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Do you need a routine or schedule at home? Routines and schedules for stay-at-home moms can help us feel so much more productive! I am a fan of a daily routine or rhythm. It helps me remember what things I want to try to accomplish each day (try being the operative word). If you are struggling with finding a routine that works for your family, or just want some sample routines and schedules for stay-at-home moms to maximize your time, I have some to share with you.

Routines and Schedules for Stay-at-Home Moms

I am able to incorporate a lot of flexibility into our daily routine thanks to being a stay-at-home mom, which makes challenging days just a bit easier to tackle. If a child gets sick, we just stay home-no errands or planned events outside of the house. I do like to plan outings (either errands or fun events), but I am allergic to over-scheduling! Friends of mine can tell you I say that often! I am not going to fill up every day with events out of the house just to feel busy, because then I fall behind on quality time with my kids and caring for my house.

I like getting things written down on my “done” list. I prefer that my house look like I cleaned it, or at least used some homemaking tips to straighten it up. I like the laundry routine to get done by the weekend so I don’t have to do loads when my husband is home and we have family time. A routine for basic events each day has been helpful for getting basic homemaking tasks accomplished.

Our Daily Routine

There are things I do every day like take my son to school and pick him up, homeschool preschool activities with my daughter, toddler activities with the twins, read books with the kids in the morning and at bedtime, dishes, make meals, work on the blog, etc. Many can be plugged in around doctor appointments and errands, but they do happen Monday through Friday, and the school pick up and drop off is a set schedule. Weekends I try not to laundry or too many household tasks as far as major cleaning. It is important for us moms to get in some relaxed time too. This is not always possible, but I try to stick to it!

This is What Our Weekly Schedule Looks Like:

Sunday-church, or family Bible lesson (if we aren’t able to church that day), send out the blog newsletter, family time at home.

Monday-sort and start laundry, change sheets, change towels, vacuum and mop main floor.

Tuesday-laundry, clean main floor bathroom.

Wednesday-vacuum upstairs, put away laundry, mop upstairs.

Thursday-clean upstairs bathrooms, dust, empty waste baskets.

Friday-sort laundry, wash any full loads, vacuum and mop main floor.

Saturday-family time and/or errands.

Your days may look different, and that is the beauty of the next resource I want to share with you!

Rhythms, Routines & Schedules: How to Simplify Life with Kids

Sometimes it is tough to know if the schedule our baby is following is the only one that will work.  We may wonder if we are doing all that we can to keep our toddler engaged in activities during the day.

Sleep is a big issue: How many naps should my infant be taking? If my child wakes up at 6:00am, what time should they go to sleep to get healthy rest?

These questions and more are covered (in very flexible and realistic ways) in the book, Rhythms, Routines & Schedules: How to Simplify Life with Kids. I say flexible and realistic, because all children are VERY different. Even the doctor-recommended sleep charts have never been 100% true with my children.

We had a great schedule when my first child was about 6 months old. Then, we added a second, and then the twins. “Schedule” went out the window for about the first 18 months both times. We have now settled back into a regular routine that is pretty consistent every day.

A lot of the uncertainty of our routine was due to breastfeeding. Routines, Rhythms and Schedules is very good at pointing out that if we have a breastfeeding baby, on demand feedings are often necessary. That will determine a lot of the routine of the day-for good reason-until baby grows to need less daily (and nightly) feeding sessions.

I like to have a routine, but it has taken patience to find one that works. Often, just as we would find a routine, our children would go through a growth spurt, or teething would cause more night waking, or they would grow out of that early nap.

Rhythms, Routines, & Schedules is very helpful for this exact reason: The printable schedules separated by age, have suggested times for a variety of ages. I love the blank schedules that are included. There are suggested daily routines and a lot of tips that are really helpful for moms looking to create a schedule that works!

Quick tip: After purchasing the book, print out the blank sample schedule for your child’s age. Laminate it and use dry erase markers to jot down your daily schedule. Then if things change, you can just erase and write in the new schedule. This is a great tool for babysitters or family members who may visit.

More of what you will find in the book:

Sample schedules broken down by age for children from birth through 5 years old.

Suggestions for routine, schedule or rhythm depending on your family’s needs.

Tips for managing the day with multiple children who are different ages PLUS sample schedules.

Printable schedules with suggested times as well as blank schedules you can customize with times.

Activity ideas for children.

Suggested routine for meal time with children.

Suggested routine for play time with children.

Resources section with books and articles to further help you plan a routine for your family.

It can be daunting to spend all day at home. Especially for moms just starting out, routines and schedules for stay-at-home moms, can help you and your child grow into being comfortable using the time together at home. Rhythms, Routines & Schedules: How to Simplify Life with Kids can help you find a routine that will work for your family. You can check out the book by clicking below.