Here’s how we brought more peace into our toddler years—one soft habit at a time.

Sometimes The Days Feel Unpredictable

Life with a toddler naturally comes with a certain level of daily chaos. There are big emotions, power struggles, and unpredictable energy—and some days, it can feel completely overwhelming.

One thing I started noticing in our home was how much the rhythm of our day affected how the day felt. When our day was all over the place—we were too. But when there was a flow… a softness… a gentle rhythm to move with, everything shifted. The energy was calmer. The moments of dysregulation were easier to hold. We didn’t avoid the hard parts, but we moved through them differently.

Over time, I began to shape five daily habits that help ground us—bringing just a little more peace, presence, and connection to the everyday chaos. These are gentle. Simple. Repeatable. And they’ve truly changed the way our days feel.

Our 5 Calming Toddler Habits

Here’s what we do to help avoid overwhelm and keep us feeling regulated throughout the day.

1. We begin the day with connection—not control

We all know those mornings where everything feels rushed—get dressed, eat fast, we’re already late.But kids? They don’t move by urgency. They move by emotional safety. No matter how tired I am, I try to start our day with connection first—a snuggle on the couch, soft eye contact, a rock in the chair, or a moment with their favorite morning snack.
That very first moment shapes the energy of the entire day. It says: “You matter. I see you. We’re in this together.”

2. We say calming phrases all throughout the day

The words we hear on repeat shape the voice inside our head. So I choose soft, anchoring phrases that make my child feel safe to feel:
“It’s okay to feel upset.”
“Let’s try again.”
“I’m here with you.”
“You’re allowed to be mad—and I’m still here.”
These aren’t magic words. But they’ve become our grounding rope. They say: your feelings are safe here. And you are too.
You can read more about the 5 exact phrases I use in this post.

3. We build in quiet time—even if it’s just 10 minutes

A little space can shift everything. Whether it’s quiet play, looking at books, listening to calm music, or just sitting with a cozy blanket—this small habit helps my child begin to feel comfortable in stillness, and gives me a moment to check in with myself too.
My son isn’t a fan of the word “quiet,” so we call it “battery recharge time”—and now he actually looks forward to it.
It’s become a reset for both of us.

Bonus: We make space for silliness too.

Sometimes the best regulation comes through laughter. Dance parties, silly songs, chasing games, or making up weird animal voices—this habit brings lightness and connection in ways that even the calmest rituals can’t.

4. We keep transitions predictable and slow

Transitions are hard for toddlers—and honestly, for most of us too. That’s why we use clear, calm cues like:
“In five minutes, we’re going to start bedtime.”
“After this episode, it’s time to turn off the TV.”
“When your bath is done, we’ll put on cozy pajamas.”
It doesn’t seem like a big deal, but this habit of gentle expectation creates a rhythm that’s easier for everyone to move through. There’s less resistance, fewer surprises—and way more emotional ease.

5. We carve out intentional 1:1 time—every day

This one is sacred.
Toddlers need focused, undivided time with you to feel secure. And while it’s easy to assume you’re with them all day, there’s a big difference between being around and being present. Even 10 minutes of 1:1 time can be enough to fill their connection cup:
Letting them lead during play, reading together, listening with full attention, or simply lying next to them without your phone. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just needs to be intentional.

And at the end of the day… we come back to stillness.

We end every day with some version of a grounding ritual. A story. A song. A whispered “You are so loved.” It doesn’t always look the same, but the feeling does. That gentle moment at the end of the day reminds them:
This is your safe place. This is your home. This is your heart.

A Gentle Reminder Before You Go

These habits aren’t about perfection. They’re not meant to fix every meltdown or guarantee a calm day every time. But they’ve brought more peace into our home—little by little, moment by moment.
And if today feels hard, I want you to know:
You’re not doing it wrong.
You’re just in the middle.

The fact that you’re reading this means you’re showing up with intention—and that matters more than anything.

You deserve calm, too. You deserve a rhythm that holds you while you’re holding everyone else.

I’m so glad you’re here. And I hope this helps your days feel just a little softer.

Much Love,

Jenn