School run, 4 dcs, time saving/sanity tips!

[beachesandbuckets]

Had twins 3 weeks ago. From September, will be taking ds1 to school (year 1), dd1 to pre-school and having twins with me. Luckily will be on maternity leave!

Dh leaves for work super early so it will be mainly me getting everyone up/dressed/fed and out. Eek.

And, to add to the mix, I am ebf the twins who are still not in a set routine for feeding other than they seem to like a feed immediately upon wake up and then around 9am.

Anyone got any tips to help me get out on time/ maintain my sanity (without having to get up at 4am, am having little sleep as it is wih two newborns in the house!!). Planning to drive to school/pre-school, at t least for the immediate future.

Thanks!

[lolalotta]

Do they need packed lunches? If so freeze the sandwiches preaprepared in bulk...most fillings freeze apart from salad...

[littleducks]

It will be hectic, so I would try a d do as much the night before. Would dh be able to help? Set out breakfast dishes for older two, make packed lunches and pack any bags. That way all you have to do is dress, feed and leave. Have clothes set out for older ones to put on. I wouldn't attempt to change babies clothes until you come home unless accidents occur just stick a jacket on top and the a snowsuit as weather gets colder (the fleece ones are ok in car seats unlike padded type). Keep a hairbrush in the car in case. Carry/leave in car a chequebook or change that you don't touch for unexpected school expenses that you might have forgotten.

And don't feel bad handing either child over to another parent walking in if it all gets too much. I certainly wouldn't mind if somebody with baby twins asked for help!

[notnagging]

Do everything the night before, easy breakfasts or breakfast club, clothes/school bags/shoes out ready. I often didn't go to bed until way past midnight getting everything ready & had an emergency bottle on standby all the time. Now I'm on my fifth I am on mission mode in the mornings.
The first year of twins was just about surviving to me. Good luck op

[peteypiranha]

I only have 2 but we are out the house by 7 or half 7 every morning including school holidays for holiday club/nursery. I have everything ironed and ready, all bags packed and everything organised the day before.

I used to worry I couldnt do it with 1 then 2 then started doing more and more hours etc but it always just slots in fine, and I wondered why I worried.

[FriskyHenderson]

Do everything the night before: bags ready, lunches made, breakfast table set, clothes out.

Then all you have to do is feed and dress DC.

I'd give twins a feed to finish before 7am. Then have a shower and get yourself dressed.
7.15 Get DC1&2 up and dressed.
7.30: breakfast.
8am back upstairs for teeth face hair and if you have time dress/change the twins.
8.30 ready to go.

[FriskyHenderson]

Just remember the priority is DC1 at school with right stuff at right time. Anything else is a bonus. So if you are in PJs feeding twins in car outside school at 8.50 when the bells goes, that's great

[FootOfOurStairs]

Could you ask around and see if any uni students are around and could help? Lots of students don't go back til end of Sept and an extra pair of hands sounds needed!

[DrownedGirl]

Have fruit to hand to grab and something like the individually wrapped brioche with a long life that you can grab to eat in the car if necessary ( them and you!)

I found fleece ponchos for my twins or fleece sleeping bag sort of things were great

Maybe have your own shower at night for a while

Get an insulated cup so you can chuck your half drunk cup of tea or coffee in and take along with you

Make sure all shoes are put away after school
Each day!

[Haribojoe]

Once everyone is settled at night I put out everyone's clothes for the next day. Pack bag for nursery/school and do lunches etc.

I used to feed the baby before the others got up (mine tended to wake around 6 or so for a feed).

Others up, clean teeth, dress and then downstairs for breakfast.

Also once baby had fed/was happy I used to load them into their car seat/pushchair so they were ready to go.

After breakfast mine are allowed TV once they are fully dressed including coats, bags and shoes.

Most morning this then gave me 10 minutes or so to nip upstairs and have a wash/shower and get dressed.

Can't believe I used to do all that, feel tired just reading it

[Four4me]

As everyone has said the night before:
-everything that dc 1&2 will need for drop off by door/in car/on buggy.
-Breakfast pots/cutlery ready.
-Uniform ready in piles. Shoes by door.

Depending on when the babies will need feeding, fit in getting dc1&2 dressed, fed and washed. As each baby is fed and changed (not dressed) get them in position to go either in car seat or buggy (I actually found walking to school easier than using the car as the little ones and buggy didn't need lifting in and out of the car).
For my last two I used to just put them in the carseat with a hat and baby grow on in the house and put on the appropriate amount of blankets and fastened up the cosy toes on the car seat/buggy when I was about to leave. And if they were settled/sleeping when I got home I could gently peel it off without lifting them out and disturbing them.
Once mine are dressed and fed they don't go back upstairs again, I have a drawer in the downstairs loo with face clothes, toothbrushes and hairbrushes/bobbles.
Just think it'll get busier when the twins want boob and start some solids in a morning too!!
You'll be grand.

[Thinkingofmyfabfour]

We are back at school here so I'll tell you my routine, but I don't have twins just 6week old dd
Feed baby sometime between 6-7 depending when she wakes. Up by 7 and into shower, get myself dressed. Then through to ds3, change nappy and get him dressed. Then wake up ds2 and dress him. Drop ds1 clothes down to him (he's up v early and goes down to play/watch tv.)
If dd awake change and dress her, if not I'll go down and have breakfast with boys. We'll be eating by 8am at earliest.
Then I run round tidying dishes and putting first load of washing on, brush my own teeth.
Then downstairs and brush boys teeth, get shoes/jackets and start getting them into car by 8.30. (bags organised night before incl packed lunch for ds1.
Dd into car last as she's usually crying by now, leave house by 8.40, dd usually asleep by 8.41! I can leave as late as 8.50 theoretically but build in this extra time in case of nappy explosion or puking baby!

Key for me is having everything organised night before - bags, lunch, shoes etc. I even lay out my own clothes before I go to bed!

Good luck op, I'm sure you'll quickly work out a routine the works for you!
My kids are 6 nearly 4, 2 and 6 weeks btw

[Thinkingofmyfabfour]

Oops 8am by the latest

[HeyUGuys]

This thread has reminded me of my childhood! I am second eldest of 10, school mornings were planned to the second. My mom would lay out uniforms, ten bowls of porridge, then spend the rest of the time re dressing the younger ones who, for every item of clothing she got on them, would take 2 off and shouting put your shoes on! Where are your socks? Course i didnt mean put your bloody shoes on with out socks well aimed plimsol comes flying through the air

[LongStory]

oh dear I had 3 at school when my twins were born. I was thankful every morning that my wonderful husband and neighbour managed the school run between them. Sorry this doesn't help much :-( but sending love.

[beachesandbuckets]

These are all great tips thankyou everyone. Two days completed so far, ds been to school on time (we were first one there on the first day, I over compensated!). Any more, keep them coming...

[3birthdaybunnies]

Babies clothes only changed before school if they are wet/ dirty, otherwise sleepsuit plus coats in few months.

As others have said get things ready night before. For forms I used to keep pen in their book bag to fill in in the playground and return immediately.

I know some MN will clutch their pearls in horror and pull up their judgy pants but I put washing on the line at nighttime so that it catches the morning sun and on a good summer day is dry before I get back from school.

Breakfast dishes can wait until you get back - basically your only priority is getting to school and not starving the babies!

[WinkyWinkola]

Hairbrushes and those sponge shoe cleaners in the car. Plus baby wipes to hand.

Dcs can brush hair, clean shoes and wipe faces themselves en route to school.

[sweetkitty]

At one point I had one at school, one at nursery (different location), one under 2 and an EBFing newborn. Now if I can get them all outthe house in a reasonable state then so can you.

Right as others have said bags packed the night before, school clothes/jackets/shoes laid out. DP makes sandwiches ready to just take out the fridge the next morning.

My routine was something like this
6.30am feed baby nice long feed
7am shower (or have shower at night
7.30 wake DCs give breakfast
8am clothes/hair etc
8.20 with DCs ready to go give baby 10 mins on the boob to tide them over until after school run

Never had twins right enough but my DP left early too.

You will find a way you just have to devise your strategy that works for you.

[CointreauVersial]

I was in exactly your position (except that my twins were just DD2)!

It's a bit of a blur now (10 years ago exactly), but what saved my sanity was a neighbour taking the older two to school/preschool in the mornings, and I paid her back by doing the pick-ups.

Is there anyone who'll step in and help? It won't be long before you get into a routine but it is tough in the early days, especially mornings. You sound like you are coping really well, but don't be afraid to ask for help if it gets too much.