TL;DR: Solo parenting is difficult, and so are the couple of hours surrounding bedtime. If you need to solo parent during these hours, this blog offers helpful, practical tips for getting through dinner, bath, and bed. Tips include using fun mealtime essentials, interesting bath toys such as soap dough, and offering a calm-down activity such as a toddler-friendly bubble wand.
Solo Parenting During Bedtime
Bedtime: It is the busiest part of being a parent! The rush of cooking and eating dinner, followed by the chaos of bath time, and the struggle with getting into bed can be the longest hour or two of any parent’s day, especially because our own *me time* is just around the corner. It can be even more difficult when solo parenting. If you’re having a hard time managing it all by yourself, you’re not alone. Luckily, there are plenty of tips to help you along the way. Keep reading for our favorite solo parenting tips for bedtime, including how soap dough, bubbles, and other sensory toys are going to keep everyone calm and happy!
Solo Parenting Dinner Tips
When solo parenting through dinner, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Keep dinner simple if you need to. If you’re not used to solo parenting during dinner time or need to ease into it, start by keeping dinner as simple as possible. Cooking with toddlers can get distracting, and not only will a quick and simple dinner be less stressful, but it could also be safer. Opt for oven meals or even order a pizza to make it special for everyone.
- Use fun mealtime essentials. Don’t serve dinner with your usual plates and utensils. This time, use fun mealtime essentials to keep them busy during dinner time and to make eating dinner more fun.
- Involve your kids during meal prep. Are your kids grabbing your pant legs or whining to be held while you’re trying to cook? Instead of finding a distraction for them, do your best to involve them with meal prep. Teach them to set up the table, cut up veggies, or put bread in the toaster.
Solo Parenting Bath Tips
Once dinner is over and everyone is sufficiently covered in sauce, crumbs, or spilled drinks, it’s time for the bath!
A great way to make bath time enjoyable for everyone involved is to bring in some new bath essentials that will keep your kiddos happy and busy. We have an entire line of silicone bath scrubs and toys that they can play with while you sit back and relax.
One of our favorites is our Rainbow Fijits Set. Your child can count, stack, lather, and even stick their Rainbow Spots to the side of the bathtub or shower door, with no adhesive required! Our product testers loved sticking the flat, soapy side to the tub wall and watching them race to see which one makes it to the water first! Best of all, silicone is naturally odor- and mildew-resistant and can be sterilized for a deep cleaning. Each Rainbow Spots comes with 7 brightly colored discs, use with your favorite body wash to create a soothing lather and therapeutic massage.
Also, you can both make some fun soap for the bath, too! Our brand new soap dough has all the fun benefits of traditional dough play, but it turns into bubbly, usable soap when it hits water. Yes, they can even play with it in the bath!
Play it dry for soft, moldable sensory play or bring a portion into the bath for a wetter, slipperier, bubblier experience. Kids can sculpt freely or press and pop cute soap shapes with the three spring-loaded EZ Soap Stamps.
Solo Parenting Bed Tips
Bedtime while solo parenting can be tricky, especially if you have multiple children with different bedtimes. Here are some tips:
- Talk with your kids about bedtime tonight. If your partner is usually part of the bedtime routine, make sure you chat with your kids about the fact that bedtime is going to look a little different tonight. That way, you can prevent a potential tantrum while they’re already tired.
- Keep your routine simple. Rather than having a long, drawn-out bedtime routine, keep things simple tonight. Have them choose one or two books, keep things shorter, and start with the child who has the lowest needs first.
- Offer a calm-down activity. If your children are still pretty wired before bed or aren’t getting into the groove of their bedtime routine, offer them a calm-down activity such as bubbles right before bed. Our toddler-friendly bubble wand promotes deep, rhythmic breathing, and the botanical bubble solution is even indoor-friendly.