Whether you are a new stay-at-home mom or you stayed at home for a while and need a routine, it is always best to have a plan in place.
This post is all about the best stay-at-home-mom routine with babies under the age of 4.
I never planned on being a stay-at-home mom, but Covid changed all of that for me. It gave me a new perspective on just how much I loved being home with our baby girl.
Stay at home moms are truly super hero’s because it is not easy being at home with one or more babies. It is a full-time 24/7 job that is tiring.
I am thankful that I have an understanding of being a full-time working mom, stay-at-home mom, and part-time working mom and stay-at-home mom. I’ve done it all and learned so much from being in every position.
One is not easier than the other, it’s all hard, and you have to choose your hard. I have respect for every-single-mom doing the best they can for their babies.
It is never too late to get into a routine, and this stay at home mom routine will help you out A TON!
Stay at Home Mom Routine
Wake up 6:00 am
The best tip I’ve ever gotten as a mom is to wake up before the babies do! This is 100% true when you want to have a little time to yourself, whether that is to study your scriptures or work out.
Wake up before the kids so that you can get yourself ready for the day. Before I got myself on a new schedule, I drove myself crazy trying to put on my makeup when with a baby running around.
Getting yourself up and ready before the kids is always the BEST thing to do, but the hardest, especially in the beginning if you have always just gone with the flow.
Workout 6:15 am
Once you get up and before your get hungry, give yourself at least 30 minutes to work out. Just moving your body feels so much better than eating all the things you did not want to without getting up to exercise for the day.
It makes it so much easier when you are on a schedule because you can find time to work out.
Shower 6:45 am
I seriously have never learned to take a 5-minute shower until I had a kid. This was one of my toughest sacrifices of being a mom, along with sacrificing my sleep because I felt like it was impossible.
Make up 7:00 am
Find a 10-minute routine where you can quickly get your make-up on before the babies wake up and your mascara goes missing.
Kyla loves to play with my make-up, which is okay, but waking up before she does to do my make-up makes it so much easier! It allows me to give her the attention she needs when she wakes up rather than getting annoyed with her because I have to do my make-up.
Baby wakes up/ 7:45 am- Diaper change
The first thing I always do when Kyla wakes up is change her diaper. It is so full from the night before. Leaking messes are not my favorite.
So I have made it a point to change that diaper once she gets out of bed!
Breakfast 8:00-8:15 am
As soon as you change the baby’s diaper, it is a good time to have breakfast because the baby is usually starving.
Between 6-12 months, Kyla would breastfeed and have a pouch. I have always preferred pouches because new phases were always stressful for me, and it was an easy way for Kyla to feed herself on her own.
Once she was a little bit older, we moved to finger foods. I would give her Cheerios, banana, blueberries, strawberries, grapes, eggs, potatoes, bread, oatmeal. Not much has changed except she does not like pouches but will drink a smoothie.
Another great tip that I have always worked hard to be good about is clean up. If you wait too long, you will not clean it up because time keeps moving on.
I find it super frustrating when I sit Kyla down in a filthy high chair. So cleaning up right after breakfast is the way to get set up for lunch.
Laundry 8:05 am
While the baby is eating breakfast, you can start a load of laundry while they are good in their seat.
Each day Monday through Friday, make it a point to do at least one load of laundry. BUT, the biggest tip is to COMMIT to finishing the load by the end of the day. If you start a load of laundry, you have to finish it. Otherwise, you will have stacks of clothes that you don’t care to do.
We’ve all done it, but it makes the day so much easier when you just GET-HER-DONE!
Clean up after Breakfast 8:15-8:20 am
From 11 months, we have taught Kyla how to say “all done” in sign language using a yellow book called BABY SIGNS. If you have ever wanted to teach your baby sign language, you will love the book! It teaches your baby how to say: milk, water, all done, and more!
Once she gives us the sign, we take a wipe to wipe down her hands, arms, or legs if she makes a big mess.
After breakfast, I always take a water wipe that does not have any chemicals to wipe down her high chair. You can use dapple baby that is a plant-based cleaner used for babies without chemicals, and a washcloth.
As a new mom, I had no idea dapple baby even existed, but it is one of our favorite baby products because we clean up all the time!
Play time 8:15 am-10:00 am
As soon you need to clean up the high chair, let the baby roam around in their toys. It keeps them busy while you clean up until you can get there to play with them.
If your baby has not started walking, you can lay them down on their mat or give them a teether and a handheld toy.
When Kyla finishes eating, she takes off running to play with her babies and pushes them in a stroller. It’s not always fun to play with your kiddos, but playtime enhances social skills, imagination and gets them to problem solve.
Together Kyla and I pretend to play with her kitchen, her babies, and with food. If you have a boy, you can play trucks, dinosaurs, or their favorite game.
During the hottest times of the year, we like to take walks before it gets too hot, go to the park, or sometimes watch a learning activity.
Nap time 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Naptime is the best time. From the beginning, you can realize signs of crankiness such as constant wining, acting out, tantrums, wiping eyes, or all of the above.
Around 10 am Kyla usually gets tired, so we do not do much in the mornings because she takes a nap shortly after she wakes up. She has napped around this time between 11 months- 18 months.
If your baby doesn’t go down around 10 am, look for their signs of tiredness and try to get them to nap around that same time every day. Newborns are usually easy because they nap almost everywhere you go.
In the beginning, they nap eight times a day, and by 1-years old, it decreases to 2 naps a day and then one nap. Not for all babies, but for most. Some are light sleepers. These books Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child or Baby Wise book will help you get your baby to bed.
Naptime is also time to take a moment to shower if you haven’t been able to today, put on your make-up if you’re running behind. You can also be productive and work from home, fold your laundry if the load is dry, write a blog post (haha), or be lazy and watch your favorite show.
Lunch 12:00-12:30 pm
Right before lunch, we always have another diaper change once the baby girl wakes up. You will find it much easier to take care of diaper changes immediately after the baby wakes up.
I think it is just a great habit to get into and helps you stay productive when you have time to do everything.
Also, remember to thaw out any meat you are using for dinner time, so it is ready when you make dinner.
Dishes 12:30-12:45 pm
When your baby is eating lunch, you most definitely have dishes in the sink from the night before or that morning. It is always best to take care of the dishes once the baby is in a good mood. Because it is hard to take care of things around the house when the baby or babies give you a hard time.
Now is the time to tackle the dishes while they are eating. I quickly take the dishes out of the dishwasher and move the ones in the sink to the dishwasher.
By this time, the baby is almost done eating. You can prepare your lunch before they get out of their high chair or once you move them to their play area, which is in the living room, so I can see Kyla play while I eat and clean up.
After the dishes are done, it is a good time to make your lunch and let the baby go out and play so that you can clean everything up right after.
Best advice, don’t wait, just get it done!
Free time 12:45 pm- 5:00 pm
Independent play is always great for babies, but you can choose to switch up playtimes. If you are feeling sick or having a rough day, it’s never a bad idea to turn a movie on.
Around this time, I like to watch Kyla play on her own, while I make phone calls or appointments.
If you want to get out of the house to visit a family member, now is a perfect time because the baby is all ready to go. They have taken a nap and have had two meals.
Grocery store 12:45-2:00 pm
Pick one day of the week makes time to go to the grocery store. Mondays are always the best days to head to the grocery store because it is the start of a new week.
Always make a list so that you do not have to run back another day of the week if you do not have to.
I like to check what groceries are in the fridge and the cupboards so I do not buy two of the same meat or cans that we already have.
Dinner/ Clean Up 5:00-6:30 pm
My husband (Lehi) has always loved an early dinner, so I try to be good about it when I can. I have already thawed out the meat or made sure I have all the ingredients so I can make a good dinner.
Starting dinner around 4-5 gives you enough time to have dinner ready, clean up, and complete the rest of your tasks for the evening.
Bath time 6:30-7:00 pm
After dinner is always a perfect time for baths because the babies are always filthy by the end of the day, and you want them to be clean when they get into bed.
- Related post: 5 Simple Steps for a Baby Bath Routine
Family time 7:00-7:30 pm
Once babies are all clean and washed up, it gives you a little extra time for some family time.
During family time, we like to read books or relax and snuggle. The day has come to an end, and it’s always nice to give a few minutes off your feet when you have been running around allll day!
Baby’s Bed time 8:00 pm
Now is the time we all wait for after a long day! Once you get them to bed, it is GO time. This is YOUR time to do whatever you want to do for yourself.
I always like getting Kyla to bed around 8 pm. If you choose to get the baby to bed early, you have 1 hour to 2 hours to yourself!
Mommy’s bed time 10:00 pm
Here is a quick night routine for you:
- Pick up babies toys
- Sweep the kitchen
- Vacuum
- Fold the load of laundry on your couch
- Do something for you ex. Take a bath
- Hang out with your hubby
- Make his lunch
- Read the Bible
You don’t have to do all the things for the night, but you can pick a few that work for you and try to do about three every evening. Just make sure you go to bed by 10 pm so that you can be well-rested with 7-8 hours of sleep to wake up early and repeat for another productive day!
Setting a routine is never easy, but you have to create boundaries for yourself and your little one + you have to COMMIT.
If you follow this plan, you will feel fulfilled and structured with your new stay-at-home mom routine!
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