Did you know the average toddler can take between 1,500 to 2,000 steps per hour—which is more than most adults walk in a day?
Now imagine trying to manage that whirlwind of energy while running a business, meeting deadlines, and maintaining a shred of sanity in your living space.
Welcome to my life—and maybe yours too.
As a mom of two under five and a full-time entrepreneur, I’ve learned that keeping your home semi-sane when you’re chasing a toddler isn’t about perfection. It’s about practical hacks, grace, and coffee (lots of it).
If you’ve ever tried writing an email with one hand while using the other to fish LEGO pieces out of the dog bowl… this blog’s for you.
The Reality Check: You Can’t Do It All (And That’s Okay)
Let’s bust the biggest myth right now—you can’t do it all at once, and anyone who says they do is either lying or has a live-in nanny, a housekeeper, and a personal assistant named Siri.
The goal here isn’t to have a Pinterest-perfect home. It’s to create a space where both your business and your babies can co-exist without setting off daily chaos alarms.
And for that, we need a few strategies.
1. Create Micro-Zones That Work for Both Worlds
Toddler-friendly meets work-from-home zones
Rather than having a single “office” and “playroom,” I created micro-zones in my home. My living room corner doubles as my workspace with a desk on one end and a reading/play nook on the other. I can answer client calls while my toddler flips through picture books (or at least tries to).
Tip: Use cubed storage, low shelves, or labeled bins to keep toys organized. When things have a place, it’s easier to reset your sanity by the end of the day.
2. Use a “One-Touch” Rule to Tidy Up
It’s impossible to deep clean your house daily when you’re chasing kids and clients, but what works wonders is the one-touch rule.
What’s that? Every item you touch, you deal with it then and there.
Cracker box on the couch? Back in the pantry.
Shoes in the hallway? Straight to the rack.
Toys on the counter? Back in the bin.
The idea is to reduce visual clutter and micro-anxieties that build up when stuff is everywhere.
3. Embrace “Good Enough” Cleaning
Forget the spotless bathroom floors—aim for hygiene over sparkle.
I schedule quick daily resets rather than full-day cleaning marathons.
- 10-minute sweep after lunch
- Wipe kitchen counters after every prep
- One load of laundry folded before bed
- Baby wipes for literally everything (don’t judge)
If I manage those four things, I call it a win.
Bonus? My toddler loves mimicking me, so “cleaning” often turns into a pretend game for her.
4. Set Business Hours Around Nap Time (But Stay Flexible)
As much as I’d love to work 9-to-5, toddlers don’t care about deadlines. So I work in nap-time blocks and bedtime hours.
- Nap time (1.5 hours): Deep work (client calls, writing, proposals)
- Evening (2 hours): Admin, emails, content scheduling
- Early morning (optional): Strategy & planning (if they sleep in, hallelujah!)
And guess what? If a meltdown happens mid-Zoom, I just say, “Excuse the background opera, that’s my in-house music director.”
5. Toy Rotation = Less Mess, More Engagement
Toddlers don’t need 100 toys—they need 10 that feel new.
We use a toy rotation system where we keep most toys stored away and bring out 1-2 sets per week.
It keeps things fresh for the little ones and manageable for me. No more stepping on Peppa Pig figurines at 2 a.m.
This has helped reduce daily cleanup time and improves their focus during play.
6. Meal Prep Like a Lazy Genius
Meal planning doesn’t need to be gourmet. It needs to be repeatable.
I meal prep on Sundays using a “2-2-2 method”:
- 2 proteins
- 2 carbs
- 2 veggie sides
Mix and match throughout the week. It saves me from midday kitchen chaos and lets me stay nourished during work marathons.
I also batch prep toddler meals like veggie muffins, cut fruits, and pasta packs—so snack-time meltdowns are minimal.
7. Digital Tools Are Your Mom-Hacks
Want to stay sane?
Automate what you can.
- Google Calendar: Sync toddler nap times with client tasks
- Trello/Notion: Business + personal to-dos in one place
- Alexa or Siri: Reminders for everything, from bills to diaper restocks
- Instacart or Blinkit: Because dragging toddlers through grocery aisles is a full-contact sport
Work smarter, not harder.
8. Tag-Team with Your Partner (Or Build Your Village)
No one raises a child or runs a business alone.
I’ve learned to delegate without guilt—sometimes that’s asking my husband to take toddler duty so I can finish a deck, or calling in grandma to babysit for two hours.
And if family isn’t nearby, build your village: neighbors, fellow mompreneurs, or even a trusted sitter.
Help is not weakness. It’s wisdom.
9. Self-Care Doesn’t Have to Be Fancy
Sometimes my self-care is hiding in the bathroom with chocolate. Other times, it’s journaling with lavender oil before bed.
You don’t need an elaborate ritual. You just need something that fills your cup—because a burnt-out mom can’t pour into a business or a baby.
Whether it’s 10 minutes of yoga, a power nap, or singing to Taylor Swift in the shower—take it.
10. Redefine “Balance” Every Week
There’s no one-size-fits-all. Some weeks, the house will be spotless. Others, it will look like a snack bomb exploded in every room.
And that’s okay.
Balance isn’t about equal parts—it’s about shifting your energy based on priorities that week.
Running a home while chasing toddlers and building a business? It’s less of a balance and more of a beautiful juggle.
Final Thoughts
Running a business with toddlers underfoot isn’t a test—it’s a journey of learning, adapting, and occasionally hiding snacks in the laundry room.
What I’ve found is that how to keep your home semi-sane when you’re chasing a toddler starts with accepting that chaos will knock—your job is to greet it with humor, hacks, and heart.
Some days, your toddler will smear yogurt on the wall while you’re on a client call. Other days, you’ll close your laptop knowing you nailed both the pitch and bedtime snuggles.
Whatever the day looks like, remember: you’re doing better than you think.
So the next time you ask yourself how to keep your home semi-sane when you’re chasing a toddler, know this—it’s not about perfect systems. It’s about small wins, forgiving messes, and knowing that even amidst the madness… you’re still the CEO of both your business and your family.
