3 Helpful Toddler Schedule Examples For Busy Families

As a busy family, it’s hard to keep up with a growing toddler! Creating a toddler schedule is the best thing for your family and the easiest way to stay organized.

Here, we share some sample toddler schedules to help your family during a busy season (which is basically every season!). But first, you’ll discover some amazing benefits for you and your toddler when they have a set schedule.

Benefits Of Creating A Schedule For Your Toddler

 

Maintains Order Within Your Home

Keeping your toddler on a schedule creates structure all around. Your home feels organized and peaceful. When the environment is controlled, everyone benefits!

Prepares Them For School

You’re setting your toddler up for success when you create a schedule for them. When they start going to school, they’ll have to follow a schedule — Monday through Friday, at least.

Getting a head-start on helping your little one stick to a schedule prepares them for life in the real world.

Helps You Plan Your Day

Having a set toddler schedule can also benefit you! If you have to make an appointment, work from home, arrange playdates, or run errands, you know when (and when not) to do so.

Creating a schedule for your toddler gives you the freedom you need when it comes to planning out your week — whatever that looks like for your family.

Promotes Growth

Your toddler will thrive with consistency.

Think about this: Your workday might include meetings, appointments, and deadlines. But what if you didn’t have a routine to help you succeed in your workday? It would probably be chaotic!

If you need structure and a schedule to follow all the things, how much more does your toddler need it? As contradicting as it may sound, you give your little one a sense of independence with a schedule.

Eliminates Meltdowns

As a parent, you’re no stranger to the unwanted meltdown. Rest assured: Meltdowns are a normal part of toddlerhood (and parenthood!). But sometimes they can be avoided, like when you have a schedule.

Toddlers tend to mostly throw tantrums when they’re hungry or tired. If meals and rest time are at the same time every day, your toddler knows when to expect them and is less likely to get frustrated.

How To Create A Toddler Schedule

 

Read Their Cues

When creating a schedule for your child, pay attention to their cues. Toddlers have some sort of routine already set in place before you create an actual schedule.

Most likely they eat and sleep at the same time every day — or they’ll at least let you know when they’re hungry and tired — so create their schedule around the clues they’re already giving you.

Use Calming Transitions

Transitions need to be smooth and calm when going from one activity to the next.

For example, you wouldn’t just pick up your little one after eating lunch and immediately place them in their bed (unless they’ve already fallen asleep). Instead, read your toddler a book to calmly transition them to naptime.

Or after family time in the evening, let your little one enjoy a nice, relaxing bath with our Calming Shampoo, Bubble Bath & Wash before putting them to bed. And if your little one has extra sensitive skin (hello, eczema!), try our Moisturizing Baby Bubble Bath & Wash instead.

These are examples of calming transitions that prepare your toddler for the next thing on their schedule.

Focus On Order Over Timing

Successful toddler schedules are more about the order of activities than the exact timing of them.

Your child can’t tell time, but they can tell what’s coming next. For example, if lunchtime is earlier or later than normal, don’t worry! Just adjust the time of the next activity (like naptime) accordingly.

Be Flexible

Lastly, be flexible! Things come up, like last-minute appointments and spontaneous playdates. You don’t want to pass up these opportunities just because of what your watch says.

Disrupting your toddler’s schedule every now and then won’t hurt. It will actually prepare them for reality because, well, life happens!

3 Toddler Schedule Examples

 

Before we get into the examples, here are a few things to keep in mind when creating a schedule for your toddler:

• Your toddler’s demeanor (some are more laid back and some need more movement and activity in their day)
• Your needs (Are you working from home? Are you dropping your toddler off at daycare? Are you having a babysitter come in and take care of your little one?

How much one-on-one time can you give to your toddler?)

Note: These are just examples. Adjust times and activities to best fit your busy family!

1) Toddler Schedule For Stay-At-Home Parents

7:00 a.m. - Wake up and eat breakfast
7:30 a.m. - Get ready for the day (change clothes, potty, and brush teeth)
8:00 a.m. - Independent play while you set things up for the day
9:00 a.m. - Snack time
9:15 a.m. - Supervised structured playtime (crafts, games, exploring the outdoors, or scheduled playdates)
11:30 a.m. - Lunch
11:50 a.m. - Get ready for naptime (clean up from lunch and read a book)
12:00 p.m. - Naptime
2:30 p.m. - Snack
3:00 p.m. - Independent playtime (blocks, toys, coloring, or puzzles)
3:30 p.m. - Outside play
5:30 p.m. - Dinner
6:00 p.m. - Family time
7:00 p.m. - Bedtime routine (bath, read a book, sing songs)
7:30 p.m. - Bedtime

The toddler schedule for the stay-at-home parent allows for more flexibility and one-on-one time with your toddler.

 

2) Toddler Schedule For Work-From-Home Parents

7:00 a.m. - Wake up and eat breakfast
7:30 a.m. - Get ready for the day (change clothes, potty, and brush teeth)
8:00 a.m. - Independent play while you prepare for your workday
9:00 a.m. - Snack time
9:15 a.m. - Supervised structured playtime (This would be a good time to let your toddler play while you work.)
11:00 a.m. - One-on-one playtime
11:30 a.m. - Lunch
11:50 a.m. - Get ready for a nap (clean up from lunch and read a book)
12:00 p.m. - Naptime (For you, it’s time to work!)
2:30 p.m. - Snack
3:00 p.m. - Independent playtime while you finish working
4:00 p.m. - Outside play
5:30 p.m. - Dinner
6:00 p.m. - Family time
7:00 p.m. - Bedtime routine (bath, read a book, sing songs)
7:30 p.m. - Bedtime

If you’re working from home, your toddler’s schedule will look slightly different from the one mentioned above. Your schedule might be more rigid, meaning there’s less room for flexibility due to deadlines and meetings.

3) Toddler Schedule For Working Parents

6:30 a.m. - Wake up and eat breakfast
6:50 a.m. - Snuggle time and storytime
7:00 a.m. - Get ready for the day (change clothes, potty, and brush teeth)
7:10 a.m. - Independent play while you finish getting ready
7:30 a.m. - Leave for work
7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Daycare or babysitter
4:30 p.m. - One-on-one time with your toddler
4:50 p.m. - Outside play
5:00 p.m. - Dinner
5:30 p.m. - Family time or extracurricular activities
7:00 p.m. - Bedtime routine (bath, read a book, sing songs)
7:30 p.m. - Bedtime

Consider using one of the schedules mentioned above to give to your babysitter. If your toddler is in daycare, they will follow the daycare’s schedule.

As a working parent, you won’t have much control over your little one’s schedule during the day while they are being cared for by someone else. That’s OK! Focus on making the most of your morning and nighttime routines.

It’s Going To Be A Good Day

 

Creating a schedule for your toddler provides many benefits for your whole family! There’s order to your home, you can plan your days better, and it helps eliminate meltdowns. It’s a win-win for everyone!

When you create a toddler schedule, pay attention to their cues, keep transitions calm, follow the order rather than the timing of the activities, and be flexible.

Keep our toddler schedule samples in mind and tweak them as needed. All of our schedule examples have the same morning and nighttime routine.

When you’re getting your little one ready for bed, try our plant-based bubble baths and check out our lotions and creams to help calm and relax your toddler before they fall asleep. And then get ready to have a good night and a good day!