How do you manage termtime mornings & schoolrun with a newborn BF baby in tow?

Buckets · 2008-08-28T15:41:10+00:00

That's it basically. DS2 is nearly 4wks, DD starts Y1 next week then DS starts pre-school the week after (8.40 start!) Any tips and hints most welcome indeed.

Mungarra · 28/08/2008 17:05

My DH took DS1 to school in the morning and then went to work. The school (a 5 minute walk) is only a little out of the way to the station. His work is fairly flexible so that wouldn't be an option for everyone, but it was great for me. I was usually breastfeeding at that time of the morning and would also have had to take DS2 to school as well.

It was easier for me to take DS2 to afternoon nursery and do the pickup in the afternoon.

Otherwise, a few neighbours volunteered to walk DS1 to school or do pickups as they were going to the school anyway with their children in the same class. Would that be an option for you?

It is difficult, but I guess if you have to take the kids yourself, then carrying the baby in a sling might keep him happy.

None of this really applies if you're driving to school.

Hope you can work something out.

NatalieJaneIsPregnantAgain · 28/08/2008 17:12

I had the same questions when DS2 was born, but just as with everything else, you just do it. Somehow the mornings are managed, and you do even find a routine eventually! Though many times while I was still BF DS2 was bundled up into his carrycot with his sleepsuit still on, I just got him bathed/dressed when we got home.

I remember when DS1 was a baby, it could take up to 3 hours to just get out of the house to get to town or whatever, now I can do the pair of them up dressed and ready for 8.45 with out too much hassle.

DC3 due in January, hope I'm not speaking too soon!

sweetkitty · 28/08/2008 17:27

I leave the house at 8.45am with 4yo DD1 2 1/2 yo DD2 and nweborn DD3, it's not that hard. Get up about 7ish lie in bed and feed DD3, wake DDs at 7.30am, breakfast then get myself ready, 8.15am get all 3 DDs ready, hair done at 8.30am (most stressful bit) all out the door by 8.45am.

Always have clothes ironed the night before and have a rough idea where everything is, you could also look out the clothes the night before as well.

This morning I even managed a shower and dried my hair and still got us all out and I am no organised woman but you just get into a routine.

There can be a fair bit of shouting hurry up and come on girls though!

Tigger13 · 28/08/2008 22:10

I found it easier during school time then holidays as seemed to take me ages to get going when we didn't have time limit. Tended to feed newborn one side change nappy get other two 2.5 and 5 dressed, DH and already given them breakfast b4 leaving as they up at 6.45, had quick shower and left, newborn would then have 2nd side when I got home. sometimes he would protest but he seemed just to fit in with it.

New term and baby now 3months so will probably manage big feed when boys having breakfast and another when we get home.

Just find getting stuff done night before and leave tidying up til get home or the pm!!!

Thomcat · 28/08/2008 22:14

It just works becasue basically, it has to!

DD3 was 2 days old when I did the school run with DD2 in tow. I had help from DP but it was no real different dealing with it on day 2 than it is was, ever really!

DD3 was in bed with me all night and breastfeeding as and when. Just got ready round sticking my boob in her mouth and got the girls ready as usual.

I found, and still found the key is to be as organised as possible the night before.

This could go as far as putting sugar & tea bag in you cup ready for am, lining up girls clothes and nappies ready for the morning, making sure bags are in hall, etc etc.

AbbeyA · 28/08/2008 22:18

I agree, it just works because it has to! I think that is why second children are more laid back. With pfb everything revolves around them-it isn't a luxury that you have with the second!

MamaG · 28/08/2008 22:21

Yes, definitely get prepared the night before. Packed lunches made, schoolbags lined up in the hall, clothing laid out.

IT won't hurt anybody if you take baby on hte school run in babygro! I fully intend to when my DC3 is born in Oct/Nov this year

Thomcat · 28/08/2008 22:25

Oh yeah, would be odd for new bub to be in anything other than a babygro at that time of the morning. Everyone will just think that you dressed him or her in an outfit, swaddled him, put him down the night, set the alarm, got out of bed yourself fully dressed and made up and did the school run!

Actually, that's a bloody good idea!

Thomcat · 28/08/2008 22:27

Oh yeah, would be odd for new bub to be in anything other than a babygro at that time of the morning. Everyone will just think that you dressed him or her in an outfit, swaddled him, put him down the night, set the alarm, got out of bed yourself fully dressed and made up and did the school run!

Actually, that's a bloody good idea!

WilfSell · 28/08/2008 22:40

Are they all reasonable walking distance of each other?

You march all the kids to preschool then march the school child to school, basically...

Get organised and set up a walking bus for when she's a bit older. That way you cut down the number of school runs you do.

Share with other parents.

And yes, chuck a warm all in one over the babygro and full nappy, feed baby once when it wakes up and if necessary quick top up just before you leave and if necessary again, once you get the final child to school!

Or just run like mad if baby starts screaming (I have done this a lot )

FlightAttendent · 28/08/2008 22:42

I found it fine, mine was about 3mo at the time ds started reception.

We weren;t allowed into the school so I didn't have to worry too much about the baby crying or anything...walking to school was easy, just plonk baby in buggy and ds would walk.
By car we used the lift-in-and-out car seat, the sort that fits onto a travel system etc only I mainly just used it to hoik about on my arm!

It saved waking up baby when I parked and took ds into school - return to car, plonk seat back onto base, drive home

So not hard!
Baby usually slept in the car anyway. I'd feed him when we got home, if he woke up. otherwise left him in the car seat, but not all day or anything - just till he woke!!

It helped if baby was already in car seat before we left. That way I could put it in the car first and drag/encourage ds with both hands

pushchair · 28/08/2008 22:42

DP breakfasted DD1 and DD2 while I Bfed DD3. Luckily DD1 dressed herself. I staggered downstairs to a scene of carnage and dummped baby in moses b. or pram while dressed DD2.
DP also did packed lunch for a few days. Raving hysteria whilst hair brushing. You must be dressed before you come downstairs because you will never get up them again. Baby screams. Pop her on for a mini feed while shout at other two to find shoes/coats/lunchbox/stop that! Eventually everyone ready to go. Its 8.45. Pick baby up to put in pushchair and find shes had a poo. Cry!
No really agree with the above you do it because it has to be done. You will be sectioned fine

Piffle · 28/08/2008 22:42

get up early
Be prepared get stuff ready night before
Be late sometimes
Mostly babies cry...
Sometimes pop a boob out in the car after drop off
Tis v stressful initially but does get better but then nap times clash with pick up times etc
Sorry!

Tommy · 28/08/2008 22:43

baby still in babygro and sometimes sleeping bag.

I found a dummy really helpful TBH

FlightAttendent · 28/08/2008 22:44

Remember if you are in a car you can always feed baby on the passenger seat or front seat if you slide it back.

I would sometimes get back to car and have to feed him before going home - so just get in, shut door, feed and then get out again to put him in his seat.

If walking you'd have to find a spot to sit down, maybe at school or something.

WilfSell · 28/08/2008 22:48

I do have to say though, 3 is quite hard, especially at that age if you're walking.

I would try to arrange as many 'someone else taking the preschooler or new schooler' options for first few weeks... DH? Granparent? Trusted friend also going to school/preschool?

The real problems arise when your 3? year old decides to sit down on the way, the 5 year old gets freaked about being late and the baby starts kicking off. Have been there and my schoolie is now 9! But last september we were in exactly this position.

We did do a lot more driving than normal but we could only get everywhere on time like that.

But please do share with others - it really helps...

lovecamping · 28/08/2008 22:51

our routine is

7.00am wake everyone up
get breakfast with baby in sling and BF baby whilst others are eating,
7.30 am upstairs to get dressed/teeth/wash face, baby follows and gets put down in chair/floor/bed/cushions while i help dd2 (3yrs) to get dressed.
7.45am two girls watch TV whilst i get dressed/teeth, get own bag ready etc baby with me
8.00am BF baby again and then put into buggy, baby usually falling asleep by then
8.20am TV off and shout at everyone to get shoes/school bags etc. change nappies if necessary
8.30am leave house for 20min walk to school

Rules - no TV until breakfast, dressed, washed face and breakfast gets cleared after school run. sometimes its still there after school pick up

it does work!! the kids have never been late for school unless when DH takes them ...

FlightAttendent · 28/08/2008 23:02

A double buggy may help in that case Wilf. Bung in the two smaller ones and go for it!

anorak · 28/08/2008 23:04

I used to get up very early and shout a lot.

pushchair · 28/08/2008 23:12

Often used to wear tracky type things in bed, get up and walk to school in them and only change into fabulous outfit [hah] on return to house. Yes I am a slob. Its a great time to indulge that inner slob.

weblette · 29/08/2008 08:23

Our mornings are very very regimented, they have to be with 4dcs...

Up at 6.45 - bfeed ds3, dressing/washing/breakfast finished by 7.30, 7.45 drive dd to school (too far to walk alas ) back home by 8.30 on a good day, walk ds1 and ds2 to school/nursery, ds3 down for nap at 9.10. Feet up and coffee 9.15

It doesn't always work, especially if the traffic's bad, and I'm very flexible about when ds3 is dressed. The school is also very understanding - I'm sure the playgroup in particular will be for you. Good luck!

lucysmum · 29/08/2008 08:29

Get as much as possible ready the night before. Don't worry about getting baby dressed. Give little top up feed while older ones are eating breakfast, doing teeth, whatever, just before you leave. Or even better, build in 10 mins CBeebies. , Be prepared for last minute nappy explosion - have spare clothes, nappies etc to hand. IME school are very understanding of lateness if there is a new baby around.

keevamum · 29/08/2008 08:35

Agree with anorak I also used to shout a lot. Not good but I have never managed a nice calm morning when trying to get to school unless I am up about 6.30 am. But I used to take DD2 in her sleepsuits and make sure I had fed her before we left so she wouldn't scream the place down. It does work like others have said because it has to.

WilfSell · 29/08/2008 11:08

I know someone who swears she used to put her kids to bed in their school clothes (well, she said, they don't sweat at that age do they? ) and then wrap a towel round them for breakfast and teethcleaning.

That has seemed a very attractive option some mornings...

notsoteenagemum · 29/08/2008 11:28

Get some good running shoes!
Leave baby in jim jams or dress at early feed. DS fed every three hours starting 6 am so I got up fed him put boosters in his nappy then and put him in pram ready to go did all the school shizzle eg lunches, got DD ready and finally self. Dropped off at school ran back got back into bed wth DS for feed had an hours sleep. Also invested in really long coat and went to school in PJ's a few times in v.early days. (DS born on Monday DD's first day at school Wed, DH no pat leave.) You soon get into it.