What to Include in a Daily Routine for 1 Year Olds

Does your toddler need a change of schedule? Here’s what to include in a daily routine for 1 year old kids—perfect for the stay at home mom or dad!

Tell me if these words sound familiar:

“Am I playing enough with my toddler?”

“Should I go on daily outings?”

“Why can’t I keep up with laundry and meals?!”

If you’ve lacked a routine with your 1 year old all this time, it’s all too easy to question everything you do. You might feel completely all over the place with no sense of routine whatsoever. The household mess is up to your eyes. You feel guilty any time your toddler seems bored, despite trying to do plenty of activities together.

Perhaps you’re in a transition phase where you’re experimenting with your schedule a bit (ahem: naps!). And even if it feels like you have some sort of flow to your day, you still might second-guess your choices.

What to include in a daily routine for 1 year old toddlers

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I hear you, friend.

I’ve long been a fan of daily routines to make life run smoother and easier than if I were to play it by ear. I don’t have to think about what time my kids should wake up or whether we’ve been going on too many outings. I’m able to keep them engaged while still having plenty of time to tend to household tasks.

As Jay Shetty writes in Think Like a Monk:

“Doing something at the same time every day helps us remember to do it, commit to it, and do it with increasing skill and facility… When we do something at the same time every day, that time keeps that memory for us. It holds the practice. It saves the space.”

This isn’t to say that our days ran perfectly, or that we couldn’t make spontaneous decisions (“Let’s go to the beach!”). But I found that the more predictable our days became, the more room we had to be flexible. We filled up our tanks with consistent activities enough to be open to surprises and adventures.

More importantly, routines kept my kids happy, well-fed, and well-rested. Whatever tantrums and meltdowns they had were greatly eased by having a reliable routine.

So, what exactly should you include in a routine? Below, I share a few common activities, as well as sample schedules for you to try. Let’s dig in:

1. Wake up time

Even if nap times vary day by day, try to keep wake up time as consistent as possible. For many of us, this is a must, especially if we have to go to work or take our kids to school or daycare. But even with some flexibility, keep wake up time the same every day.

Why? This can help your toddler naturally wake up around the same time (instead of at 5am when you’re still in bed). You can make sure he’s getting the 10-12 hours of sleep he needs every night. And you’re better able to plan your day knowing that he wakes up at the same time.

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2. Breakfast

Breakfast for a 1 year old might look different than for you and me (or even younger kids). But starting the day with a good meal ensures that she’s well-fed. You might include a sippy cup of milk along with the meal, or modify your own breakfast to suit her portion sizes (for instance, diced fruit and a small bowl of yogurt).

Eating breakfast every morning also establishes the habit of eating together as a family. As hectic as the upcoming day may be, this is your chance to gather and reconnect after a long night.

3. Outing or errand

Early mornings are perfect for outings with young kids. The grocery store isn’t too crowded, the mall play area doesn’t have too many children. You don’t have to deal with long lines or packed parking lots, whether you run errands or go to a children’s museum.

This is when you can also vary your outings or even designate certain days for certain activities. For instance, your local library might have a weekly story time on Tuesdays, while Thursdays are reserved for buying groceries. Meanwhile, you can get together for a playdate with friends on Wednesdays or stay in on Fridays.

Take a look at these places to take a 1 year old.

4. Morning snack

I like to eat snacks between the Big Three of meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). This keeps both kids and adults happy and not cranky.

If you’re out and about, stash some snacks in reusable containers that your 1 year old can serve himself. If you’re at home, you have more options on what to offer. This is also a good time to keep hydrated with water while you eat.

5. Morning nap

Younger one-year-olds likely still take two naps each day. If so, the morning nap can be a welcome break from the activities of the day so far.

One tip I’ve learned is to keep that first nap to no longer than an hour long. Otherwise, a long morning nap means a short second nap. This in turn leads to a fitful night of sleep that often leads to early morning wake up.

So, to keep a steady pace, wake your toddler up at the one-hour mark for the morning nap so that he can still take a long one in the afternoon.

6. Lunch

Prepare lunch during your toddler’s naptime. I like serving a modified version of what I’m eating to cut down on extra steps. For instance, serve a smaller portion of your pasta, or offer chicken cut in finger food sizes. I also like to serve fruits with every meal, from diced peaches to bananas and apples.

7. Playtime

The early afternoon lends itself well for playtime. Perhaps this is when you decide to have a play date with other kids and leave the house. Or maybe you can stay home and work on a few puzzles or crafts. Keep structured activities short—even 10 minutes at a time is plenty to keep your child interested and engaged.

Take a look at these messy play ideas for 1 year olds.

8. Afternoon nap

If your 1 year old still takes two naps, don’t forget to include a chunk of the late afternoon for sleep. Aim for about 1.5 hours of sleep for this second nap. That said, leave plenty of time between waking up and bedtime to be awake. That way, he’s tired enough to want to fall asleep for the night.

9. Afternoon snack

Include a time to snack between lunch and dinner, whether it’s a sippy cup of milk or something small to nibble on. Favorites include fruits, small crackers, diced cheese, or toast.

10. Independent play

Give your toddler time to play on her own. This doesn’t mean you leave her unsupervised—rather, you let her play as she chooses while you observe nearby. For instance, allow her to flip pages of a book instead of reading with her directly. Let her stack a tower of blocks while you prepare dinner and set the table.

11. Dinner

I like to set aside a specific time for dinner every night, and for us, that’s 5pm. Depending on your family’s circumstances, try to designate a time for the whole family to eat together.

And it’s totally fine if just one parent can make it to dinner (for instance, if the other comes home late from work). The idea is to give your family a reliable time to reconvene around the dinner table at the end of the day.

12. Bath time

Taking a bath is a fantastic way to wind down for the day and get ready for nighttime sleep. Since most kids don’t take baths before naps, this can be a cue to end the day and sleep for the night.

If you’d like to extend bath time, include fun activities like bubbles, bath “paint,” or color tablets. Bring bath time toys or water-safe books into the water. Then, towel off, slather lotion if needed, and dress in pajamas.

13. Bedtime routine

Finally, you can put your little one to bed and get settled in for the night. Once she’s changed into pajamas, include a few rituals into your bedtime routine.

For instance, you can:

Brush her teeth
Read bedtime books
Say “good night” to the room a lá Goodnight Moon
Sing a lullaby
Give a hug and kiss

Learn how to handle your 1 year old waking up at night and not going back to sleep.

Examples of a daily routine for 1 year old toddlers

Take a look at these sample schedules to base your days on:

Example 1:

6am: Wake up, milk
8am: Eat breakfast
8:30-9:30am: Morning nap
9:30am: Bottle, run errands, play time
12pm: Lunch
1:30-3pm: Afternoon nap
5:15pm: Dinner
6pm: Bath, milk
7pm: Bedtime

Example 2:

6:30am: Wake up, milk
8am: Eat breakfast
10-11am: Morning nap
11am: Milk
12pm: Lunch
2:30-4pm: Afternoon nap
4pm: Milk
5:30pm: Dinner
7pm: Bath, brush teeth, read books
7:30pm: Bedtime

Example 3:

7am: Wake up, eat breakfast, play
9:30-10:30am: Morning nap
11:30am: Lunch
1:30-3pm: Afternoon nap
3pm: Snack
6pm: Dinner
6:30pm: Bath
7pm: Bedtime

Example 4:

7am: Wake up, eat breakfast
10am: snack
12-1:30pm: Midday nap
1pm: Lunch
4pm: Snack
6:30pm: Dinner
7:30pm: Bath
8pm: Bedtime

Example 5:

7:15am: Wake up, eat breakfast
9:30am: Snack
11:15am: Lunch
11:45am-1:30pm: Midday nap
2:30pm: Snack
6pm: Dinner
8:15pm: Milk, bedtime

Example 6:

7:30am: Wake up, milk, playtime
8:30am: Breakfast
9am: Playtime
10am: Snack
11:30am: Lunch
1-3:30pm: Midday nap
4pm: Snack
4:30pm: Playtime
6pm: Dinner
7pm: Bath, PJs, books
7:30pm: Bedtime

Example 7:

8am: Wake up, diaper change
8:30am: Breakfast
10am: Snack
10:30am: Morning nap
12pm: Lunch
2pm: Afternoon nap
4pm: Snack
6pm: Dinner
7pm: Bath
7:30pm: Bedtime

Conclusion

Whether you’ve lacked a schedule for your 1 year old all this time or are starting to adjust your schedule, knowing what to include in your daily routine can make such a difference.

No more wondering if you’re doing (or not doing) enough or second-guessing your choices. Now you have a clear path to your days—and yes, even the laundry and meals.

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