Settling Into Our New Home
We have now been living in our new home for several weeks. Life has slowly started to find its rhythm again.
My partner goes to work, our four-year-old daughter goes to kindergarten, and I stay home with our two-year-old son, who has Down syndrome.
Daily life with a toddler with Down syndrome is real work, especially when all the household tasks also need to be done. Still, I am grateful that I can be home with him.
Our Little “Raccoon”
We often jokingly call our son a little raccoon.
He is curious about absolutely everything. If he finds a piece of paper, cardboard, or plastic packaging, it goes straight into his mouth. With packages arriving almost every day, I constantly have to watch him and pull things out of his mouth before he swallows them.
Sometimes it feels like watching a tiny explorer whose mission is to investigate the entire house.
Even though he has Down syndrome, in many ways he is just like any other curious toddler. His development is a bit slower—he does not walk independently yet and he only says a few words—but he is very alert and attentive.
He notices everything around him.
Eating Well and Sleeping Well
One thing I am very grateful for is that he sleeps very well at night and eats properly.
I try to keep a routine of about four meals a day so he eats enough real food.
This morning I cooked porridge for us, and he happily ate a full bowl.
Before his nap he ate a whole banana, a few bites of chicken with pasta, and almost half a slice of bread. I always give him water with his meals, although he is not very interested in drinking it yet.
For a growing toddler, good sleep and proper meals make a huge difference.
The Daily Nap Challenge
Daytime naps can be more complicated.
Sometimes it takes almost an hour to help him fall asleep, and then the length of the nap varies a lot.
I think his night sleep is so long and restful that he does not always want to sleep during the day. Still, he cannot manage the whole day without a nap either.
The last few days he slept only about 45 minutes, but today he slept for two hours, which felt like a small miracle.
During that time I practiced choir parts on the piano, sang through the songs, and did some housework.
Our Daily Routine
Our days usually follow a similar rhythm.
In the morning we wake up, brush teeth, wash faces and hands, get dressed, and change diapers or help with the potty.
Then my partner leaves for work and our daughter goes to kindergarten.
After that I prepare breakfast for my son. When he finishes eating, we usually go outside for a walk.
Fresh air always makes the day easier.
After playing for a while at home, it is time for lunch and then his nap. When he wakes up, he eats again and we wait for my partner and daughter to come home.
My greatest help is robot vacoom cleaner and mop. I cook warm meals and wash dishes about 3 hours every day, so not cleaning the floors saves a lot of time.
Evenings are full of family noise and activity.
Small Steps Forward
This morning we spent almost an hour outside.
After taking him out of the stroller, we practiced walking while holding hands. He took several steps and tried very hard.
I am incredibly proud of him.
We even managed to take some sunny photos to send to my partner at work.
Moments like that remind me how much progress children make step by step.
A House Designed for Safety
Life with a curious toddler requires constant supervision.
Luckily he has a fairly good sense of danger, but that does not stop him from pulling pieces of wallpaper off the wall or putting random objects into his mouth.
Sometimes he gets frustrated and starts shouting when something is taken away.
Our house now has gates, barriers, and locks everywhere. He also loves pulling electrical cables, so those must stay hidden.
Some of our belongings are still in bags on the floor from the move, and he can empty them in seconds.
The easiest solution is to keep him mostly in the living room where he cannot reach too many things.
Our “little raccoon” stays very busy there.
Looking Forward to the Weekend
Despite the chaos, I truly enjoy this time.
Soon our third baby will arrive, and life will become even busier.
Weekends are special because we can all be together as a family. Our daughter also seems calmer when she is not spending the whole week in kindergarten, so we often give her a free day during the week as well.
This weekend we will also have guests visiting our new home, so I will probably bake something simple and nice—maybe an apple cake.
Choosing to Stay Home
I feel very fortunate that I can stay at home with the children and do not have to rush somewhere every day.
I have been a stay-at-home mother since my daughter was born in 2021, and this chapter of life will probably continue for many more years.
Sometimes people say that staying home with children is stressful. Of course it can be at times.
But for me, combining work stress with family responsibilities would feel even harder.
When I focus only on the children and our home, there are still small moments to rest and breathe during the day.
And those quiet moments, even in a busy household, are something I truly value.
You are not alone.
If this story resonated with you and you’d like to go deeper, you can explore my e-book Our Journey – A Different Path. It offers honest reflections and lived experience beyond this post.
If you’re looking for practical support, I’ve created Routine Templates to help parents and children navigate daily life with more clarity, structure, and understanding.
You can also read my previous posts or follow along on Instagram @parentguidancehub, where I share everyday reflections on parenting, family life, and finding balance.
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