Wondering how on earth I will get out in morning for work and baby to nursery!

[Raspberryjam]

I am going back to work in a few weeks, three days a week. My 9 month DD is going to a nursery at work. I will have to leave just after 7am to drive there. Am still breastfeeding in the morning and before DD goes to bed.

At the moment I am lucky to get out of the house for 9am if I need to and wondering how I will get my act together!

If I give DD milk first thing, nursery will do breakfast, but can't get my head round us all getting out in time in the morning. This probably sounds ridiculous to mums with more than one child to sort out . Any tips or advice appreciated!!

[Chuffinnora]

Do as much as you can the night before - then you are likely to sleep better.

Set the alarm for 30 mins earlier than you thought you would have to.

[stealthsquiggle]

Pack the night before - for both of you.

Get yourself up & dressed before you wake DD - put a scruffy top on over your work clothes as she is bound to get you messy otherwise. If DD tends to pull on earrings, etc, put them in your bag and put them on after you drop her off.

It's not ridiculous - it is a steep learning curve.

[solo]

You'll manage it - honestly! Do a test run beforehand so you know it'll be ok. I managed with my Ds at 17 weeks as a single parent and had to drop him at my parents at 06:00. I breastfed him at 04:30 - 05:00 and started work at 07:30 20 miles away at the other side of London. Don't panic, just plan it out properly and good luck!

[FanjolinaJolly]

OK,I started work at 8am and nurtsey opened at 7.Heres my tips.

Set out own clothes etc night before.Prepare and pack sarnies nigth before.

Get everything ready the night before,ie nursery bag plus nappies,(5 ish,)wipes,nappy sacks,spare vests and change of outer clothes.Bottom cream etc etc.

Set alarm for half hour befoer you think you will need it (5 AM my case).

Shower,cuppa,breakfast say 30 mins.

Quick rush round putting washing on line/bunging stuff in slow cooker say 15-20 mins.

Wake and feed baby,change nappy,dress.

Collect bags and work detritus,head out the door......

[Raspberryjam]

Thanks Ladies, great advice.

You sound like a superwoman solo - I am amazed! And as for FanjolinaJolly thinking about a slowcooker at 530 am?????

Head still in a bit of a spin. I have a settling in week for the nursery where I can work out best route to drive and I can do practice runs.

How do you manage to get enough sleep, or do you just go without? How do you function at work when you have early starts every day or can you manage to go to bed earlier ?Do you just have a shower/bath night before??

[LittlePushka]

I was in exactly same position as you and I was stressing before I went back. Just the following for you :

1. I know that I have to be loading the car with kids and detritus (great word Fanjolina!) FIFTEEN mins before the time I have to leave. It allows for forgotten stuff and last minute poos/wees and general reluctance not to cause the timetable to go haywire.

1. You will get to work on occasions without having brushed your own hair/teeth or forgotten to eat so take a repair kit to work!

1. After a few weeks, you will have it down to a fine art and you will know ahead of your leave time if you are slipping.

It is a bit wild I must say - like aland grab as the countdown to leave time starts!!!

[FanjolinaJolly]

Raspberry you will be fine.(The slow cooker thing is fab in winter.I can never be arsed to cook when I get in.All you need to do is literally bung all your ingredients in first thing and switch it on!! Tis fabbo the best thing I invested inWe do end up with stew/casserole overload in winter though,lol.Have also done spaggy bol and chile in it too.

Its tricky at first getting in the swing of work,but the secret is to do as much as you can the night before and set the alarm earlier than you think you need it

I am also lucky in that I am only a pt worker,so its not full on every day.I do admire the FT workers...dunno HOW they do it.Good luck

Good luck

[solo]

For me personally, I didn't get enough rest as I often didn't finish work until 9pm. I was lucky in respect that my mum had a meal waiting for me when I got there, but my first thought was to relieve my overflowing breasts!!! I usually didn't get to bed until 12 o'clock midnight and I ended up with ME. The biggest piece of advice if you do 'normal' hours, is get enough rest.
I'm certainly not superwoman Rj, though I thought I was, but you can make it work for you, just remember that you aren't superwoman and eat, rest and take time for yourself properly.

[Raspberryjam]

I'm sorry that you had ME Solo. How did you manage to get enough rest through that time and do you still do that now?

[Quattrocento]

It'll be fine, don't worry. You'll get into a groove. Take something to express with for the first few days. Nothing worse than leaking through a meeting

[solo]

I didn't get more than 4 1/2 hours sleep a night...sometimes I was washing bottles and teats at midnight and switching the steriliser on as I went to bed. I used to express milk during my lunch hour until Ds was 18 months old, then when I knew what my health issues/problems were, I started to sleep through my lunch hour.
I still have ME 9 years on and I've taken a career break with Dd simply because I knew I wouldn't cope with the fatigue and because childcare was too expensive.
My job is still the same(when I'm there/ return)and the long hours are tough going. I'm not looking forward to returning.
Just be sure you get enough rest. Do you have a Dh/Dp?

[Raspberryjam]

I have a Dh and he is great a bringing a cuppa in the morning!

[solo]

Well, you should be fine then. You have support and a cup of tea delivered! I'd have been fine if I'd had tea brought to me .
Good luck! there's some great advice on here and you will find a way that works for you. Just don't attempt to put on the tight knickers and the blue cape. You aren't superwoman. Ok?

[Raspberryjam]

Thanks solo, I appreciate the support!!

[woodstock3]

you will learn to manage with less sleep! but tbh especially when i first went back i was in bed at 9.30 every nigh (pathetic but true, ds went through a tiresome phase of waking at 5.30 every morning)
my top tip (apart from getting everythig ready the night before) - wear your dressing gown until the last minute, for the second you get dressed in work clothes you will get porridge thrown at you/someone will be sick on you. saves a lot of time (although you should see the state of my dressing gown)

[cmotdibbler]

I'm not as organised as others, but is def a good idea that you both get the washing sorted/dishwasher on/some cleaning done each evening so that the mornings are just about getting out.

I started doing the whole, up, dressed, ready to be out early routine 3 weeks before I went back to work, and DH and I agreed a list of jobs that we would each be responsible for so that we wouldn't argue about it - so I was in charge of washing and sterilising the breast pump and bottles and sorting out the next day bottles, he cooked dinner - I put a wash load on and he did the dishwasher etc etc

Sort out an online food order now !

It'll all be fine - honestly

[Raspberryjam]

I'm definitely going to try to get to bed earlier. Online food order - check. These tips are really useful!! Please keep them coming.