Here’s a sample daily schedule for stay at home moms who have a baby, toddler, and preschooler at home.
Right now, I have a 9 year old, 8 year old, 6, year old, 5 year old, and 3 year old.
At one point, not long ago, I had a 6 year old, 5 year old, 4 year old, 2 year old, and a newborn.
That’s crazy talk.
But really, there are some pros and cons to having children close together, but it isn’t as hard as you think. We have a few key routines throughout our day that keep us sane.
They keep us grounded. They prevent us from all running around like chickens with our heads cut off.
Or, at least, they keep us all running around in the same direction.
Sample Daily Schedule for Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
It’s simply impossible for me to get through our day without losing my mind if I don’t have a basic schedule.
Have you ever had diapers explode on you?
They have exploded on me. I’m talking crystals, people.
If I don’t have things flowing properly, I forget to do basic things.
I run around like a chicken with my head cut off and my kids are aimless. Aimless and wild. But not wild in a good way.
Note: keep reading below as I discuss each of these elements and how to juggle it all!
- 7:30 a.m. – wake up, breakfast, get dressed (feed baby)
- 8:30 a.m. – chores, general home routines to get ready for day
- 9:30 a.m. – free play
- 10:00 a.m. – independent play
- 10:30 a.m. – feed baby
- 11:00 a.m. – structured playtime (something educational, craft, coloring, activity, etc.)
- 12:00 p.m. – lunch
- 1:00 p.m. – nap for toddler and preschooler (feed baby then tummy time)
- 3:30 p.m. – up from nap, afternoon snack (feed baby)
- 4:00 p.m. – free play
- 5:00 p.m. – dinner (quick catnap for baby)
- 6:00 p.m. – evening routine, wind down routines (feed baby)
- 7:00 to 7:30 p.m. – bedtime for toddler and preschooler
- 8:00 – 8:15 p.m. – feed baby, baby bedtime routine, baby to bed
7:30-7:45 // Wake-up
I’m a big fan of sleeping as late as possible and having my kids join me in this.
We get up around this time (everyone but the newborn) and head to the kitchen counter for breakfast.
I get the older kids breakfast ready and then go grab the newborn to feed him his first feed of the day.
This clock may help your early risers.
8:00-8:15 // Feed newborn
I chose this time to begin the newborn’s day because I can’t feed him and make grits for 3 kids. Just ain’t happening.
I turn on cartoons for the older kids while I feed the newborn.
Now, I don’t think watching TV first thing in the morning is good (actually it irks me every day to do this), however, I find it very difficult to feed the baby with 3 other kids who aren’t focused on something else.
I’ve decided our screen time will be in the morning for this season so I can feed the newborn in peace and they eat and watch some cartoons or videos in peace.
It isn’t ideal, but it works for now. Otherwise they are jumping on me and the chair and trying to kiss, cuddle, and hug the baby and it’s too distracting.
Get my cheat sheets and find your family’s groove. Chore, independent play, meal, nap, bedtime, and MORE routine ideas!
9:30 // Free play
After I’ve put the baby down for a nap, turned the TV off, and we’ve cleaned up the kitchen it’s time for random free play.
I must admit this is a challenging time of day for me because the kids have energy, but can’t run free outside yet.
If you have an enclosed yard, free play is great outside. Here’s how to encourage outside time with toddlers.
You can even put the kids in certain rooms or areas that are closed off so you don’t have to worry about them getting into things they shouldn’t.
Read: Quiet time (Rest time) for Toddlers: All You Need to Know
10:00 // Independent playtime
I put each of my kids in their own rooms (my 18 month old in his crib) to play on their own.
Independent play has tons of benefits, and one of the best in my eyes is the fact that they don’t have to share those toys.
All day they either have to share or fight for toys, but I rotate the toys that they play with in their rooms so it’s new and fresh often.
10:30 // Feed newborn
While the older kids are still in independent play I feed the baby again.
I do this on purpose because I like to nurse when there aren’t lots of other kids running around getting into things or trying to sit on me.
I think it’s calmer and helps prevent over-stimulation which often happens when there are 3 kids trying to kiss him and hug him at the same time.
Be careful – however – not to get too addicted to this habit while nursing.
11:00 // Structured playtime
By time I am beginning to put the baby down for a nap and the kids are out of independent play.
This is when we’re doing our homeschool preschool curriculum, crafts, or an activity, or we all go outside to play ball or run around.
I find the kids need some structure after they’ve been left to their own devices for most of the morning.
I used to stress about activities or organized playtime, but I take the terms loosely and have found lots of things on Pinterest that are basically very minimal prep and high returns on kid excitement and learning!
12:00 // Lunch
We all come back to the counter and eat. Eating before nap means they sleep sounder and longer, or at minimum they don’t wake early from their naps due to hunger.
If in doubt, serve more food.
Read: 5 Truths About Parenting Toddlers — That We Tend To Forget
1:00 // Nap + Feed newborn
I put the older 3 kids down for a nap in their own rooms. I use white noise for every child so no one wakes anyone else up.
It works perfectly!
One can wake early, wake crying while teething, etc. and the others aren’t disturbed.
When the older kids are down I feed the baby and try to get some rest. I’ll watch a TV show on Netflix, work a little, and take a quick disco nap before the kids wake up.
Want your kids to learn to independently follow their routines? These visual routine cards do the trick.
Learn More3:30 // Feed newborn + get up from nap
I feed the baby again now to beat the dinner time preparation rush.
I know some are uber talented, but I’m not yet able to hold a baby and nurse while cooking.
The thought makes me want to order pizza. The kids can get up and do something together or go get a snack while I’m feeding the baby and putting him down.
If I have a short educational video I will often play it at this time, otherwise the kids occupy themselves while I get dinner ready.
5:00 // Dinner
In our home, we usually eat around 5. We started eating this early because my husband worked nights a few nights a week and this allowed us to all eat dinner together.
We are slowly moving it back a bit, but the early time allows us to eat with leisure then begin the nighttime routine without a rush, and still get the kids to bed at an early hour.
After dinner we often read this book at the table together.
6:00 // Evening routine + Feed newborn
The children get baths most evenings unless the day has been hectic and there’s not time.
Unless they are filthy I won’t move back bedtime just to give them a bath.
Mainly because bath time is fun for them and will amp them up so moving back bedtime + amped up kids means they take longer to go to sleep and they fight the bedtime routine more.
During this time we do baths, get on jammies, read books, and clean our rooms.
In this time I also feed the baby and give him a quick catnap before bed.
Read: Cluster Feeding Newborns: Do’s & Don’ts
7:00 – 7:30 // Bedtime
My 18 month old needs to be in bed by 7 on the dot. Any later and he cries and fusses quite a bit. Actually, the times we put our kids to bed can greatly determine if we have bedtime battles or not.
Even if we put him in at 7 he’ll talk to himself and sing for a while, but then go happily to sleep. 7:15 and he’ll try to bring the house down.
My older two are more flexible and after reading some books, having “schnuggles” in bed, telling stories, and praying they are all in bed by 7:30 on most nights.
Read: The Ultimate Guide To Baby Sleep Times
8:00 – 8:15 // Feed newborn
Once all the kids are in bed, I get my little baby and I hug and kiss him and tell him how perfect he is… and then I get him ready for bed.
It’s important to get the kids in bed at an earlier enough time to prevent night terrors, nightmares, and sleepwalking episodes.
Things To Keep In Mind When Making A Daily Schedule For Your Kids
Here are some general things to consider when making the daily schedule for your kids.
Daily chores for kids
The main idea here is this: get your kids doing some chores whenever you can.
All throughout the day I have them put their plates/bowls by the sink, help me sweep by using the dustpan, clean up their toys, put dirty clothes in the laundry, etc.
During certain times we have set periods where we all pitch in to do chores. Others, they simply are expected to do the chore they’ve been assigned.
Whatever works, works.
Get 101+ chore cards to help your little one build life skills, confidence, and their hard work muscles.
Learn MoreWork from home considerations in your daily schedule
For many years, I worked either while they were having screen time, during independent play, their nap time, and after they were in bed.
Then it became too difficult to work interrupted, so I hired a mother’s helper for a few hours a week. She came for 4 hours, 3 times a week and I worked quickly and purposefully during that time.
Daily outside time for kids
I love outside time for the kids and research shows that dirt in the fingers and play in the fresh air does wonders in more ways than you can count.
Whether it’s just an hour or two a day or much more, use these outdoor tips to get the kids outside playing and enjoying life.
Errands with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers
Get my cheat sheets and find your family’s groove. Chore, independent play, meal, nap, bedtime, and MORE routine ideas!
I try my best to do errands alone or without ALL the kids, but when I have to do errands with babies and toddlers and so on, these are my best tips.
I’ll have to follow you on Pintrest, my idea of crafts is crayons or play doh :) I have a 3 yr old and a 9 month old and I find it hard to have time with the older one without baby. She loves baking and puzzles, but both are very difficult with a baby too :) Do you have time built into each day, or do you do dates or such?
I am telling you those are my ideas of crafts too Ha. I just went to Wal-Mart recently and picked up tons of paper, stickers, etc. glue, popsickle sticks and that has made it easier. I can quickly find something on Pinterest and usually have everything I need. I usually do those things around the same time each day because I don’t move around when I feed the baby!
So — basically, you light you hair on fire and run until the sun sets! LOL —- I know my Mom was just like this with 4 under 5, and then again with another 4 under 4 when the rest of my sibblings came along.
You (and other moms like this) are my hero!
hahahayes, yes the hair on fire and running. Ha
Oooh Rachel wow. I can’t even imagine what your day would be like without a schedule! I think sometimes, I’d truly love to read how people actually do it? Like how do attachment parents do it ever? How do you nurse/rock a baby to sleep and a two-year-old at the same time? It truly amazes me. Anyway.
When I was pregnant with my second, I had one request for my husband. We have a yard like yours – acres, creeks, roads. I asked him to fence in a little part of the yard. Put a sandbox in there, a little slide, some other stuff. My oldest can go in and out of the house by herself but can’t go anywhere else. I’m telling you, it is a LIFE saver. My baby was born in summer and I’d sit on the porch swing in the shade while the two-year-old ran around her yard. You know how yelling kids aren’t near as obnoxious outside? Or I could just send her outside and not worry. Ahhh. Is there ANY way you can get that done? :-)
Girl that is EXACTLY what I am doing. Just today we discussed the type and size… I’m glad you echoed my thoughts that it’s a must have!
Hi I am a mom of 3 boys. They are 2 year old, 1 year old, 1 month old. I am having trouble getting them to listen also stay out of things they aren’t post to get into especially when I’m feeding the baby. Also my two year old hits and pushes my one year old and I been trying to get him to stop and he won’t. Does anyone have any advice on how I can get them to do stuff while I am feeding the baby so they won’t get into things or to get them to listen to me they listen to daddy but he isn’t here all the time. Also I could never get them to stay in their room and play by their self. We packed up most of their toys cause they were being destructive with them. I am still learning and could really use some advice. And also we can’t go outside right now it’s way to cold.
Hi Kimberly, oh girl…. I am telling you I understand your issue!!!One thing I have done is to feed the baby when the kids are occupied. So if they are in their rooms (even for 20 minutes), napping, or watching cartoons. Also, what I would do when your kids won’t stay in their rooms, you can say “it’s room time.” Give them nice toys and tell them they can’t come out. If they do (this is what I did) I would put them in time out or something for a minute or two. Or I’d put them in their cribs with toys so they couldn’t get out. Now, this is not an all day solution clearly, but for 30 minutes when you need to feed a baby it works!
Rachel I now have a almost 5, 4, 3 and a 2 month old. I’m looking for a schedule to help settle them down and did I mention their all boys. They don’t have their own rooms cause we have a three bedroom baby is in my room then two boys in one and then one boy in the other room other then on weekends then my husbands older son is in there. I really need a schedule that works for my active family. I’m breastfeeding my two month old. I want to start working out plus want to start teaching the kids the stuff they need to know for school so like have a school time to teach them. But I’m struggling with a good schedule.
I too have 4 under 4! Up until a few weeks ago I had a 3 (now 4!) year old, a 2 year old, a 1 year old and a 3 month old! Your schedule is looking mighty familiar! ;) Congrats on the crazy good bunch of littles you have! It’s such a sweet (and sometimes hectic) moment in time! Love and encouragement from this Momma to you!
Katie we are twins! Congrats on your bundle and encouragement right back at you :)
I love this. I so need to find something that works for us. And I only have one. Hats off to you !!! I love that you admitted you don’t take them out all together… I wouldn’t either.You are a super mom – Just so you know :)
Amanda, we are all supermoms at some point or other. And then decidedly un-supermoms at other times. Ha! And that’s a great point, every family is different and you gotta find your own rhythm. Girl, it’d take a whole lot to make me take all 4 of them out. Like no toilet paper or diapers AND no diet coke…
But Rachel, when do you eat, bathe, and cook?
Haha! I eat when they eat, bathe after they are in bed at night and cook around 4ish. Ha. Most days ;) I hate to type this cringe worthy phrase but many days I am “too busy to eat! “
What about doing laundry and cleaning the house? Do you cook more than one meal at a time (dinner and lunch for next day)? I have only 2 kids ( just turned 3 and 9 months) and I still have difficulties finding rythm.. The kids wake up at 6 a.m. and oldest goes to sleep 9:30 p.m. I am a mess, when they finally fall asleep…
I do laundry randomly when I get a minute. We all just go to the laundry room, do it, and I get the two oldest to help me fold the towels, etc. I don’t have a set time yet. :( I never cook more than one meal at a time and only do one hot meal a day!!! When mine are asleep I DO NOT do any chores or work type stuff that I don’t enjoy. Otherwise, why wake up? Ha.
You have more regular structure than I do. We have a more loose structure. Basically, wake up at 7am, breakfast, and then lots of playtime. lol. No, right after breakfast we do some cleaning/chores and some preschool (when I do it), and then lots of playtime, and usually a morning movie so I can get some computer/blogging time in. We’ll usually run an errand before lunch, like grocery shopping (which I actually don’t mind with the three kids) or the library, and then come home for lunch, and then have nap time/quiet time. After nap or quiet time, it is usually play outside time as I get some dinner going. (I blog during nap/quiet time…. or nap, make calls, sleep.) and then after dinner we may play some Wii together as a family, or have a dance party, or whatever. Bedtime right now (now that my other twin isn’t napping) is like 7:30pm, which is actually pretty nice. :)
My kids are at different ages then yours, with my twins turning 5 in April, and my son turning 2 in March.
Yes before the newborn that was very similar to our schedule! I had to tighten up. Ha.
It must be very challenging!
I am a mother of 1 child (almost 18 months old) and I hardly find time for anything!
Somehow I found time to read your blog recently and I really like it!
:-)
How do you manage a newborn and an 18 months old at the same because they both need constant attention? how old is your newborn?
Take care
MG
MG I really encourage independent behavior to be honest so while my 18 month olds needed supervisino to be sure they weren’t getting into trouble that could hurt them, I usually let them be as much as possible. Plus I tired to coincide when I needed to feed with the toddler napping or in independent play. Hope that helps :)
Hi! Thank you – it really helps! Independent behavior. I leave my son several times a day in his cot bed with his toys while I prepare food, wash, clean, eat, etc. Not because I want to, but because I haven’t got much choice to be honest. I was always feeling guilty of doing it, I wish I had someone to help me at home, but I am also a mother far from home, so no relatives here to give me a hand while my husband works. I see now that encouraging independent play it’s not a bad thing for our little ones and can give us mothers some ‘time off’.
:)
But, hey, you must be a tired mummy! Please share some tips how do you handle tiredness!
I am a mother of only one so far but how tired I am sometimes! Reading your blog is inspiring, it gives me some strength and helps me to realize that I can do it. If a woman with 4 kids under 4 can do it, I can do it too! Ha :)
Yes, MG, I know exactly how you feel about the guilt, but children don’t actually think we need to be in their face all day, WE just think it. I am sure you are raising a lovely lovely son. And yes, I’m tired. Ha! If you go to my homepage (https://amotherfarfromhome.com) and type in ‘tired’ in the search box on the left you’ll find a lot of articles. :)
Hi! Thanks for your advise, I have done so, I searched for more articles on ‘tiredness’ and yes, there are plenty of good advise!
I love your blog, when do you find time to write your blog?! With 4 little ones! Wow. I am sure you must be a very well-organised person with lots of energy. I have been struggling lately with my energy levels, but for some reasons, since I started going to sleep earlier (around 10 pm) I wake up more refreshed (well, not exactly refreshed, but at least not dead-tired, if you know what I mean! Ha! So yes, lots of great advise on your blog, I will keep reading! Thanks!
Take care!
Girl, I go to sleep at 9pm. Ha! I get up around 5:30 am to work before the kids get up then occasionally during nap :) I try to work in big spurts then take the rest of the time off!
Going to sleep at 9 is very good, I tried it few times and never regreted!
The other night it was 10:50 and I said OH NOOO, I have to be asleep in ten minutes, it’s way past bedtime! :)
This is almost exact to our daily schedule, though we don’t have as many kiddos as you. We are expecting # 3 and my oldest is 3 so 3 under 3. I love your blog!!
Rochelle, thank you so much :) Gerat minds think alike!
This is very helpful, thank you for sharing! We’ve got our third on the way and I’ve been trying to get some routine ideas for when that happens. This helped me feel like it’s doable!
You got it, Summer.
I always tell myself I’m going to get better at my daily routine, but always get in my own way lol. I like this though! I have a 4 year old, 3 year old, and 18 month old. I like how you encourage independent play, but I worry about using my youngest’s crib for something other than sleep. Have you run into any issues with that? Thanks!
Danielle, surprisingly none at all! I open curtains wide and turn the lights on so it’s a clear difference to the napping situation. But I can see the concern…
I was reading this thinking, seriously, did I write this in my sleep and not realize? This is very identical to our schedule except I use our gym childcare for my work. I have 4 kids and my oldest is 4 and I work as an online college professor and church planter and children’s director. Thank you for writing this! It helped me focus quite a bit.
Ha, you could have written it for me! I bet that many of us are working on the same schedules ;)
I have a 4 yo, 2 yo, and just over two week old. My baby girl was born at 35 weeks, and she’s my first preemie! When did you feel like you could be on more of a schedule with 3? having a preemie has thrown me! We’ve focused on weight gain for her the last two weeks and waking her every 2 hours to nurse during the day (3-4 at night). I’m hoping we can have a better routine (2.5-3 hrs between feedings) within the next few weeks before my husband goes back to work. Also what do you do if the baby won’t sleep or wakes early? Because of my daughter being born early, losing weight and having trouble nursing (she’s getting on track now), she’s been held a lot and has little to no wake time after most feeds. I’m starting to freak out about what I will do in a few weeks when I’m by myself with all 3 kids!
Keri, I always aim towards the schedule but go with the baby. Even newborns! Of course they don’t always follow it, but at first I’d even do a 2.5 hour schedule for the baby and if they woke happy enough, not feed until time. If they were hungry, I’d feed but still try to get towards that routine. I think you’ve done JUST RIGHT with your baby so no worries there. But I’d probably start trying to transition into a routine while you still have help around so that you won’t be in for the shock of your life.
Thank you! I realized afte the fact that most of these comments were in 2015 so thanks for responding:-) did you ever do a dreamfeed? I’m setting my alarm for 10:30/11pm but always sleep through it. I’m trying to decide if it’s worth it at this point or if I should just wait until the baby is a little older.
I ALWAYS did a dreamfeed and loved it! Sometimes, yes, the baby had a hard time waking up, but as the weeks went by they got used to it and it gave me that many more hours of uninterrupted sleep.
Thanks for sharing your schedule! That helps a lot! So, what do you plan to do when the older ones stop taking naps? I’m asking because my 3 1/2 year old is done with naps mostly. She now does quiet time and reads books or plays quietly. I’m just wondering what to do once my 2 year old is out of naps as well :/ We live in a 2 bed apartment, so I guess they could play in separate rooms, but prob not for the 2 hours that my little one sleeps right now. Just not looking forward to loosing the tiny bit of me time that I have… Thanks for your input!
I still put them in. My 3-year-old currently still naps 5/7 days, though my 4 year old (5 next month) only naps 1 or 2 days a week at most. I put her in her room anyway, though without the independent play in the mornings. She doesn’t need al that much time. I just try to make it happen no matter what, as you said, for the tiny bit of me time!
I have 3 3-and-under (3, 2, and eight months) and wow, can I not find anyone in the same boat as me! Most of my grad school friends aren’t even in committed relationships. Your blog is a breath of fresh air. Glad I am not alone in the knee-deep-in-kids madness.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE :) Ha.
Hi! I’m back again:-) so I decided to implement the same Schedule with my 3 kiddos (specifically the newborn). How long did you let the newborn sleep at night before waking them? Or did you wake at night? My baby is 5 weeks old now and gainin well, so we’ve been working on a schedule and sleeping independently. At what point did you move the baby to a 3 hour schedule? Also I’m wondering what to do if the baby wakes up at say 6am when I’m planning on getting her at 8. Maybe just feed on one side?
I stayed at a 2.5 schedule for my boys until probably 4 months ish? Not every feed was 2.5 hours after the last, but a few were. They have high metabolisms, still do, so it worked for us. And I NEVER wake a sleeping baby at night. ha. They always woke around the 3 ish hour mark though, hope that helps :)
Thanks again! We’re doing a combination right now-3/2.5/2. It seems to work ok, but I feel like she might do better on a full 3 hour schedule. We’ll see!
For older children not taking naps would you have them do quiet time the whole 2 1/2 hours? Thanks!
My daughter will do quiet time two hours, sometimes two and a half, or sometimes she’ll go into her room a bit later and have some alone time with me beforehand or even after. Or, I may let her watch some cartoons while the kids are asleep :)
Also what do you do when your little ones wake up before their nap time is suppose to end?
If they’re happy I leave them in the crib, if they’re unhappy I’ll go to them, of course, but try not to move up the feed unless they’re starved.
Rachel, I love your daily plan. With the fruit of the spirit curriculum, would it be suitable for an almost 4 year old? I saw that it says 2-3 year old..but I am looking for something just like this!! Any recommendations?
Heather, i think it would be suitable. If she is super advanced maybe you’d have to beef it up a bit, but it’s basic and easy to follow and you can easily bring the level up and down.
Thank you for this! I just had my 3rd and things have started to fall apart a little. Mine are 6 weeks, 2, and 3. I am going to try this out. We travel, so the unsupervised outdoor time might be hard for me, and it makes me wish I had my own yard again .
I love your attitude of “this isn’t so hard.” People always think young ones are so terribly difficult, but I think changing the perspective makes a huge difference. I swear my kids know when I’m too tired to deal with them, and they act crazy. But when I’m feeling good, mindful, and confident, our day is smooth sailing.
Brittany, girl, I loved this phrase “my kids know when I’m too tired to deal and they act crazy.” These kids have a honing beacon, I just know it.
I am a mother of four under four I desperately need a routine other wise I find myself overwhelmed unable to complete all household choses and manage my 3,2,1 and 2month old. I am going to use your routine with my kids and see how it works out. Thank you :)
No worries, hope it goes well :)
Just found your site. My mom raised 9 kids, some of them very close together…and I thought I would naturally fall into the role myself. Nope. My two boys are 19 months apart, and I am getting listless and discouraged. Despite the fact that I am a professional organizer, my head turns to spaghetti when I try to figure out how to wrestle a productive and meaningful day for me and the kids. I roamed the internet looking for sample routines, and yours won out :) Plugging it into a schedule app so I have little reminder dings while I get into the swing of it.
My biggest struggle right now is occupying my two and a half year old….he does play well by himself, but I am Chief Playmate until his little brother is older. And truth be told, playing with a toddler can be frustrating and boring at times!!
Lauren, I have a few friends whose older kids have gone to school and they only have one toddler to entertain. It’s tough! :) Love that you are a professional organizer, though, when they get older you’ll have that home running so smooth!
It’s 9:45 & I’m sitting here reading this while nursing my 6 wk old while my 18Mon old 3 yr old and 6 yr old are in bed ..my kids have been out of control since baby was born and I am struggling to find a way to give them more one on one attention but there’s so many Of them lol I’m outnumbered by far I’m sure you know what I mean today was a rough day wake up 8am co sleeping so if I move just enough baby wakes up at the same time as all the others and the day is pretty challenging until nap time..breakfast 8-30-9 and free play time following that 10-11 chores for me and my 6 and 3 yr old usually help lunch at 1130 -1230 nap time 1-3 after everyone is cleaned up from lunch I get my shower at nap time then it’s back to play tome/tv time while I cook dinner after dinner is outside time because it’s been so hot out we go out later at night while things are cooking down then bath time /bed time all in the middle of this craziness I have a 6 week old hanging off of me because he’s in a stage of cluster feedings …I’m exhausted and on top of it our dog keeps having accidents on the floor because he’s old and can no longer feel the urge (vet apt coming up so he will no longer suffer) my husband works 3 jobs and is hardly home some days I don’t know how I’ll survive but I’m making it one day at a time ..thank you for this and just knowing I’m not alone has helped me get back SOME sanity tonight <3
I feel your pain! Ha. All these kids and we have to find a way through that works, bless you!
Hey I have two, 34 month and 20 month old, the question I have is when do you give them milk, how many Oz’s, do you breastfeed any of the other children?
I only breastfed until around one year for a few reasons, but I usually give milk around 4 or 5 times a day. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and then two snacks between if they’ll take it. Sometimes I do water for snack or meals and then I gradually give them more water and then half milk and half water.
Rachel! Praise God! Coming across your page has been so encouraging and timely for where i am at right now…. I have 3 under 3 and #4 on the way, so definately feeling like i need to whip some things into shape around here… Thank you for referring the ciriculum that you use, i purchased it t his morning and trying to get it printed and organized to start soon. I really appreciate your schedule and has encouraged me to make some changes for the best :)
Sabrina, major congratulations and YOU CAN DO THIS!
Wow, this is so helpful! I had 4 kids in 4.5 years and I also work from home. My oldest is now 5.5. A couple of quick questions: 1. Do you have an updated routine now that your newborn is no longer a newborn? 2. My oldest has ADHD. Do any of your kiddos have a similar issue? Thank you for sharing this!
Erin
None of mine have ADHD so far. I should write a post after having 5 in 5 years… I’ll put it on the roster :)
Hi there! Love, love reading your stuff! Guess it’s bc I see myself. I too being a mother of 5 with the last 4 being 4, 3, 2 and a newbie. The struggle is real… Haha! Got a question tho about your schedule… When do u clean? And do endless laundry? Just curious…
We try to do chores each morning for a few minutes, I have a cleaner come once a month to do “deep” clean. I usually do two loads of laundry or so a day then catch up on one big day. And then I fit things in the cracska best I can :) Ha. You knkow.
Hi there! I really enjoy reading your posts. I also am a mother of 5… The last 4 being ages 4, 3, 2, and newbie. The struggle is real… Ha! But I wouldn’t have it any other way. Thanks for the tips.
Veronika, #thestruggleisindeedreal
Hi I am a mother of 3 under 3 and I have a hard time getting a schedule down cause I can’t wake myself up in the morning to get going. What did u do to get your energy back up after having your babies back to back. I want to be able to get up and do my school work before they wake up and and have milk and breakfast ready for them. I feel like a failure when I don’t and I want to be able to clean the house and have everything looking nice before my husband gets home and dinner planned ahead of time. I could use some help.
Kimberly, one of the biggest things I do is go to sleep. I try to sleep. I also explain to my husband that certain expectations he may have will not happen and then I don’t try to stress too hard about how I look right now. It’s a short season and that brings a LOT of guilt if I try to look cute every day when I’ve barely fed everyone. I also try to wake up even just 15 minutes earlier. When it feels so good to have that time I maybe move it to 20 minutes. And most importantly YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE PERFECT right now. It is a hard time and you are doing fine.
Thank you so much. I just struggle to get to sleep at night even when i tell my husband no to the expectation. I’ve tried sleeping pills from the doctor they worked but I wanted to do this on my own get my energy back so I can do more with the kids during the day. But yea I get what you are saying.
HI. I notice you only take a short nap every day. How do you deal with the lack of sleep?Despite my best sleep training efforts my kids wake up 2-3 times a night until they are a year old. The lack of sleep was almost maddening when I had my third and I was very irritable with my other kids. Trying to avoid that again since #4 is due in September. Any survival tips for me?
Nicole, if mine wake up but aren’t crying or screaming I”ll let them talk a bit. This kind of teaches them to go back to sleep. With the babies I just feed lyaing down if I have to which helps me still sleep while nursing. I nap when I can and honestly I go to bed at like 9pm :)
I appreciate you taking the time to answer my question. I did read on another blog that nursing lying down in the middle of the night helps with fatigue so I will be doing that this time around. And I also go to bed at 9pm! The Lord bless you and your beautiful family!
Nicole W, yes I lie down and feed ALL THE TIME and it really helps :)
Please ignore my previous comment. I was trying to type something up and accidently copy and pasted the wrong link in.
Anyways, thanks so much for the tips!! I have a toddler that I’m trying to set a routine with, so I really appreciate this article. I got inspired after reading a similar article by Petit Early Learning (https://www.petitjourney.com.au/10-reasons-a-daily-routine-is-important-for-your-child-and-how-to-set-one/). I didn’t realize how important it was to set and stick to a routine with my daughter until she started getting older. It’s been a wild ride, but here’s to hoping it gets smoother.
Good luck :) You can do it!
I need help with transitioning from 2 to 1 naps. I have a 3 year old boy and 17 month old twin girls (16 months if using adjusted age). We’ve been transitioning for about a month; started by pushing morning naps later and shorter. I’ve used your routine books for schedules and I’m at a loss right now.
I’ve been putting the girls down around 11:30. One wakes after 45min – 1hr. I usually let her fuss/scream for 15 min and most of the time she doesn’t stop crying and I end up getting her. My other daughter was doing great with a 2 – 3hr. nap until recently. She’s been waking after an hour with a dirty diaper consistently. My 3 yr old goes down around 12:30/1:00.
I’d really like to consolidate to 1 nap time, plus we are going on vacation at the end of July and the 1 nap would be really helpful.
Do I just push the girls to 1pm nap even though they seem tired earlier? I’m afraid to make them overtired.
Or does it just take their bodies awhile to learn to take longer naps?
Any advice would be helpful.
Lindsey, I haven’t written on this yet, but here’s a good nap dropping article! http://www.sandiegofamily.com/resources-by-age/toddler/745-dropping-a-nap-without-drama
What do you do about play dates/library trips/etc? Were these ever a regular thing for you guys? (I only have two kids right now- 3 yo and 9 months) so these things happen every week. Also Sunday for church and then there’s weekly small group! How do you work with that??? Do you just never leave your house? And if not, how do you personally cope with that?
I do leave the house, but we don’t do daily playdates or anything so I’d usually choose a day or two a week that we did things and the schedule went off and we coped. But we didn’t do it daily for sure! I do get stir crazy, but it’s usually NOT worth it to me to take babies who are normally sleeping out of the house because then we’re elsewhere and they’re fussy and that makes me stressed. Does that make sense?
Dumb question but my kids do not have their own room so how do I do independent play, away from each other? I figured almost 5 year old in the bedroom and 14 months old in the pack and play in the living room?
YES. Exactly. YOu can do one in your room one in the kitchen or one in their own room. Or you can rotate who has independent play when so one child is in the room then after that the other.
Oh my goodness, this is so enlightening. I have a 4 year old and 18 month old, but I’m also a caretaker for both of my parents, due to major health issues (most recently, father’s cancer, mother’s amputation). Honestly, our lives have just been chaos since my oldest was about 6 months old, and they have never had a regular routine or schedule because of constant hospital trips and endless doctor appointment and rehab schedules. And we are all paying for it now. My 4 year old has so many behavior problems and stress and anger. And I know a lot of that could be alleviated with a little bit of consistency in our lives. But now that we’re seeing a light at the end of the tunnel with my parents, how do I undo the damage of not having had them on a regular routine? And how do I introduce it? Is there any hope for my babies?
Tiffany, there is absolutely hope for your babies, girl .You did what you had to do to serve your larger family and that is not only “okay” that is right. Just do the best you can when you can.
HOW, HOW, HOW did you “train” your 18 month old to play independently in his/her crib?!?! And at what age did you start this? Inquiring minds want to know!
Bobbie, I just put mine in the crib with a few toys and let them at it. If they cry I just give it a few minutes and then try again and then keep on until they calm down enough to realize that playing with toys is fun :)
When are you more flexible with nap and bed times? (I.e. for which occasions?)
My little one has a nap at the same time give or take 15 mins, but I miss out on some social activities as a result. Do you just accept the sleep times as set times that only big things like weddings and doctors appts (that you cannot move) will change the sleep times?
Thank you :)
Hello!
My boys are 3, 2, and 8 months. We go from enriching days of homeschooling to days where I let my toddlers watch Paw Patrol and jump on couch cushions sprawled across the house. How do you not get burnt out from the constant routine especially when your kids have those days when they don’t want to listen or participate? My 2 year old is far more engaged in learning than my 3 year old. Is there a strategy I can use to get my 3 year old interested in learning?
– My oldest and middle have both dropped napping and my 8 month old is only napping 45 minutes a day.
I have a four year old and I can’t imagine him sleeping 12 hours at night plus taking a 2 hour nap in the afternoon. Do your older kids just rest or do another independent play time in their rooms at 1?
This is just admirable! I have two kiddos and I think I have it rough. Look at you, making the most of your day with all your toddlers. Congrats!
This is very helpful, thank you for sharing! We’ve got our third on the way and I’ve been trying to get some routine ideas for when that happens. This helped me feel like it’s doable!
Oh it’s totally doable. you can definitely handle three kids, mama!
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Thanks again.
I have one child and he is 3.5 – he has just started refusing naps. I was using your 3 year old schedule but it’s hard to keep him in his room for 1.5 hours. Almost impossible with no playmates. One, is this early to start dropping a nap? He goes down then between 6:30-7 (can’t make it past 7) then he wakes between 6-7. So he gets 11-12 hours at night. And I cannot find the schedule where you mention what he should be doing during rest time. I just let him play quietly in his room. Or should he be in his toddler bed quiet? Sometimes I will sit in the chair and we will both sit in the dark and try to sleep. He only naps at this point when he’s gotten less than 11 hours at night.
Mary, sounds like you are doing it all fine! If he’s sleeping that well and quiet when he plays it’s a win win. He can play in his bed or in his room or wherever you want him to and an hour will work fine, too! :)
I have a 4 years old girl, 1 year old girl and a 11 months old girl. I am struggling with a routine for all of them. I need help on getting my 4 year and 1 year old back into a routine. My 11 month old is in a good routine, but it’s hard to work around all of them being a single mom of 3 kids. I need some help?
Hi!
This schedule is very similar to ours. I have a 4 year old, 3 year old and 18 month old twins, I need structure! :)
One of the things I haven’t mastered (yet) is how to cook while the kids are up. I usually do it while they’re having their afternoon nap/quiet time because otherwise I feel like they need my constant attention and supervision. The 18 month olds love to climb on everything! I can’t leave them out of my sight for even a second. We’ve baby proofed the house as much as possible, but they always find new things.
Anyways, you’re doing great Rachel! Thank you for sharing your experiences.