My Simple Daily SAHM RoutineWith A 17-Month Old

I love being a SAHM. Watching my toddler grow, hearing his first words, seeing his first steps—there are so many beautiful firsts. His bright smile and giggles light up my day. I treasure the moments where I can teach him new things, and his warm hugs melt my heart.

However, balancing everything is overwhelming sometimes. Between taking care of him, cleaning, and managing my blog, something always seems to fall behind. I also feel it’s not very appreciated if you “just” stay at home all day.

Here’s a glimpse into my daily SAHM routine and how I include my toddler in chores to make life just a little bit easier.

Table Of Contents

My daily SAHM Routine With A 16 Month Old
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Final Thoughts
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My daily SAHM Routine With A 16 Month Old

7 to 8 AM: Waking Up

I usually wake up between 7 and 8, alongside my toddler. I can’t get up before him because he’d wake up too, wanting to join me. Only occasionally do I manage to sneak out. (We still share a bed, and I’m breastfeeding.)

Nights are rough with him teething at the moment. So it’s double hard to get up. (He feeds his toy animals with a cup and a spoon in the morning – that gives me an extra 5 minutes to stay in bed.)

Once we’re up, it’s potty time and getting dressed. He also likes to stand on the windowsill and look out of my bedroom window.

In the bathroom, I keep an IKEA high chair for him to sit on while brushing his teeth—though I go over them myself afterward. He has a cupboard with toys to keep him occupied, which buys me enough time to wash my hair or use the toilet.

If I need extra time, I let him put clothes into the washing machine (I put a towel in the door so he can’t close it completely).

9 AM: Breakfast and Cleanup

We open all the blinds, water the plants together. (He helps me carry the water jug thing). And around 9 we eat breakfast. (By that time he might get a bit cranky if breakfast doesn’t come fast enough.)

After breakfast, I try to involve him in cleaning. He helps load the dishwasher, handing me plastic cups and plates while I organize the rest. (Most days he tries to take the dirty stuff out.)

Sometimes, he plays in the attached living room while I tidy up. On other days, he’s determined to help me empty cupboards, so I redirect him by letting him “help” reorganize plastic containers.

10 AM to 11 AM: Outdoor Time

No matter the weather, these days we go outside. I tried to skip this step, cause brr, but he just wouldn’t nap.

Whether it’s playing in the snow, exploring the garden, or just taking a walk, this time is non-negotiable. When we return, it’s either nap time or cooking prep. If he doesn’t want to sleep, he helps me cook by peeling onions, washing rice, or putting vegetables into bowls using his learning tower.

Everything takes really long so I have to make quick meals. I always get inspo from Imamu Room on Youtube.

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12 PM: Lunch and Nap

Lunch is always messy—half of it ends up on the floor—I guess it’s part of him learning to use his tools. My mom, who lives with us, joins us for lunch and often helps with tidying up afterward.

I then put my toddler to bed if he hasn’t napped earlier. During his nap, which lasts about 1 to 1.5 hours, I try to clean or work on my blog. With teething lately, he sleeps poorly, so I often have to calm him back down multiple times.

If I get too tired I admit I fall asleep with him sometimes.

3 PM: Afternoon Play and Chores

Once he’s awake, we play together. I dedicate 1 to 2 hours to undistracted playtime, whether it’s puzzles, Legos, or reading books. In between, we also do household chores together and visit my family:

Laundry: He puts clothes into the washing machine, presses buttons, “hangs” laundry using his learning tower, pulls folded clothes from the pile, and “unfolds” them for fun.
Cooking: As mentioned before, he helps peel onions, wash rice, and prep veggies.
Wiping: He loves wiping down chairs and tables with small tissues.
Throwing Trash: He throws paper into the bin. He also throws his puzzle peaces and hats into the trash lol. I have to be super careful at throwing it out.

5 PM: Wind-Down Time and Bed

Dinner is at 5 to 6, followed by calm activities in the living room. We build Lego towers, solve puzzles, or I read to him. Sometimes, I let him play alone, which gives me a short window to read (usually 10 to 30 pages of a book). By 7:30 or 8, he’s ready for bed. I put him down and sneak out to work on my blog until around 11 PM.

Free Daily Chore Chart:

You can grab a free daily chore chart for your toddler. Just click to extend the image.

Final Thoughts

Being a SAHM is incredibly rewarding but also hard. Including my toddler in daily chores helps with his independence. I think it’s important to teach him life skills.

Plus, it’s a lot of fun watching him learn and grow through these activities.

If you’re curious about how I try to teach my toddler a second language, check out my other post on how I introduce English to my little one. Or this one on Fun Activities to teach your toddler a second language.