Moms deserve time away from their kids. Moms need to remember that they're individuals and more than a mom; she's someone who has friends, hobbies, and can take time away to focus on herself.

Dads need to support moms unwinding and taking a few days away, but that means you (the dad) need to know how to survive staying with your toddler alone.

You might be feeling a little nervous about staying with your kid alone for the weekend. You’re not alone; all dads would feel the same way for their first weekend on their own.

To prepare, make a checklist of things you need to figure out ahead of time to make your house run as smoothly as they can. You might gain a new appreciation for your partner!

A Survival Checklist for Dads Staying with Their Toddler Alone

1.   Change Those Diapers Dad

So dad, have you done everything you can to avoid changing diapers often? Do you think changing diapers is one of the worse tasks?

Moms feel the same way too, but someone has to do it. This weekend, that person is you, so if you aren’t confident in your diaper changing skills, I suggest you start to practice before your partner leaves.

Toddlers are like animals; they smell fear. That toddler is aware that dad never changes diapers, so you can bet that he is going to make his best attempt to alligator roll away from you. Upon escaping, he is going to run down the hallway, screeching, and pee on your carpet.

So, do yourself a favor and practice now before you end up needing to scrub the carpet as well.

2.   Get the Routine Down

Most moms have some sort of routine that they use, but you might not be aware of it. Learn that routine and ingrain it into your mind. If your partner puts little Susie to bed at 7 PM sharp, don’t think that because dad has her that you should put her to bed at 10 PM.

First, you're messing up your child's routine, and when your partner returns, she will have to spend DAYS getting that routine back into order. She's not going to be happy - I promise you.

Also, if you push that bedtime, your kid will have his second wind. Do you know what that is?

That’s when your kid decides that he is no longer tired, and he ends up staying awake until midnight. You might be ready for bed, but that second wind changed your toddler’s mind.

3.   Figure Out Mealtimes

The second thing that makes a toddler turn feral is lack of food. Hangry is an underestimate. You can try to feed him all of the time - that works for my toddler - or stick to regular mealtimes. To ease the process of meal preparation, use a baby foodmaker to get several snacks done at once. What a wonderful cooking helper, right?

When are breakfast, lunch, and dinner? How many snacks does your partner give your kid? Ask these questions so that you know.

Knowledge is power here, dad.

4.   Know How to Prepare Food

If you're staying with your baby, make sure you know how to make a bottle the proper way. If your kid eats baby food, make sure you remember to heat it properly. That's especially true if your family makes your baby food.

This might seem like something simple, but when your partner is gone, you might forget how to heat the bottle of formula or breast milk.

5.   Know What Your Kid Eats

Kids are known to be picky, and moms typically know what their kids like. Your toddler might like ONLY orange juice in his orange cup, or his macaroni and cheese might belong ONLY on one side of the plate.

Unless you want to battle over food, I suggest you start paying attention to your child’s favorite foods and how they like them served.

Does your daughter love pancakes with fresh strawberries instead of maple syrup? Perhaps your son loves grilled cheese, but the sandwich needs to be cut into triangles.

Your goal is to make time alone with your toddler as smooth and enjoyable for both of you, so learn these little quirks.

6.   Give That Toddler a Bath

If you think changing a toddler's diaper is hard, bathing a toddler is similar to bathing a feral cat at times. Chances are you come out just as wet as your kid, and the floor gets cleaned as well.

Try bathing your toddler a few times before mom leaves on her getaway. Does your kid prefer to be bathed a specific way? My son likes to lay back and have his hair washed, but my daughter finds that absolutely terrifying.

These little details might seem silly, but they make a huge difference in how calm the bath will be for your child and yourself.

7.   Figure Out How to Handle a Tantrum

Toddlers and tantrums go together like peanut butter and jelly, and you're bound to experience several outbursts during your stay alone with your toddler. You have to figure out how to handle them.

Despite your overwhelming desire to yell at your toddler, that’s like pouring gasoline on a fire. It’s never a good idea. So, try other methods, and talk to your partner about what works best.

Some kids respond well to redirection, but my daughter never responds to that. She needs some TLC; plenty of cuddles and kisses calms her better than showing her something new to try.

Tantrums can turn a beautiful and fun day into misery, so this tip, while it might seem obvious, really can make a difference.

8.   Learn The Best Soothing Methods

How do you soothe your baby, especially when it comes to bedtime? Does your kid need to be rocked to sleep, or does she love to have her back rubbed? If she's feeling sad, what's the best way to reconnect and help calm those big emotions. 

Learning how to soothe is most important for bedtime. So, before your partner leaves for her getaway, make sure YOU get up and handle your toddler in the middle of the night.

Yes, you have to get up in the middle of the night. Learn what your child needs in the middle of the night to be soothed. Also, it gets your kid used to you coming in the middle of the night to help.

Some kids will buck dad trying to help if it’s not the norm, and you don’t want that happening with mom is gone for the weekend.

9.   What to Do When Your Toddler Doesn't Stop Screaming

Mom is gone, and your toddler is angry - angry with a capital A. She’s screaming, and she wants mom. That’s not going to happen.

So what in the world are you going to do?

Have a backup plan ready. Grab some special items that your kid will love and put them away. After all, not only is mom going away for the weekend, but this is a special daddy and child time as well.

Plan something fun, like going to get ice cream. Take your kid to a park. Take your kid to visit family members. Many kids behave better when they’re on the go, so long as you don’t skip naptime!

Relax and Have Fun

Dad, this is your weekend to shine! Not only is mom going to get her weekend away that she deserves, but you get to spend one on one time with your kid.

Yes, this might seem scary at first, but in the end, you’ll find that this is an opportunity to grow and bond with your child. It might end up being one of your favorite memories, so long as the toddler doesn’t decide to smear poop anywhere!