Pregnancy fatigue can feel intense on its own. But pregnancy fatigue with a toddler at home? That is a whole different kind of tired. I still remember the early days of pregnancy with my second baby, trying to manage nausea, exhaustion, and a busy toddler who still needed snacks, snuggles, playtime, and patience.
A second pregnancy can feel harder because you may not have the same chance to rest that you had the first time around. You are growing a baby while also caring for a little one who depends on you all day.
If you are pregnant with a toddler and exhausted, these tips can help you make the day feel a little more manageable.
Key Takeaways
- Pregnancy fatigue can feel harder when you are also caring for a toddler.
- Asking for help is not a failure. It is a practical way to protect your energy.
- Quiet time, rest breaks, simple meals, and outside support can make the day more manageable.
- Prioritizing sleep, hydration, nutrition, and prenatal vitamins may help support your energy.
- If fatigue feels extreme or unusual, talk with your healthcare provider.
Related: 8 Tips for Battling Pregnancy Fatigue
How to Survive Pregnancy Fatigue With a Toddler
These are the tips that helped me most during my second pregnancy, especially on the days when exhaustion made everything feel harder.
Ask for Help
Asking for help might make you feel like you “can’t handle” things around the home. You’re growing a baby while caring for a toddler, and that’s a lot to carry. It can be physically and emotionally exhausting. This is my number one tip for pregnancy fatigue with a toddler.
Now is not the time to stretch yourself thinner than necessary. It’s the time to stay healthy, relax, and minimize any unnecessary stress. If you don’t have any friends or family to ask for help, you can also look into hiring help! Between babysitters, nannies, daycare, meal service, cleaning service, and doulas, even a few hours of extra support each week can make a meaningful difference if it fits your budget.
Try Quiet Time
If you haven’t introduced quiet time to your toddler, this might be the perfect time to start! Quiet time activities are simply activities that promote independent play. Quiet time gives your toddler a chance to play independently while you sit down, rest, or do something low-effort nearby. This means you can use that time to enjoy your favorite pregnancy tea, get off your feet for a bit, or tackle some low-maintenance housekeeping if you’re up to it.
Depending on their age, they may struggle to understand the concept at first, but with enough practice, they’ll get the hang of it. If you need a few suggestions, I started implementing quiet time with my toddler by keeping two bins of toys. I’d bring one bin out one day and alternate the toys whenever I wanted to encourage independent play.
Here are a few of the items I had inside my son’s quiet time bins:
- Melissa & Doug Chunky Puzzles
- Montessori Quiet Book for Toddlers
- Crayola Color Wonder Markers & Paper
- Mega Bloks
- Potato Head (Check for small parts & pieces)
Prioritize Sleep and Rest
Prioritizing sleep and rest can make a meaningful difference in how you feel each day. Even if you don’t have the time to sleep, sitting down and closing your eyes for a few minutes could be precisely what you need to help give you a little energy boost. Plus, you’ve been through the newborn phase before. Experiencing pregnancy fatigue with a toddler at home is just another reason to get that rest.
If your fatigue feels extreme, suddenly worsens, or does not improve with rest, mention it to your healthcare provider.
Related: 5 Ways to Boost Energy During Pregnancy
Focus on Food, Hydration, and Prenatal Vitamins
Pregnancy is a time of weird cravings, aversions, and foods that may not always be the most balanced option because it’s simply all you can muster to eat. If you can, prioritize iron-rich foods that can boost your energy. These foods include dark leafy greens, beans/lentils, apples, pomegranates, and more.
Also, make sure you continue to take your prenatal vitamin every day. A nutritionally balanced prenatal vitamin will help ensure you and your baby get the proper nutrients. This can greatly impact your energy and immunity, so be sure not to skip it.
Need some meal inspiration? These guides can help:
- First Trimester Recipes That Are Healthy and Delicious
- Second Trimester Recipes That Are Healthy and Nutritious
- Third Trimester Recipes That Are Healthy and High Energy
- Pregnancy Diet: What To Eat for a Healthy Pregnancy
- 22 Best Pregnancy Snacks That Are Healthy and Easy
Consider Preschool or Childcare Support
If your fatigue is making it hard to get through the day, consider enrolling your toddler in a preschool or local learning academy. This may not work for all parents, depending on your little one’s age. But it could be an excellent way for them to get the one-on-one attention they need, socialize with other children their age, and give you a small break throughout the day.
Related: Surviving Pregnancy With a Toddler
Pregnancy fatigue with a toddler at home can be incredibly hard, especially when your little one still needs so much from you. Do what you can to lower expectations, ask for help, simplify your days, and rest whenever possible.
This season will not last forever. For now, focus on getting through one day at a time, leaning on support when you need it, and giving yourself credit for everything you’re already doing.
