I have always wanted to be a stay at home mom! To me, there is nothing better than being with Laila and experiencing every day with her. I love to see her grow and I love to see her learn. Every day she has a new “trick” that we just obsess over. I love waking up knowing that I get to spend another day teaching my little friend about life.
Often times I get asked, “what do you do all day with a one year old?” I proceed to go down my long list of daily things I do every day and they always look at me and say, “oh wow. That’s fun.” haha! Sometimes they are being serious and other times I can tell they think I am a little crazy for loving this lifestyle. To me, it is a blessing to stay home and I try to make the best of every minute of it!
I have had a few friends ask me recently for some ideas of things to do with a baby at home all day. They told me that they have been running out of things to do! They can only read so many books and watch so many episodes of Bubble Guppies. I have been there! Haven’t we all? Luckily, I found a solution. I thought I would share a few things with you today that have helped me and Laila have fun together on a daily basis!
I will be the first to tell you that we watch TV. I don’t want to sound non-realistic. Laila is obsessed with Tangled and Sofia the First as of lately. I think it is TOTALLY fine to watch tv – but I do know the importance of turning it off and getting on the ground with your baby and playing together. There is something special that happens when we turn the tv off, turn some music on and just PLAY!
I have created A Daily Bucket List For A One-Year-Old (click here for The Daily Bucket List For A One Year Old FREE Printable ). This list has twenty (20) things to do with your baby when the day seems to be dragging. You will see simple things like play peek-a-boo and sing a song. I also added Laila’s most favorite thing in the world right now – blowing bubbles. We were literally outside for 45 minutes the other day playing with bubbles! I also put things to do out of the house like a picnic at the park, swimming at a local rec center or going to the library!
THREE things that I suggest to moms are:
1) GET READY: The first thing I do every morning is get ready! If I don’t get ready before Tyson leaves for work, I never will. I don’t mean you have to look glamorous every day, but get showered and put a little make up on. I do this and I just feel GOOD! It pumps me up and gets me going! By the end of the day, if it feels like I got NOTHING done… at least I showered! 🙂
2) GET OUT OF THE HOUSE: Laila and I have left the house almost DAILY for the past year. Since she was just a few weeks old, I have made it a priority to get out and do something! Whether we just go to the park down the street or go “window” shopping (I promise I don’t buy anything 😉 ) we get out of the house! It may be more for my sanity, than for Laila’s, but it is important. When we get out, I feel like I am a better mom (happier, more patience) and that is what we all should strive for every day.
3) BE FLEXIBLE: Understand you can’t do everything! You just can’t. There isn’t enough time in a day for us to get EVERYTHING done that we want to. I heard an amazing talk by Meg Johnson at the BYBC 2014 {who is incredible by the way!!}. She said to STOP making a “TO-DO” list at the beginning of the day. What we really should be doing is at the END of the day, look back and see everything you DID do and call it your “TA-DA” list. I love that! Things come up. Kids get sick. Kids get tired. Kids don’t want to cooperate. And that’s okay! Kids will be kids and we should let them be little. If you look back at the day and feel like you didn’t do anything, you actually did everything – you were a mom!
I love schedules and I think I am raising my daughter the same way! I created Laila her own little schedule for the week and every day we put stickers over the things we do. She loves stickers…I love schedules…. so its a win win for both parties!
Here is Laila putting the stickers on her chart – she seriously LOVES it! Sometimes the stickers don’t exactly make it over the activity that she accomplished, but that just makes it more fun. She is learning 🙂
Click HERE for a Blank Weekly Checklist FREE Printable for your children that you can print off and write your daily activities on for your child. Grab some stickers from the Dollar Store and you are set!
I know that staying home with a baby {or babies} can be the hardest job at times, but I also know it can be the most rewarding. By creating a fun environment and playing with our children, we will be able to make the most treasured memories for them {and US} and make EVERY day, the BEST day for our families!
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Danielle is the owner of Today's the Best Day. She strives to provide creative and uplifting content in order to enrich the parenting experience for women everywhere. Danielle hopes to help you and your family to make every day the best day! 
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Khadejah Stegall
February 19, 2017 at 4:16 am (8 years ago)This was really good advice, especially the first one. Getting up and getting dressed does make me feel a whole lot better even if I don’t do anything.
rachel
February 18, 2017 at 10:06 am (8 years ago)you seem like a wonderful mom. and through trial and error u are figuring it out. just like i am trying to do. (its how i ended up here). best wishes. i love the calender btw. and the going out everyday. i think i might steal those ideas. even though it is freezing now. im going to still push to do it
Jordan
February 7, 2017 at 3:44 am (8 years ago)I love this! You have great pointers… getting up and getting ready and leaving the house is EXACTLY what I do on days I feel my best! Even if nothing got done!
Ashley
January 9, 2016 at 3:19 pm (9 years ago)Thank you for posting this! Man, the winter can be brutal. I appreciate the suggestions- I haven’t tried the library with my 10 month old, but today is the day!
Mama Mermy
October 29, 2015 at 2:56 pm (9 years ago)Thank you so much for this post! Being a stay-at-home makes me feel incredibly happy and fulfilled. My son just turned one and both of us were getting a bit tired of the same-old games and toys. I now have some great ideas and lists (like you, I love schedules and lists!), and a great message to keep in mind: completing a “ta-da” list every night! If it’s alright with you, I would like to reference your site at some point on my own little space. Thank you once again!
Tiffany
October 3, 2015 at 3:46 pm (9 years ago)Thank you for this post. I stumbled upon while googling what to do with my 11 month old niece (Lucy) and this list was super helpful. I took her to market and she had a blast smiling at people and even picked out a flower for her mommy. I have her again on Monday, I’m thinking about going to the library.
Jennifer
September 24, 2015 at 6:01 pm (9 years ago)Thanks for this! I’m having trouble keeping my 1 year old twins occupied. We live in Florida, so it’s either been too hot or too rainy to get out much
Emily
February 3, 2016 at 3:47 pm (9 years ago)I live in Florida too and I agree, it’s usually too hot and humid to have fun outside. Just going for walks and car rides makes me and my son both cranky from being sweaty and hot. Yuck.
So we have to find fun things to do inside, which makes us stir crazy!
Meriem
January 7, 2017 at 3:06 am (8 years ago)What about our winter and cold days here in the east coast 😀
Lanisa staladi
August 6, 2015 at 1:14 am (9 years ago)Love it🌏 I live in nz😍
Danny Ac
July 13, 2015 at 11:03 pm (9 years ago)Hi! I love your story! First of all because I’m also named Daniela and my daughter name’s Laila so I found it amazing and adorable I spent all the time at home with her and right now I fell tired and out of ideas, so I tried to find a school for her but with your ideas I prefer to stay at home and share a our time! Thank you! The only problem I found is getting out of home daily because we live in a small town and there’s nothing to look or go so I have to plan something else
Daddy
July 11, 2015 at 8:45 am (9 years ago)I know this is a mummy to do list but i’m looking for inspiration for my one year old too. Some days I just don’t know what do to with him, he’s a handful. Thanks for this post helped me a lot.
– Daddy
Meredith.jaques@yahoo.com
March 21, 2015 at 9:01 am (10 years ago)I can’t pull up any of the lists or charts. Could you possibly email them to me please? I have a 2 yr old and 8 month old so I need all the help with creative ideas that I can get!!!!!! Thank you!!
Lakisha Parker
February 11, 2015 at 8:35 pm (10 years ago)Hey Danielle! Great story, thanks so much for sharing! I will certainly take this into consideration when I stay at home with my little girl real soon! 🙂
Thanks Again!
Stephanie
January 14, 2015 at 1:40 am (10 years ago)So just found that I had pinned this a while ago! This is so helpful right now. Excited to print this out! You rock as always 🙂
Kristen Brown
January 1, 2015 at 4:01 am (10 years ago)Another fun thing my little explorer is obsessed with is his exploration bin. A large rubber bin filled with dry beans and hidden “treasures” like those little plastic animal toys, cars, army guys etc then we have sand toys to mess around with in there. It keeps him busy for hrs and contains the tornado that is Donovyn. But also, we need to chill. moms should not keep our kids entertained every second of the day. It’s an important life skill to learn to deal with bordom and entertain yourself. especially when you start to have multiple kids, if your first is used to constant entertainment, it’s extra hard on them to deal. I’m with you and super organized with my daily lists and schedules, but I make sure the schedule involves personal play! Love this article!
Emily
February 3, 2016 at 3:55 pm (9 years ago)That’s a good idea. Hunter made his own exploration box by shoving random things in his toy bin but that’s a good way for him to entertain himself. Find little treasures and random things from around the house that’s he’s actually allowed to play with and explore. And your comment made me feel less guilty for having him play by himself and conquer boredom alone. As the youngest child I always had someone there to play with me; but now I am 9 months pregnant and just can’t play with him 24/7 like he would love! Momma doesn’t have the energy.
Brittney
November 14, 2014 at 10:24 pm (10 years ago)Love this. I started the awesome opportunity to work from home recently ( hardly any hours) , and I feel we have been in such a funk! Love these tips. I often use the vegas heat, but now that its getting nice out we need to get moving! Its hard when all my friends work :/
Kelly
October 16, 2014 at 2:49 am (10 years ago)Love this! 🙂
Lauren Tamm
August 17, 2014 at 10:52 am (10 years ago)As a mom of a one year old, these are such awesome tips! He is definitely at the stage where he needs some excitement outside of the house. And we ADORE schedules in our house! There is nothing that keeps me more sane in life than a good schedule. I never thought of creating a little chart with stickers for him to participate too. I’m excited to try that!
Julie Hogg
August 1, 2014 at 3:13 pm (10 years ago)Thanks so much for this, I’ve been going stir crazy with my 1 year old twins these last few rainy days. Defo going to print and do the sticker thing! Fab!
Sondra
July 9, 2014 at 7:11 am (10 years ago)These are awesome! Making a list like that and having a visual reminder is a great idea.
I just wish we could actually go to the park or anywhere outdoors right now! Summers in AZ are horrible! Although, monsoon season started up and I let my almost 3 year old stay up past her bedtime to experience the rare rain 🙂
Danielle Davis
July 9, 2014 at 6:25 pm (10 years ago)I totally know what you mean Sondra! It is just so hot here in Las Vegas too! I wish that we could be spending the summer out at the park but have to stay inside in the cool AC the majority of the time! Thanks so much for commenting today!
erika
March 6, 2014 at 5:36 pm (11 years ago)I can’t seem to download the blank sheet is there a way you could email it to me please? I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you 🙂
Erika
Lisa Jones
February 27, 2014 at 6:58 am (11 years ago)Great Tips You So Organized, Thank You For Sharing!
Me And My Mini Me
February 27, 2014 at 2:12 am (11 years ago)Omg I love her outfit and those are great ideas. Thank you for sharing
Valerie
February 26, 2014 at 11:38 pm (11 years ago)This was FANTASTIC, absolutely fantastic. Thanks so much for sharing. I have a 3 mos old and I have to admit at times in this world of pinterest crafts, and games, and educational activities and outrageous ideas of things to do with kids sometimes I simply wonder what to do with her. lol. This reminds me that even the simplest things are major events to her and something to enjoy for me. I love your chart idea. It’s a great way to make things like naptime and snack time exciting in the future for my little one. **Totally pinning this post. 😉
Daniela
February 26, 2014 at 9:34 pm (11 years ago)Love this! What a cute checklist, too. Thanks lady! xo
Daniela
http://iputabirdonit.blogspot.com
Crystal
February 26, 2014 at 9:00 pm (11 years ago)Danielle!! I love this so much! Love the bucket list and have already done several with Lizzie today!
And that sticker chart!! I’ve never seen that idea before!! LOVE LOVE LOVE!
Danielle Davis
February 26, 2014 at 9:12 pm (11 years ago)Oh Crystal!! You are so kind! Thank you!! Just trying to be more like YOU!
Angel
February 26, 2014 at 8:50 pm (11 years ago)I so needed this today! I’m going Cailou crazy!! Not sure if that show is in the States or not….but I LOVE the Ta-Da list! I must do that instead of beating myself up for everything that doesn’t get done. Staying at home is a blessing 🙂
Danielle Davis
February 26, 2014 at 9:12 pm (11 years ago)Oh yes… we have Cailou!! haha! Luckily, I haven’t introduced him to my little one yet 🙂 haha! Isn’t that Ta-Da list the best?! It it my favorite thing!
Stephanie
February 26, 2014 at 8:47 pm (11 years ago)Seriously you are the cutest! and Where are Laila’s pants from in that last photo???!
Danielle Davis
February 26, 2014 at 9:11 pm (11 years ago)Thanks for your support girl!! Laila’s pants are from Gap!! Don’t you love them?! I got them around Valentine’s Day though so if they still have them, they are probably a killer deal on sale!!