My 1 Year Old’s Daily Routine

Who doesn’t love a good routine? For us OCD folk, we are all about the routine. It just so happens that babies also love routines.  This works for me on so many levels. Babies like to know what’s happening, when to expect it, and what’s happening next – and so do I, total win.

For stay-at-home-moms, the importance of establishing a good, solid routine with some built-in wiggle room is absolutely necessary in order to keep yourself from going crazy. Taking care of a little creature 24/7 can and will make you feel super exhausted/frazzled, so without a good routine, you might just feel like an aimless mess in yoga pants. Hey – with a good routine you might feel like that anyways, but at least you’ll have clean underwear (can’t 100% guarantee this).

As Harper has rapidly changed throughout the months, so has her daily schedule. We like to keep busy, and I am an avid proponent of the To-Do List. If I don’t write it down, it simply does not happen. I recently bought The Happy Planner at Michaels (with a 40% off coupon) which really speaks to my inner-obsessive crazy self. Do yourself a favor and get one of these planners ASAP. I see you there and I know you also revel in the simple joy that is crossing something off your To-Do List. Trust me on this. So. Worth. It.

Anyways, back to the routine! Now, your routine will largely depend on what time your baby gets up in the morning, how many naps they take, and what kind of programs are available to you in your area. This is simply to give you an idea of how Harper and I would spend a typical day. Are you ready? Because my girl is an early riser.

5:45AM-6:45AM (I warned you) – Harper will get up somewhere in this time frame. If I’m super lucky she’ll sleep until 7 or 7:30.

7:00AM-8:00AM – I make breakfast while Harper plays in the kitchen (which we have blocked off with baby gates). We eat breakfast together while the puppies watch longingly from the other side of the gate. See my other post here for baby-friendly breakfast ideas.

8:15AM-8:45AM – I push Harper in her stroller while I walk the dogs. It’s more or a less a circus and people walking by will stop to say endearing comments such as “Looks like you’ve got your hands full!” Sometimes I will attempt to power walk or “jog” for exercise. Sometimes.

9:00AM – Throw laundry in the machine, take food out of the freezer for dinner, other random things, etc.

9:15AM-9:45AM – Harper’s morning nap. This time is most certainly an approximation. Some days she naps easily, other days, not so much. She will however, almost always sleep for 30 minutes on the dot.

10:30AM-11:30AM – Pack Snacks & Head to Storytime at the library

12:00PM – Dog’s afternoon walk

12:30PM-1:30PM – I make us lunch while Harper plays in the kitchen. I also try to prep for dinner while I am already in the kitchen.

2:00PM-3:00PM – Somewhere in this timeframe Harper will take an afternoon nap. Again, 30 minutes precisely.

3:00PM-4:30PM – Afternoon playtime. We play outside, read books, play with her sensory wall, chase the puppies, etc.

4:30PM-5:15PM – Cook dinner. Eric gets home and plays with Harper in her playroom.

5:30PM-6:00PM – Family dinnertime! No TV and No devices.

6:15PM – Take puppies on bedtime walk

6:30PM – Bathtime/Storytime/Bedtime Routine

7:00PM – With any luck Harper is asleep and Eric and I become couch-burritos and catch up on Netflix.

Notes: Harper’s schedule is more or less determined by her. If she is tired, I let her sleep. If she wants to play, we play. I don’t try to make her adapt to what I want to do. I adapt to what she wants to do. Now, I understand that this is a luxury of having one child, but this is simply my style of parenting and what works for us. Many people will ask me why I don’t put her to bed later. I put her to bed when she’s tired. End of story. On days where there is no storytime we will head to the park, go wander around TJ Maxx, grocery shop, run errands, etc.

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What does your daily schedule look like? Are you a fan of the routine? Share what’s been working for you and your little one!