s important to show and tell with your toddler. Simple showing your child what you are doing and explaining it them in simple words greatly helps their speech!

Feel free to add more activities during this morning activity hours. Maybe you want to take a walk with your toddler or let them play outside! Shake it up each day!

Remember, having a schedule doesn’t mean that you are tied down to doing the same exact thing each day. It just means that you have an overall outline for the day that you can fill with whatever you want!

10:45am TV Time

Yes, I am one of those moms that let her toddler watch an episode of TV. I don’t believe in mom shaming or parent bashing and I believe that each parent has the right to decide what is best for their child!

Each morning while I am cooking and preparing lunch, I let my daughter watch 20 minute episode of one of her favorite shows.

Having a structured time for TV shows your toddler that they can watch tv but within the time that you allow. I believe it’s the perfect balance of not depriving your toddler but also setting boundaries.

 

BONUS: Grab the FREE Sample Toddler Schedule that works! Take the guessing out of your routine and use this routine as a template to create your own perfect schedule! CLICK HERE TO GET IT NOW!

 

11:00/11:30am Lunch

Lunchtime is between 11-11:30, depending on what time she woke up that day and what activities she did before lunch. Sometimes I give my daughter “breakfast for lunch” and make banana pancakes or something fun!

 

11:30/12:00pm Nap

It’s naptime! Be sure to have a consistent nap routine that you are doing with your toddler each day! (Read more about nap routines here.)

 

1:00pm Wake

Depending on what time your child fell asleep, your wake time will be different. Nap times usually last around 1.5 – 2hours.

 

1:30pm Snack

It’s snack time! This snack should hold your child over until dinner. I usually give my daughter fruit, apple sauce, yogurt, a small sandwich, etc.

2:00- 4:00pm Activities

This is another time slot for activities! Every afternoon I try to take my daughter out (weather permitting) so she can have some outside time. We’ll run errands, go to stores, or go for a walk. I try to especially get out of the house once a day when it is Spring and Summer.

We live on the beach so I walk the boardwalk every day and take her to the park 3 times a week. Try to think of fun ways you can take your toddler out!

 

4:30/5:00pm Dinner

Depending on what our afternoon activities looked like, I’ll start making dinner. If I was out of the house that afternoon and it’s a day that we have budgeted to eat out, I’ll pick up some take out or wait until my husband gets home to go out for dinner as a family.

Want to read some tips for eating out with your toddler? Read my article here!

 

5:30-6:30 Family Play

I think it’s so important to spend time with your children as a family. Every night we dedicate an hour after dinner for family time. Maybe we’ll watch a special show or start a movie or go out for an early evening stroll or just camp out in our living room playing games.

Of course, our schedule doesn’t ALWAYS let us have this time together, but I like to have family time at least 3 times a week!

 

6:30pm Bath

We start our daughter’s bedtime routine around 6:30 every night. It’s actually funny because when I lose track of time my daughter will run to the bathroom door and start knocking asking saying “bath, bath”. So children definitely love routines!

Our bedtime routine starts with her bath. If you want to read more about the awesome benefits and importance of a bedtime routine, read my article here!

 

7:15/7:30pm Bedtime

After bath time, I get my daughter dressed in her pajamas, give her a little lotion massage, have some extra snuggles and cuddle with her in our bed and then take her to her room for bedtime.

She is still in the “baby to toddler” transition phase so she has been drinking a 7 ounces of milk before bed. After her milk, she goes right into her crib/toddler bed and falls asleep. She usually sleeps 12 hours and wakes up at 7 the next morning where it all begins again.

>>And that’s a simple and easy daily toddler schedule! See, not so bad!

Free Sample Toddler Schedule

Remember, if you want to steal this schedule (THAT WORKS!) be sure to get the printable download of this daily toddler schedule!

You can use the schedule as is or change it to fit your needs and your toddler’s activities. I’ve been doing this schedule for months now and my daughter is thriving every single day.

This schedule is so structured yet FLEXIBLE that it allows me to drop my daughter off at her grandparent’s house or even go away on vacation and she doesn’t fall out of schedule!

It’s seriously a miracle!

Download your copy of the daily toddler schedule here

 

So there you have it! Remember, you can easily create your own simple and awesome daily toddler schedule by using these tips and taking my schedule as a template and changing it to fit your home. It’s reeaalllyyy easy!

 

Here’s a recap:

• Wake
• Breakfast
• Play
• Lunch
• Nap
• Wake
• Snack
• Activity
• Dinner
• Play
• Bath
• Bedtime

Remember, having a daily toddler schedule helps you know your overall plans for the day and also improves toddler development because your toddler is learning routines, which is very healthy for their growth!

Keep in mind, having a schedule doesn’t mean that you are tied down to doing the same exact thing each day. It just means that you have an overall outline for the day that you can fill with whatever you want!

Having a predictable routine will help your toddler learn independence and even help you anticipate your toddler’s needs. It’s a win-win.

Now when you glance at the clock and think it’s 9 in the morning, it’s really 3 in the afternoon because the day flew by! Score.

Happy toddler days!

 

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Inside: Want each day with your toddler to be a breeze? Find out the 3 toddler routines to help you prevent meltdowns!

Say goodbye to tantrums! ….and….it’s not as hard as you may think either 🙂

One of the best ways to ensure that every day is a great day for your toddler is to make sure you have these 3 routines!

Routines are amazing because it gives your baby stability, predictability, comfort, and also helps your child have an overall schedule for their day. This will help your baby not only have an overall schedule for their day but also help them anticipate and expect each day’s activities!

Don’t be discouraged by the word “routine”. A routine can be as simple or as complicated as YOU want it to be. But simply, a routine is a series of actions that are performed consistently and daily. See- that doesn’t sound hard at all!

Here are the 3 toddler routines your child needs:

1. Feeding Routine
2. Nap Routine
3. Bedtime Routine

So let’s get down to the details of these routines!

 

The 3 Toddler Routines

1. Feeding Routine

The first toddler routine that you should start is a feeding routine. A feeding routine is the easiest routine to start and implement because feedings are more consistent than any other daily activity.

A toddler feeding routine can be super simple! All you have to do is before each feeding, start a consistent action to signal to your toddler that they are about to eat.

The goal of this routine is to help your toddler know that when they start to see you do this action, or when you tell them to do a specific action, that it is time to eat.

This routine can be as simple as you setting up the high chair and telling your toddler to jump in, put on their bib, and give them a spoon. Or you can add more steps to the routine, like your toddler stepping on a stool to help you prepare the meal. This can all be a part of a routine!

Your toddler needs this feeding routine because it will help them know that it is time to eat. Not only will they know that it’s food time, but it will also help them mature and develop patience and understanding.

Having a feeding routine also helps with the flexibility of your toddler schedule.

If you are able to do the feeding routine anywhere you go, to visit a family member’s house, to eat out at a restaurant, or even to go on vacation- when you start the routine, your toddler will know it’s food time!

2. Nap routine

A nap routine, in my opinion, is the most important toddler routine. Why? Because it not only affects their naps but can also affect their bedtime sleep. Making sure your toddler naps consistently and the correct length for their age is SO important.

A nap routine can help your toddler be able to nap longer and at consistent times each day. When your toddler is napping, it benefits their whole day!

Just like with the feeding routine, a nap routine will enable your toddler to sleep anywhere, as long as that routine is in place!

If you’re convinced of the importance of a nap routine, you might be wondering “ok so what does a nap routine look like?”.

I worked really hard on my daughter’s nap routine and tried what felt like a million different trial and errors to get it right. But once I FINALLY found the perfect nap routine, she not only began to take long naps but also started taking consistent naps and started sleeping better during the night within ONE week!

I wanted to share my nap routine with you! Because it is detailed, I decided to write it in the form of a PDF download for you to download and print and make your own! This nap routine is so flexible and can be adjusted to your family.

Because of the miracle of a nap routine, I can take my daughter on road trips, vacations, to spend the night at family’s homes, and she STILL naps like if she is at home because of the nap routine that we have in place. Be sure to get your copy of the nap routine below!

3. Bedtime routine

The third toddler routine that you need is a bedtime routine. I love bedtime routines because they can be comforting and truly individualized for each of your children.

One of my favorite times during my day is when I am snuggling and cuddling with my daughter before bedtime. I enjoy making her smile and laugh each night!

As your toddler develops and grows he/she will begin to remember those warm and happy moments before bedtime. I always love to end the day with a smile!

A bedtime routine is not only fun and can be a fantastic daily family bonding time, but it also helps your toddler sleep better!

Bedtime routines are so crucial because it helps your baby know it is bedtime, helps them fall asleep faster, and ultimately stay asleep longer!

Having a consistent bedtime routine will improve your toddler’s nighttime sleep and even improve their days. Because when your child is well-rested, they are happier!

I also created a sample bedtime routine to help you start your own routine! Grab a copy of it now!

>> Well there you have it! Now you know the 3 toddler routines that are super important and that can make every day an awesome day for your child. Remember, routines are amazing because it gives your baby stability, predictability, comfort, and also helps your child have an overall schedule for their day.

Don’t forget the 3 routines:

1. feeding routine
2. nap routine
3. bedtime routine

 

If you need help starting these routines feel free to access my free resource library and get your very own sample routines so you can start them with your toddler. Access my the free routines in my resource library by filling out the form below!

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

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