How to Get Stuff Done With a Toddler

How to Get Stuff Done With a Toddler
If you have a toddler, you know that time is precious. There never seems to be enough of it when you need to get something done. Trying to raise your children and keep on top of all your other tasks is no easy feat, let me tell ya! But I am here to give you some ideas on how to get stuff done with a toddler running around your house.

How to Get Stuff Done With a Toddler

Make it a Game

Try to get three dishes put away before the kiddo can make it from the table to the dishwasher. Dust all the blinds in your living room before your toddler dumps out the dog’s food bowl. By making up silly contests with yourself, you make menial chores more fun. It allows you to focus on minute-long tasks instead of getting frustrated because that ten minute task was interrupted.

Create Confined Distractions

My son will hang out in his learning tower in the kitchen with me for a solid twenty minutes if I give him this play doh set. Although he is capable of walking away and getting into trouble, he usualy stays put. I am able to get some cooking or cleaning done while he stays nearby.
Similarly, I allow him free reign in our upstairs hallway while I clean. I shut all of the doors except for the room I am currently cleaning in. Then I make sure there is nothing that can hurt him. He gets to explore, and can come into the room I am working in while still being safe. When I am hanging laundry in our master closet, I he plays with a basket of toys in our bedroom. Your toddler can be “confined” to an area while still having the freedom to move about.

Include Your Kid in the Chore

Fold your toddler’s clothes on the floor of their bedroom while they play. It is easy to keep an eye on your toddler while finishing the task at hand. Have them help you move clothes from the washer to the dryer. When you are cooking, allow your toddler to join in safely.

(psst… stay tuned for my guide on involving your toddler in the kitchen).

When your toddler helps you with a chore, it is inevitably going to go slower than if you were doing it alone. But it is important to remember that these are all learning experiences for your child. these may seem like chores to you, and they are. But you can reframe them in your mind as gross motor activities, fine motor activities, problem solving skills, and so much more.

Use Safe Spaces

Play pens, playards, cribs, etc are great ways to confine your child to a safe space while you get stuff done within view. They have access to toys and can call out to you if they need or want attention. If you really need to weed the front bed, take your playard out to the yard and set it in a shaded area. We use this one and love it! It is our go-to sleep space for traveling! Your toddler can safely play within earshot. Pro tip: if it is hot outside, use a travel fan to keep them cool and the bugs away.

Keep in mind that as your toddler gets older, they may like being confined less and less. We have a retractable gate for our playroom that allows my son to play safely.

Save Difficult or Dangerous Tasks for Nap Time

Obviously using harsh chemicals or sharp tools while your baby is with you can be unsafe. Wait to bleach the shower, repave the driveway, Spray pesticide, or mow the grass for when your child is napping. That way you know he is safe and you aren’t distracted during a task that needs your full attention.

I usually stand by not cleaning during nap time, but this is one area where I think it is perfectly acceptable to make an exception.

If it is something that will take longer than nap time, plan to accomplish those tasks during a time when a friend or family member can watch the baby. This is the safest way to accomplish those sort of tasks. If your husband has weekends off, plan to power wash the house on a Saturday. If you tag-team the task, it will get done faster, and you can switch off playing or checking up on your toddler.

I have a great post on asking for help as a stay at home mom for this very issue!

Stay on Top of Daily Chores

Keeping your house at a standard level of cleanliness ensures that you don’t have tasks piling up. Look, your house might never be Instagram-worthy with a toddler living in it. But you can still keep it at a manageable level by consistently getting the basics done.

Things like emptying and reloading the dishwasher, doing laundry, and sweeping or vacuuming daily can make a huge difference in the overall cleanliness of your home. I love using this robot vacuum to keep the dog hair in check. You can also check out my free weekly cleaning printable for a manageable stay at h ome mom cleaning schedule.

Time Block

If you know you get the most done between 9am and noon, don’t try to cram in all of your chores ten minutes before bedtime. Complete tasks in 15 minute chunks, and devote the rest of your time to your toddler.

If you know you tend to get all the things done one day and then hardly get anything done the next, give yourself the grace to not accomplish as much the second day. Knowing how you work best will help you get stuff done while keeping your toddler happy.

I also have a guide on how to create a cleaning schedule that works for your family.

Likewise, you can coordinate your errands to get them done on the same day. Instead of making multiple trips out of the house a week, aim to do it all at once. Keep in mind that being out for an entire day is extremely tiring for a toddler, so try to keep your errands to 3-4 stops or less.

I like to pair a longer errand (like grocery shopping or visiting the DMV) with quicker tasks (like picking up a package from the post office or dropping a donation off at Goodwill. You can still get stuff done without overwhelming your kid.

Keep in mind that your child won’t always be this small. Including them in your daily tasks will deepen your bond. It’s more important to create memories with your toddler than it is to get stuff done.

These tips can help you manage your never ending to-do list without feeling like everything is falling apart. For more helpful tips like these, be sure to follow me on Instagram.