I feel like I've fallen into a TV trap with my toddler

It sounds like you are still getting alot of outside time and routine into their day, has this affected them in any obvious way, are they still sleeping and eating the same ? Everyone needs a break sometimes your not super human, don't be so hard on yourself

You sound like a great mom! She still gets done other activities. You are doing good! Can’t imagine being pregnant and have to care all day for a toddler without a break

Fell into this similar routine with my toddler when I had my second. We do less some days and more others. I try to remember it’s a tool! And we can only be one place at a time, so screens are sometimes the only way to keep the kid safe while i tend to baby lol

I also had the same thing happen when I got pregnant. We have eliminated certain shows that we call brain rot shows. We limit screens to 2 hrs per day and let him choose how he wants to spend them.

If you feel bad, try looking for the music on Spotify or something and let your baby jam out while playing

I sometimes get playdoh out while meal prepping, or put plastic bowls and cups and things In the sink with a scrubby and soap to let her “wash the dishes” easy half hour right there. 2 minute messy cleanup, worth it haha.

Also I try to only prepare a fresh lunch twice a week. Couple days it’s leftovers from dinner. The others it’s “easy meals” and we go outside with a picnic blanket (turkey wrap, sandwiches, fruit in a snackle box. Something easy and different. Or prepped ahead of tome)

For dinner mealtime. I sometimes let them FaceTime grandma if I’m having an exceptionally hard time distracting. Dance party. Set up a floor puzzle in the hallway. I like to do painters tape on the wall with the alphabet. Then small pieces of tape with each letter on them. On the wall in the next room. Matching game with letters. That’s a hit in my house for sure.
Even if you could find a way to cut out that first tvtime of the day. (Or maybe switch to “toddler yoga” where she has to move her body)

You’d scream if you knew how much tv my toddler saw lol. The tv is on 24/7 but she uses it more for background noise.

I think that’s schedule is great. And if you need to give yourself more of a break and just sit on the couch with her and do tv all day then do it. Sometimes you need the break and sometimes that’s the only way. Once I got to event with my third we also did way more screen time then usually like almost all day. I havnt restricted before but when I was pregnant I just didn’t care. But after like second trimester started I started to cut back on it. So now it’s only in the afternoon and then they can watch a couple shows or a movie each or something give or take the day. But alll morning and mid afternoon is playing with toys and each other and outside or we leave the house. But I’m still pregnant and it’s a lot of work sometimes especially when yelling and arguing happens and sometimes a movie is the only thing that’ll make everyone happy.