Mummy getting ready

[apple2015]

Hi,
I was wondering if there are any tips for mummy getting ready for the day? When do you do it? Do you wake up earlier than your child to get yourself ready? Do you leave the child playing? Etc?
Our LO is 2 and has recently moved in with us. So far it has been ok for me to get ready (shower, hair, make up etc) because DH was on paternity leave. But he is going back to work next week. I am looking for some tips. Thanks

[MrsH1989]

We both work and have a 3 year old but usually, one goes downstairs and gets DS sat with breakfast - and eats their own whilst the other showers, then swap.
If DH is in work before we get up (more likely that he stayed away the night before), then I get DS in his highchair with some breakfast and have a quick shower whilst he eats. It took a long time to be confident with this as I had to be sure he would be fine with his food and come to no harm.

[zeeka]

I'd say take it as it comes and see what works for you. I remember being woken up by my twins, then getting them ready and fed. They stayed with me when I got ready.. Bathroom was no longer a private place!

I found showers in the evening a lot easier than trying to fit it in in the morning (still do!). I rarely managed much time for make up and stuff as one would be crying or need attention, so I had to reduce my getting ready routine a bit!

Congratulations

[Maiyakat]

3 years down the line I still can't leave DD alone whilst I have a shower, so shower in the evening. It's ok having her with me when I'm getting dressed etc as can stop what I'm doing to intervene if necessary - not so easy when you're soaking wet and have shampoo in your hair!

[dimples76]

I'm a single parent to a 2 year old so I have a bath or shower in the evening normally - sometimes my boy has a shower with me in the morning. He normally plays in the bathroom whilst I do my hair and makeup - often providing a running commentary.

Couldn't cope with getting up earlier than my boy - we often have 5.30 starts here.

Congratulations!

[NeatandTidyTidyandNeat]

Yep, evening shower here too (or in the old days when LO napped, sometimes then). Same reasons as PP's - and sleep in fairly short supply so I am not getting up until I absolutely have to which is plenty early enough already

[MintyLizzy9]

Congrats!

I'm single mum to 2 yo DS. He would scream if I left him to shower at first so I would have a quick bath so that he could lean on the bath and 'chat' point at my boobs shouting what's that (Last Dec) but gradually it's become much better. He's such a light sleeper I can't shower and do my hair at night as his room is next to bathroom and he wakes.

At the minute our routine is have breakfast in pjs then he has a bath and is dressed. I then close the gate on his bedroom door and leave his and the bathroom door open and usually have the iPad on the landing playing one of his fave shows and we chat whilst I shower/make up. He potters about his room playing and watching the iPad. At the start I would get maybe five minutes like this but now I can have a whole 20! Who'd have thought drying your hair would be a luxury

It's been trial and error really and the more settled he's becoming the easier it is.

[Mrscollydog]

A shower is challenging at the moment (esp as she fully freaks out when my mop.if curly hair us wet?!?!?!) so do that at night but let LO play with make up tubes, hairbrush etc on the bed in the morning when i get ready, she loves a pretend squirt of perfume.

[tldr]

I declared breakfast to be DH's quality time with the DC, so they go down together and I grab five more minutes in bed and a quick shower. DH either showers whilst they're still in bed or goes after I'm done (pretty much depending on when they wake).

Part of this planning was to try and shorten the bit of the day when I was solo with them because it can be hard.

[apple2015]

Thanks all for your responses some really good tips!