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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How do you do it?

28 replies

Underworld345 · 13/05/2018 19:57

My DS starts nursery tomorrow for two days a week. Tomorrow is just a trial day really as I’m just dropping him off hopefully 8am then having a pamper day.

I usually get ready for the day when he’s having his first nap but I’m getting so stressed about how I’m going to get him fed, both of us dressed and out the door on time without forgetting anything. He’ll be starving when he wakes up so don’t want him to have to wait till he gets to nursery for breakfast there.

Am I worrying too much? How do you even get yourself ready when you’ve got a curious toddler who manages to find small objects i never knew existed.

OP posts:
Coolaschmoola · 13/05/2018 20:02

You get up before they do, simple.

AmazingPostVoices · 13/05/2018 20:04

Yep, you get up and dressed before they do.

Original poster
Underworld345 · 13/05/2018 20:04

And if they get up at different time every day....and sometimes 05:30??

OP posts:
SmileEachDay · 13/05/2018 20:05

Will you be going to work when he’s at nursery?

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 13/05/2018 20:05

Lay your clothes out
Shower at night
Pack bags in the evening
Easy clean breakfast he can feed himself

FrogCow · 13/05/2018 20:06

Then get up early. I’m up at 6 most days, DS woken at 6:30 and in the car to nursery at 7.

Icklepickle101 · 13/05/2018 20:06

I used to put DS in the empty bath while I got ready in the bathroom Grin

Sometimes with a banana or other fruit to keep him going until he had nursery breakfast. Then got him dressed after I was ready.

honeyishrunkthekid · 13/05/2018 20:08

The age depends on how you manage it. How old will your DS be?

Icklepickle101 · 13/05/2018 20:10

Now he’s older (2) he will sit on his step in the bathroom with a book or his tablet while I shower and then he will sit in the bath with the overhead shower on while I brush teeth/ do makeup. Sit DS on my bed with More books/tablet while I get dressed and then get him dressed

ikeepaforkinmypurse · 13/05/2018 20:12

get everything ready the night before.

I second the banana advice, with a glass (or bottle) of milk, it's the perfect pre-breakfast.

Plan a bit more time than you usually need.

If you are really desperate, put Ceebies on the tv, otherwise just let him play whilst you get ready. He stays safe when you go to the toilets, doesn't he, so he'll be fine!

SharkSave · 13/05/2018 20:13

How old is he? And does he definitely need feeding at home or will he have breakfast at nursery?

Aquamarine1029 · 13/05/2018 20:13

Honestly, it's not that hard. It just requires a bit of pre-planning and organization. Shower at night, have your clothes and your child's ready the night before, have breakfast planned, and have your bag and his ready the night before as well. You'll be fine.

jb1305uk · 13/05/2018 20:14

My DD is an early riser so I can’t get ready before she wakes unless I fancy getting up at 5am every morning.
Clothes and lunches are sorted out the night before. If DH is home, he does breakfast with DD whilst I shower and get ready. I then get DD dressed and to nursery whilst DH showers.
If DH is working away, I get showered the night before and put DD in a travel cot with toys whilst I get ready and then it’s just a case of breakfast and getting her to nursery.
It’s a bit daunting at first but you soon find a way that works for you.

trilbydoll · 13/05/2018 20:15

I don't know why you would try and do breakfast when it's included in the nursery fees Grin fine if they wake up at 6am you've got loads of time but if they sleep in, give them some milk or a banana and scoop then straight into the car.

Mine watch tv in the morning, it's not ideal but it keeps them in one place while we get ready.

Original poster
Underworld345 · 13/05/2018 20:15

I’ll be going to work yes, starting properly in a week. He’s just turned one and is walking everywhere, falling over every 5 steps and into everything. I just can’t see myself getting ready when he’s on the loose upstairs. We’ve baby proofed downstairs pretty much, we’re only upstairs for sleep really. I’m going to have to get up super early or lock him in the hall wall with some toys 😬🤔

OP posts:
MrsPicklesonSmythe · 13/05/2018 20:17

Shower before bed, pack your bags the night before then you just have to get dressed, do your makeup etc.
Get a playpen to put him in for 20 mins while you get ready needs be.

honeyishrunkthekid · 13/05/2018 20:17

Lay your clothes out night before.
Do hair and make up downstairs on kitchen table whilst keeping an eye on DS? It gets easier as they get older but it is manageable.
Distract with TV. And if you can, get to work earlier for 15 mins down time

Arrowfanatic · 13/05/2018 20:18

I used to leave dd in her cot whilst I showered. Then downstairs, give her a breakfast in her high chair which she ate whilst I did my hair & make up. Then I'd clean her up, dress her & out the door for 8am.

LorelaiVictoriaGilmore · 13/05/2018 20:20

I used to put ds in a play pen with the tv on and learned to get ready in less than 15 minutes. Cot with toys would also work!

Lazypuppy · 13/05/2018 20:21

Why don't you just leave him in his cot with something to play with until you are ready?

NSEA · 13/05/2018 20:22

Can you leave him in cot x

Pinkgeorge · 13/05/2018 20:24

Try doing it with twins (and no help) !! I didn’t think I’d manage but I did. Enjoy your pamper day Smile

Summerisdone · 13/05/2018 20:27

If you don't mind showering at night then do as it will make things a lot easier, I prefer to do it at night anyway but I know some people can't go out without having had a shower in the morning.

If you find it easier to contain/keep dc entertained downstairs then can you not take a mirror and do makeup down there? Otherwise maybe sit DC next to you with plenty of toys to keep him entertained and just do your hair and makeup as quickly as you can.
I also second the idea of a banana or a cut up apple in the morning to tide DC over until they get to nursery.

You will definitely get the hang of it soon, it gets so much easier with time. My first month back felt very chaotic in the mornings, but it soon became a breeze as long as I stuck to my routine and also had my and DS's outfits and his nursery bag ready the night before.

NotMyFinestMoment · 13/05/2018 20:35

I'm quite slow so I assume an hour for him and one hour for me.

All the clothes for the next day are ironed and laid out including shoes and socks.
Both bags are packed in advance the night before.
Bath your little one the night before.
Get up 1 hour earlier and tip toe around (keep lights low and noise to a minimum - you can get a lot done in an hour if you're undisturbed!). Sort out a hot drink and your breakfast and the same for the little one, have a quick shower. Get their snacks/lunch organised and in their bag, or do it the night before and leave in fridge. If there's time, make a start on your own hair and make up. When your little one gets up; bottle, breakfast and nappy change. While they're eating breakfast, finish your hair and make up. Wash hands and face and brush their teeth and their hair. IMO, your clothes and their clothes should literally be the last thing you do before you leave. Otherwise you will have their breakfast all over their clothes/uniform and getting in a fluster trying to find clean and ironed clothes. And snot, food and other yucky crap down your own clothes that you won't even notice until you've left the house Grin. Put their favourite show on for 10-20 mins and have them in their highchair where they're safe whilst your doing anything else you need to do. Reduce your hair and make up time, by keeping it minimalist and washing your hair the night before. Essentially just planning ahead, giving yourself an extra hour to do it, and if you can do it, do it whilst they're sleeping. Have all bags and keys ready by the front door.

Squelchsquerch · 13/05/2018 20:36

I was able to have fairly leisurely showers by leaving my DS in his cot with either books or watching something on the laptop (out of reach) until he was around 3 years of age! That, and also getting a few things done while he was strapped into his highchair made the morning routine achievable.

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