How to Survive (and Enjoy) Pregnancy with a Toddler

Going through pregnancy with a toddler brings a whole deeper meaning to the word “exhaustion”.  While you are trying to get extra sleep, extra food, and stay sane, your little one still needs you.

There is no shame in having a hard time being pregnant while parenting a toddler. It is totally normal and understandable. My pregnancies with one and two toddlers were a lot trickier than my first pregnancy. I had to rely on friends, family, and God to help me and my kids get through it.

Here are some things I learned that can help you when you are pregnant while taking care of a toddler (or two):

Tips for Surviving Pregnancy with a Toddler

1) Pray

Remember to involve God in your journey. You cannot do this on your own, and you shouldn’t. 

Tell Him how you are feeling, what you need, and ask Him for guidance. Be bold and ask God for miracles, then keep a look out for them, however big or small they may be. 

You might also enjoy: Peace in Christ During Pregnancy and Birth

2) Prioritize sleep

Pregnancy with a toddler automatically means you will be tired a lot of the time.

My first two pregnancies I always felt guilty for being so tired and tried to fight it. I didn’t let myself sleep as much as I needed, and it made life a lot more challenging. 

So please learn from my mistakes and PRIORITIZE SLEEP. 

When your toddler naps, you nap. If you are tired at 9am and your toddler is running wild, turn on a show so you can sleep. If they really need you and won’t let you sleep, lay down and have them cuddle with you while you read books or play together. 

Go to bed early even if the house is a wreck, and let yourself sleep in as much as possible. If you’re still tired when your toddler wakes you up, have them snuggle in bed with you.

Getting sufficient sleep will help both you and your baby. SO SLEEP AND REST AS MUCH AS YOU NEED.

3) Accept that the house will often be a wreck

When I say to prioritize sleep, I mean let the house be a disaster if that’s what it takes. I know it can be frustrating to live in a disastrous house, but I promise it is only temporary, just like pregnancy.  

Yes, it is good to have a clean and organized home. But you cannot do everything, nor should you expect yourself to.

When the house gets to be unbearably messy and you don’t have energy, remember to be grateful for what you have. (Husband, children, soon-to-be newborn baby, a home, etc.)

You will have the chance to clean again, but while you can’t, let it be messy. A messy house does not make you a bad mom.

4) Ask for outside help

Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and not just from your husband. When people offer to help, accept that help and tell them what you need (without shame). Allowing others to serve you will often do them as much good as it will for you.

I often relied on God for help during my pregnancy with our third child. In response, He frequently supplied me with help and strength in the form of family members or friends. There were so many times that people offered to watch our kids or provide a meal, and when I accepted, it made my load feel lighter and more bearable.

I have also relied on the help of friends and family members (both paid and non-paid) to clean our house. Even if it was for an hour a week, it made a huge difference. It was wonderful to feel like it wasn’t all up to me and my husband to keep up with the messes. I felt like I could handle our home more and felt a lot more peace.

If you need to pay for help, then do it! You are worth it.

5) Eat healthy to the best of your ability

While it might be tricky to eat healthy during pregnancy while caring for a toddler, remember that what you eat will affect how you feel. 

I noticed that I am a lot more sensitive to foods during pregnancy. If I eat too much sugar, I often feel overtired or anxious. When I prioritize vegetables and healthy proteins, I have more energy and my body feels happier. 

Find out what your body needs (not just what it wants) and nourish it with all the good and wholesome foods you can. You will be a lot more equipped to handle the journey of pregnancy with a toddler if you can do this.

Need help with pregnancy-friendly food ideas? Meghan Parkes’ book, First Time Mom’s Healthy Eating Guide & Pregnancy Cookbook (pictured below) is a great resource you can check out, even if you’re not a first time mom. You can find additional books on healthy eating during pregnancy here.

6) Embrace the days you feel good

There will be awful, hard, painful, exhausting days during pregnancy with a toddler. That is to be expected. 

However, there will also be days that you feel great and are full of joy and energy. When those days come, embrace them fully! 

Take advantage of this time to do what you feel like doing, whether it be cleaning, nesting, having fun with your toddler, or spending time with your husband. 

Make the most of these precious moments, because pregnancy can still be fun.

You might also enjoy: How to Get Chores Done With a Toddler (age appropriate chores for 1-3 year olds!)

7) Enjoy your kid(s) before the baby comes

Whether you just have one child or more, take this time to treasure these moments with them before the baby comes. Soon they will be a big brother or sister, and they won’t seem as little to you anymore. 

So soak up cuddles, story times, trips to the park, etc. Soak it all up and remember that they are only this little right now. 

You can still enjoy this moment of motherhood while awaiting the arrival of your baby.

8) Talk to your child(ren) often about the baby

One of my favorite things to do during pregnancy with a toddler is talk to my toddler about the baby I’m carrying. Here are some things you can do with them to get them excited:

• Show them your belly and explain that there is a baby brother or sister  inside.
• Let them feel the baby kick if they are interested. My 2-year-old doesn’t quite understand this concept, but my 4-year-old loves it! She also loves knowing if the baby is sleeping or if the baby is moving around.
• Show them pictures and/or videos of babies in and outside the womb.
  • The ovia pregnancy app is one of my favorite tools for pregnancy with a toddler! While it is not specifically designed for kids, it is fun for them to see how big the baby’s hands and feet are getting and 3D cartoon pictures of what the baby might look like currently. My 2-year-old asks me almost every day if she can look at the baby’s hands and feet. When I show her on my phone, she will put her hand or foot on the picture to compare how big her’s are to the baby’s. It is so precious!
•  Talk to the baby often, and let your children talk to the baby too. They can start to bond with their new sibling now!
• Read books to your kids about pregnancy, babies, and becoming a big brother or sister. Here’s a few I recommend:
  • I’m a Big Sister Now, by Joanna Cole. My girls love this book! It is great for toddlers and helps them know a little about what to expect when the baby comes.
  • I’m a Big Brother Now, by Joanna Cole.
  • Nine Months: Before Baby is Born, by Miranda Paul. Lots of people say this helped their young children throughout the whole pregnancy.

You Can Do It!

Although pregnancy with a toddler will have its challenges, you are capable enough and strong enough to do it.

Reach out to help from God and people you trust for help, and remember that it will all be worth it. Pretty soon, your toddler will have a friend to play with and your family will feel more complete.

So keep moving forward in faith, and don’t give up even when it’s hard.

You might also enjoy: Adjusting to Life with a Newborn: 12 ways to enjoy it