Hellobee Boards Topic: How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?

Hellobee Boards Topic: How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 02 May 2026 09:08:49 +0000 BabyBoecksMom on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319684 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 13:26:52 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 2319684@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Divide and conquer!! In the mornings, it depends. Usually, I start getting the girls up and fed while my husband showers. And he'll finish getting them dressed while I do my hair and makeup. Eating seems to be the longest part of that routine. So lately, we've been trying to get ourselves up a little earlier so that we can just get ourselves ready and have the girls fed at daycare. At night, DH cooks dinner while I play with them. Then it's bath and bed for both girls. I do the bath and we switch off which parent puts which child down. tiramisu on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319679 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 13:24:44 +0000 tiramisu 2319679@https://boards.hellobee.com/ mornings - DH changes her diaper and gives her a snack before he leaves for work (she eats her real breakfast at daycare). I get her dressed, food for the day packed and drop her off at daycare on my way to work. afternoon/evening - I pick up LO from daycare, play with her and give her dinner. DH gets home around 6, but has more work to do. I bathe LO then she plays with us while we eat dinner. I brush her teeth, put on pajamas, read stories and then DH puts her in the crib. MtnBiker on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319671 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 13:21:59 +0000 MtnBiker 2319671@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We wing it based on work schedules with the exception of bath and bed. I am the primary for bath time (I don't mind getting soaked), and then DH is the bed time specialist. Something about him puts babies right to sleep. My FIL has the same talent. Mae on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319645 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 13:08:29 +0000 Mae 2319645@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Unless DH has to go to work early, he gets LO up and changes her diaper and gets her breakfast. Depending on how fast she eats sometimes he finishes breakfast with her or sometimes I take over so he can get ready for work. I do the rest of the day since I SAH (although when I get a job I will probably leave for work before she wakes so he'll be in charge of getting her dressed and to daycare). When he gets home he watches her while I make dinner and we eat together and generally play together until bedtime. We take turns with bedtime. Dandelion on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319641 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 13:06:43 +0000 Dandelion 2319641@https://boards.hellobee.com/ DH doesn't most of it now that we've switched roles. I'm WOHM and he's SAHD, so he does the majority of everything when I have to work early. He gets them up, gets M changed and takes D to school and does all things for M until I get home around 5 pm. If I don't work early, and just have to be at work at noon, I'll do all the morning things with M while he takes D to school. jape14 on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319553 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 12:30:31 +0000 jape14 2319553@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Generally DH does mornings & I do afternoons/dinner. We both do bedtime. It works out like this: morning - DH gets DS up, changes diaper, brings him downstairs and makes/gives him breakfast, makes bottles/sippy cups to take to nanny, gets dressed, and takes to nanny share or does nanny handoff (usually spanning hours of 6:30-8:15). he also walks the dog & takes DS with him. after work - I pick up/hand off from nanny around 4:45. I put away stuff from his bag/lunch, play/entertain/walk the dog with him in tow, and make his dinner. I usually feed him dinner around 5:45-6 while I wait for DH to get home. bedtime routine for DS is around 6:15-6:45pm - DH and I do that jointly - he bathes DS every other night while I get out PJs, outfit for next day, fold DS's laundry, etc. we put him in PJs together, one of us gives him a bottle while the other reads bedtime stories, then one person sings/rocks DS a little and puts him in the crib and the other person goes down & starts our dinner (we usually switch off although I tend to hog the snuggling portion of the evening). after DS goes to bed - we cook together, I do laundry, I pack lunch & snacks for DS, make sure his bag is stocked (diapers, wipes, extra outfit, lovey, sleep sack, sippy cups, etc.). generally DH likes to handle meal prep/cleanup and I tend to do organizational things more. looch on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319552 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 12:30:02 +0000 looch 2319552@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Other than giving my son a bath at night, I don't do anything during the week. We wake him up minutes before we leave in the morning and my mom does everything. Now, if I could only convince her to come to my house, lol! Mrs. Pickle on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319550 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 12:28:59 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2319550@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I nurse DD and DH changes most of her diapers. We both snuggle and soothe her. She's only 5 days old so there isn't much to do right now. :) rachiecakes on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319535 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 12:22:18 +0000 rachiecakes 2319535@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I leave for work before anyone is up (or J is just waking up). DH is with J from wakeup until 12:30/1pm when he goes to work and J goes to preschool I pick up from preschool at 5pm We get home and I do dinner, bath, bed, etc. I usually end up going to bed around the same time as J (9-9:30), since we have a 3-floor townhouse, I like being on the same floor. DH gets home between 9 and 10pm and still has to do work on his computer. Mrs. Champagne on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319534 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 12:21:42 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2319534@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I stay home so I do everything all day. When DH comes home he pretty much takes over everything, but we are all there together. He has always done bath and bedtime unless he has to study. Truth Bombs on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319526 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 12:14:07 +0000 Truth Bombs 2319526@https://boards.hellobee.com/ LO is usually still asleep when I go to work so hubs does mornings. But I leave out clothes the night before, and she eats breakfast at day care so it's mostly just getting her dressed and ready and then dropping her off at school. I do pick up and handle dinner and bath time and then hubs usually gets home close to her bed time. They play for a little while and then whoever she asks for does her bed time.... it switches back and forth and sometimes we do it together. I handle most of the bigger picture things like doing all her laundry, and staying on top of keeping her room and toys organized, and she has everything she needs for school. But my husband is so much better than I am at really engaging her with fun and creative play. So we each have our areas of strength. Will be interested to see how things change when LO2 arrives in December. MrsSRS on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319523 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 12:13:07 +0000 MrsSRS 2319523@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I do everything for both LOs, basically. DH leaves before the kids are up. DH gives DS some attention when he gets home from work (right before bedtime) and does DS's bath every night that he's home in time. When he is off work he is more hands on...but not until we wake him up! mrs.shinerbock on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319512 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 12:07:42 +0000 mrs.shinerbock 2319512@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Weekdays if DH is home: DH does all the morning stuff if LO wakes up before the nanny comes, which is pretty rare, but I leave the house before either of them are up. I come home and play with LO until DH is home, then I get dinner started. DH sits with her to eat and I will sit and eat with them or will prep food for the next day. We both take her upstairs and DH will do bath (a few times a week) while I clean up the nursery, restock supplies, and get pjs and books ready to go. We do diapers and pjs together, read a few books, and then DH goes downstairs to do dishes while I sing to LO and put her to bed. DH travels about 1 week a month and plays sports with his buddies 2 nights a week if he is in town, so those nights, I do it all. On weekends, DH gets up with LO and does breakfast while I sleep in. He takes her to church on Sunday mornings. Then we pretty evenly split the rest of the day. winniebee on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319506 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 12:05:16 +0000 winniebee 2319506@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My husband is leaving for work right when the kids are waking up, or often he is already out the door for work when the kids wake up. So, I do everything for both of them except weekends when its more even. Including getting them up and changed, making breakfast, making lunch for the 3 year old for school. The nanny gets here at 7:30 on school days and I need to leave at 7:45 to get the older to school....but she cleans up from breakfast and does dishes once the baby is down for his nap. As far as evenings....I make dinner 90% of the time. My husband gets home at dinner time. He bathes both kids while I do the dishes. I put baby to bed, he puts big kid to bed. gingerbebe on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319496 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 11:59:33 +0000 gingerbebe 2319496@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Unless work intervenes DH gets up with DS every morning and he changes the giant overnight poop diaper, changes him into clothes, and brings him to his chair while I snooze for an extra few minutes and get DS' breakfast. On days DH works from home he takes DS to the park for about an hour while I eat and clean up. He also changes all the dirty diapers on the days he's home. DH does bath time and most bedtimes and gets DS up from all his naps when he is home. Mrs. Bee on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319489 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 11:56:14 +0000 Mrs. Bee 2319489@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Mr. Bee does mornings which means he wakes up with the kids, makes the breakfast, packs lunch if I haven't, then gets Charlie dressed and off to school. Olive's school starts later so I get her dressed and off to school. Then I pick her up (her school ends 2 hours earlier than Charlie's after school) and Mr. Bee picks up Charlie. I usually pack lunches but have been slacking lately. I cook dinner every night. He does bathtime (2-3 times a week), and I put Charlie down while he puts Olive down. If you factor that I pick up Olive early, I guess it evens out. But in general he does a little more childcare. ShootingStar on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319479 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 11:50:58 +0000 ShootingStar 2319479@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Me: - Mornings solo (so diaper, dress, feed breakfast, pack lunch) - ~1/3 of bedtimes - Most of the baby laundry DH: - Plays with DS while I cook dinner (unless he's grilling) - Bathtime - ~2/3 of bedtime Everything else isn't really "assigned" it's just whoever's available. DH sometimes washes D's daycare stuff (blanket and pillow case) and may wash clothes if he thinks of it. But generally since I dress him in the morning, I do the laundry and I'm almost always the one to put it away. I think we're pretty 50/50 in our house. I do end up doing more childcare while DH does other stuff around the house, but I'm ok with that. He also does the dishes, which I hate. Mamasig on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319467 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 11:45:51 +0000 Mamasig 2319467@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I do most of it. I get them ready for daycare and do baths and bedtime. Part of it is because of my husband's shift schedule. He isn't home for a lot of this. But partially it's because he doesn't think of these things. He'll be too busy playing with them to realize it's bath time, etc. But he does help feed them, change diapers, etc. Eta - It does often get frustrating. But I've noticed as we add kids and they get older, he does more. I also think that because we have boys, he will do more for them later on. I don't think it will ever be 50/50 though. hellobeeboston on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319451 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 11:39:32 +0000 hellobeeboston 2319451@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We split everything 50/50.... We have a newborn now, so I'm doing more with him since I'm nursing, but he's picking up on doing more with our toddler. Thrifty Mama on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319432 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 11:31:59 +0000 Thrifty Mama 2319432@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I do mostly everything. My husband does work, and is still in the 50s time frame where the wife should be the one taking care of the kids. I get overwhelmed by it sometimes and ask him for help. He will help about 80% of the time. oliviaoblivia on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319361 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 11:11:25 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2319361@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @ksnow: it's such a pain. This morning I got a 2.75 year old and a nine month old out the door while 26 weeks pregnant before he was even dressed. "I'm just finishing my coffee" I couldn't tell you the last time I finished my coffee, let alone had a sip before it was cold. Mrs. Oatmeal on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319360 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 11:11:11 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 2319360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I wake up and nurse the baby, then leave him in bed with DH while I shower. I take both kids downstairs, make breakfast and get them dressed. DH will make breakfast if he has a later morning. When I'm working, he takes K to daycare, but now that I'm on mat leave I do most of the morning stuff. We trade off for bath time/dinner dishes, and he puts K to bed while I get M ready for the night. I do all newborn night wakings, and he does about half of K's (infrequent) wake ups. Mrs Green Grass on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319353 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 11:10:04 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2319353@https://boards.hellobee.com/ DH does mornings (after I've left for work): dressed, fed, lunch packed <--somehow I shifted this to him! I do afternoons: pick up, dinner When he's home which is usually about 5 nights a week, we split bedtime into two parts, him then me. I often will do bath and he will clean up dishes instead. He's a pretty good partner in all of this stuff. nana87 on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319302 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 10:54:44 +0000 nana87 2319302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ On daycare days, dh packs her lunch while I get her up/nurse, and usually changes diaper/gets her dressed while I dress, though I always pick out her clothes. It varies who sits with her while she eats-- I do if he's out walking the dogs, he does if he's back. I do drop off since dh works from home, so mornings are all about getting me and lo ready. I do pick up as well, and we're back home by 3:30 but dh works until 5, so I get her a snack and play with her. I usually get her dinner ready, though dh makes adult dinner and sometimes she eats then as well. Baths are every other night, and usually I do bath but not always. dh usually dries her off and puts her pjs on. I nurse, and then dh rocks/pats her until she falls asleep. Littlebit on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319298 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 10:53:59 +0000 Littlebit 2319298@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It's pretty 50/50. We split up most things. For example our dinner/bedtime routine: -I feed our LO dinner while my husband washes bottles (this is almost over with - yay bottle weaning). -My husband gives him a bath while I clean up from dinner. -My husband gets him in a diaper/pjs/sleep sack while I get the bottle ready and fill the crib with pacis. -I give the bottle and cuddle to sleep while my husband gets started on our dinner. catlady on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319249 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 10:31:55 +0000 catlady 2319249@https://boards.hellobee.com/ - DH gets up with her and gets her breakfast while I sleep a little longer and shower (this can be an hour long) - I watch her and get her dressed while he showers - I drop her at daycare and pick her up again, then watch her at home until DH arrives (usually not long) - We both do dinner, play with her a bit, then do bath and bedtime together - I still nurse her before bed (hoping to wean soon) This sounds like an even split when I write it out, but DH really does more. The hour in the morning is rough on him. I need to step it up but I am pregnant so he has been letting me sleep longer. He also does most of the cooking for us (although I am usually watching LO while he cooks). ksnow on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319239 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 10:27:36 +0000 ksnow 2319239@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @oliviaoblivia: I feel your pain my DH is same way. He's like "I can't pick clothes...I don't know how to do hair..etc etc...." figure it out! She's almost 3 and I'm pregnant too so you best start figuring some of this out. ksnow on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319234 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 10:26:19 +0000 ksnow 2319234@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I do all of it unless I'm really busy at work, and then after he gets home we'll have dinner and he'll do bedtime routine. But it's a hassle and frustrating. He won't give her a bath, and bed time is always soooo late. I have to keep coming out and reminding and then I feel like a nag when he's the one who is trying to put a 2 year old to bed at 9/10... Luckily he's better on the weekends but I still get frustrated because I feel like it's all "my job" unless I ask him to do XYZ, which doesn't seem the way it should be. Reese on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319224 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 10:21:34 +0000 Reese 2319224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ LO is only 3 months and I am on mat leave so i do everything while he is at work. When he is home he takes over and I get some time alone. We do bath together and he does the MOTN diaper changes. He also helps put him to bed if he isn't going down easily. DH does a lot of the household chores so I try to remember that makes up for his lack of LO care. youboots on "How do you and your spouse split the daily child routine?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-and-your-spouse-split-the-daily-child-routine#post-2319219 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 10:19:41 +0000 youboots 2319219@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I do almost everything (unless he's working at home and he will feed her or hang with her while I shower) until he's home from work, then it's 50/50. He does the first wake up diaper changes since I have a hard time going back to sleep when I do it.