Our Daily Schedule -- Two Under Three

It has taken me just about six months to write this blog post, and that’s because it has taken this long for us to finally get into a routine I’m comfortable sharing, and that doesn’t make me feel like a chicken running around with my head cut off.

Before kids, I was a big routine and schedule person. It keeps me calm and controlled, and overall happier. This has not changed much with kids — a routine keeps us all happier, especially with a toddler! Toddlers LOVE routine and schedule, and knowing what to expect.

As with any newborn phase, the first three months with Margot were just straight survival mode. We co-slept at night, and would bring Harry into bed in the morning around 7am when he woke up — and would watch some tv in bed before getting us all up, dressed, and ready for the day. Even during those early days, we never came downstairs unless we were all dressed and all beds made. It was my one sort of stable sanity during this fourth trimester phase. This meant that most mornings we weren’t downstairs before 8:30/9AM. This made the morning go by super quick, and was tough to navigate. Luckily, we’re in the middle of a global pandemic, so not like we had anywhere to go..! These first three months Margot ate mostly on demand, so any sort of schedule for her was non-existent — but Harry’s always stayed the same! Awake at 7, lunch at 11, nap 12-2, dinner at 5:30, bed at 7.

Around four months, we started to implement more of a schedule with Margot, since she was forming her own little daily routine by that time anyways. And now, at six months I think we’re finally in the swing of things (for the time being at least! If you have kids, you know just as you get comfortable in one stage, another one hits…!) that I feel comfortable sharing for those of you looking for a resource! Each day changes slightly, but I try to keep it consistent with timing to keep us all sane. This schedule would be what it is with or without the pandemic — but instead of indoor/outdoor play we would be at the library/playground/class/museum. Wow, I miss all of those things so much.

5:30AM I wake up*, get myself dressed, ready and organized for the day. Make my coffee and do some blog/IG planning.

*I literally started doing this today haha but I feel like a different person so definitely going to keep it up. Before this, I would wake up at the same time as the kids, make the beds, get us all dressed and ready at the same time and it always felt so late and chaotic and also so hard to keep eyes on both while getting myself together.

6:30/7AM Harry and Margot wake up, get them both dressed, we make Harry’s bed and my bed since Nick is in the shower by this point and about to head into the office or his home office.

7:30AM Downstairs — Breakfast/Margot’s 1st bottle followed by play

9AM Margot’s first nap — most usually outside in her basinette stroller while Harry and I play outside

11AM Lunchtime/Margot’s 2nd bottle

12PM Naptime for Harry and Margot — I clean up from the morning for my own sanity. Put all toys away, wash and put away dishes, do a load or two of laundry — and usually vacuum. This is also when I try to get in a daily yoga or movement — I’m obsessed with Melissa Wood — even if it’s just 10-20 minutes (usually all I have time for..) I feel drastically better.

2PM-ish Both kids wake up, Margot takes her 3rd bottle, Harry has a snack and we usually head outside again.

3:30/4PM Margot’s 3rd nap either in her crib or her basinette stroller if we’re outside

5:30/6PM Dinner/Margot 4th bottle

6:30PM Bathtime

7PM Bed

On days Nick’s working from home we all eat together, otherwise Nick and I eat once both kids are asleep for the night. Also, we’re still trying to get Margot to gain a bit more weight, so when she wakes up during the night (usually once) I’ll give her a bottle and she goes right back down.

I know navigating the household with two kids can be challenging, especially the first couple months. While I know it’s so hard, and filled with unknowns, whether you’re a first time mom or mom of 3, just know this phase is so short. It’s a blip of time that passes before you even realize it. So soak in the newborn-ness, your routine and schedule will be there when you’re ready.