Daily Routine With a Newborn and a Toddler

The prospect of having both a newborn and a toddler can be daunting. The stress of it starts while you are still pregnant. You have no idea how you will possibly juggle two different schedules and keep both kids happy. The key is finding a daily routine for your newborn and toddler.

Kids thrive on routines, which will be especially important for toddlers, who will no longer get as much of your attention. Your toddler will go from being the sole focus to coming in second in many cases. Newborns are demanding and time-consuming, but you still have another child who needs time and attention. It can be hard to conceptualize finding a balance, but we’re here to help!

How to Create a Daily Routine

Tracy Hogg’s book, Secrets of the Baby Whisperer, outlines the E.A.S.Y. routine, which helps you to juggle the needs of your baby and toddler. Her “Eat, Activity, Sleep, You” philosophy easily adapts to you and your baby. I usually had two-hour increments where my baby could stay awake, and I did fall into nursing him back to sleep, which was rough when I had a toddler who wanted attention.

The E.A.S.Y. method is a great place to start, and you can use it on a loop throughout your day. The routine below gives a rough idea of how to structure your day with your newborn and toddler.

Daily Routine Sample

Between 6 and 7 a.m.

E – Wake Up and Eat Breakfast

The first thing that everyone needs is food. If you have a partner, have him get food ready for your toddler and you while you feed the baby. My son was exclusively breastfed, so this often kept me from making my own food. By having your partner help, you can get everyone fed sooner.

Between 8 and 9 a.m.

A – Activity

This is an excellent time of day to get your toddler and yourself moving. I liked using this time for a walk around our neighborhood. If the weather is bad, you can still get moving with a dance party while holding your newborn.

Around 9 a.m.

S/Y – Baby Nap/Play with Toddler

My baby would often fall asleep after nursing, despite the goal being to have him fall asleep on his own. If the baby falls asleep on you, you can have your toddler watch a show or set up another activity for her to do in the meantime. If possible, you should try putting the baby down to spend some time with your toddler. It won’t be easy to carve this time out, and finding it where you can is important.

Around 10 a.m.

Snack and Playtime

Once the baby is up from his morning nap, you can feed him and get your toddler a snack at the same time. Then, after this, it is a good time to play. Here are some ideas for what you can do with your children:

Around 11:30

Baby Naptime and Toddler Lunch

The baby will be ready to go down again close to your toddler’s naptime. If you can get your toddler to eat lunch and go to nap about the same time, you can get some of that elusive “me time.”

Around 12 or 12:30 p.m.

Toddler Naptime

Toddlers will still need one nap daily, so try to get naps to overlap as best you can to get a break. It took me a while to perfect keeping my toddler’s sleep on track after having a new baby, but it was so helpful once I did.

Around 1 p.m. or 2 p.m.

Snack and Play

The kids will be up early in the afternoon, which is a good time for another snack and playtime session.

Around 2:30 p.m.

Baby Nap/Toddler Play and Snack

Your newborn will need to go back down again in the afternoon. This is another excellent opportunity to spend time with your toddler without the baby. Make sure to get your toddler a snack and do something fun.

Around 4 p.m.

Baby Feed and Toddler Play or TV Show

Once the baby is up, he will want to eat again. This is a good time to let your toddler watch a show or do another activity while you feed the baby.

About 4:30 p.m.

Toddler Dinnertime

After the baby is done eating, make sure to get your toddler some food and maybe even have some yourself!

About 5 p.m.

Baby Naptime and Toddler Playtime

Most newborns will need another short nap around early evening. This is another good opportunity to play with your toddler. Calmer activities such as building with blocks or coloring are great for the end of the day.

About 6:30 p.m.

Baby Feed

The baby will eat again before bed.

Around 7 p.m.

Bedtime Routines for Both

Starting at about 7 p.m., you can go through bedtime routines for both children. This routine may include baths and books to help them calm down for the day.

Daily routines are so important. A daily routine will help your toddler understand the day’s structure and can anticipate how things are going to go. The routine above is a good way to start. The biggest key is getting one-on-one time with your toddler while your newborn is napping. Remember that babies change so fast, and your schedule will need to be adjusted as they both grow.