Navigating the Newborn + Toddler Chaos (While Still Finding Joy)

There’s a special kind of madness reserved for moms of a newborn and a toddler.

One child needs milk. The other wants a snack. The baby pooped again. The toddler threw your makeup brush in the toilet. It’s 8:17 a.m. You haven’t had coffee yet. Your hair is 93% dry shampoo. And you’re wondering: am I doing this right?

Let me say it louder for the moms in the back: you are doing an amazing job.

This season is pure chaos, yes—but it’s also pure magic. You just have to know where to look.

1. Micro-Moments Are Everything

When you’ve got two tiny humans depending on you, you stop chasing “perfect” days. You start chasing moments.

• That second the baby smiles at their big sibling

• A few quiet minutes while both kids nap

• The 3-minute shower you got with no one crying

• A bite of your favorite snack that no one else touched

These are the moments that hold you together. They matter.

2. Choose One Win Each Day

Repeat after me: You don’t have to do it all.

You just have to pick one thing.

Maybe today your win is everyone brushed their teeth. Or you got outside for a walk. Or you ate lunch before 2 p.m. Whatever it is—celebrate it.

Solo moms don’t need mile-long to-do lists. We need grace.

3. Let Go of the Pressure to “Do It Right”

You’re going to get opinions—from family, from social media, from your own inner critic. But here’s the truth: there is no one way to do this.

Some days will be full of connection. Some will be full of screen time. Some days you’ll cry in the bathroom. Some days you’ll dance in the kitchen. It’s all normal. It’s all part of the rhythm.

Let go of the pressure to be a “perfect mom.” Be your version of a good mom. That’s the one your kids need.

4. Babywearing = Survival Strategy

I don’t know who invented baby carriers, but I owe them a gift basket. Babywearing gave me back my hands—and my sanity.

Wear the newborn. Chase the toddler. It’s your best bet for getting through things like:

• Making breakfast

• Grocery shopping

• Existing

Bonus? It creates bonding for baby and keeps your toddler close. It’s a win-win.

Final Thought: You’re Already Winning

This season is wild. It’s emotional. It’s unpredictable.

But mama… it’s yours.

You’re not failing—you’re just doing the hardest job with the least amount of sleep. The joy might not be loud, but it’s there—in the giggles, the snuggles, the quiet pride that only you feel when the house is finally still.

You’re not just surviving.

You’re growing.

You’re glowing.

And you’re not alone.