Morning routine DC in school, toddler and newborn

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Anyone been in this situation? How did you juggle your mornings?

DC1 will hopefully start reception in September. DC2 not old enough for nursery and DC3 being born in October.

DC1 was at nursery in the afternoons and we would go to children centre classes most mornings, but it was later and not compulsory. Our mornings were more chilled out that what I'm expecting them to be now. My kids wake up later during lockdown (8:30-9) so will have to start waking up earlier.... but how early? How do you get everyone ready? Breakfast? We usually have eggs so those that a little time to do.... And a newborn tagged along? What have I gotten myself into?! DH's idea!!!! Lol

what time does your dh leave the house? You could get your eldest dc up and ready and take them to school whilst your DH deals with the youngest 2, or you could get your DH to take your oldest to school on the way out of the house. If that wouldn't work, get your eldest up and ready, give them breakfast etc, and whilst they are eating give your youngest a feed and change. then, pop the youngest 2 in the car in their pjs.
RE breakfast, make a big batch of oatmeal at the start of the week. It makes for a quick and filling breakfast, and you can add different toppings like honey and banana.
what time you get up will depend on what time school starts x

I just did this, but with a newborn at the start of term!
Don’t worry too much about it, it will be ok! It’s frantic but do-able- you’ll have had a wee while to get used to the routine with DC1 and DC2 and you will have paternity leave to suss out the best way forward... the tips above are fab. I think the main gutter is- yep, you don’t get morning sleeps anymore! Once the baby gets up after 6, even if they go back down you don’t! 🤪

I have 3 kids with a similar age gap to yours. We just got up early, I needed 2 hours to breastfeed baby, get everyone up and dressed, have breakfast, do teeth & hair and out the door. Our school run is minimal and we can walk, so add on more time if you need to get everyone in the car, drive & park. It’s manageable as long as you have everything ready the night before, so all clothes out, shoes/bags by front door etc..

@WindyScales thanks for the time frame

DH may be able to take DC1 to school in the morning. I was asking for the days that will definitely happen that he won't be able to.

I will miss my later mornings

We have a rule of getting dressed before breakfast on school days, so it's a one-way flow from bed to the door, with no-one wandering off back upstairs

When my 3rd was a newborn, I'd get DH to bring me a cup of tea and a brioche or something while I fed them in bed. Then quick change for the newborn and into the sling while I sorted the big two. When DH was around he'd have breakfast with them all while I had a shower.

I found it worked to go out straight from school drop off to give DC2 a run around in the park. There's a good coffee shop next to our park, which may have been a factor!

Then home for lunch, naps and then it's pretty much school pick up time.

Good luck!

Dressed before breakfast.

My children have never ever slept later than 7, and usually woke earlier, but it was something like...

6.45 DH showered
7am DH dresses/ takes older two for breakfast, I fed the baby.
7.30 I shower
7.40 I breakfast.
7.50 DH goes to work. Shoes on the elder two.
8am I take everyone to nursery in car to drop off middle child.
8.25 back from nursery. Quick top up feed if baby looks grouchy.
8.30 pram out and off to school.

I used to make sure we had all had breakfast and a shower before dh went to work. We are early risers so it was easier.

By the time your newborn comes along you'll be in the school routine. Get your dh to do the school run when he's on paternity leave. After that leave lots of time to feed/change the baby just before you go out. Get shoes and coats on other 2 and stick baby in pram for school run.

When I had dc3 my husband took the other two to school/nursery for the first half term(where he possibly could). After that, he changed his working day and now stays to help me in the morning then leaves at 7:45 when everyone is dressed and ready(or almost). Is there anyway your husband can do this(especially considering he pushed for dc3)? My children start school early (8:20), hopefully your school day is later, so it wont be such an early start.

Good luck

I had 3 under 5. Husband commuted so wasn't involved in morning. 6ish baby wakes and has a feed. 7ish kids up and breakfast. 7:30 Kids dressed. 7:50 mum showers. 8:10 Baby top up feed 8:15 leave house.

We were never really late for school apart from one time my buggy got a puncture on the way.

Worse thing was if baby did an explosive poo just before leaving. That would mess up timings.

I had a double buggy so toddler didn't have to walk to school. But could walk home.

Somehow you just do it.

I had DC4 when DC1 was in Reception.

Move your wake-up/day start time earlier during the end of August in preparation.

Get as much ready the night before as possible.

Get up before the older ones and get yourself ready.

Newborn is the easy one, feed and nappy change and they are ready to go, babygro change can wait until you get home.

Coffee is your friend. It’s not that any of it is tricky, it’s just exhausting when you’ve had little sleep overnight and still have to get up to the alarm!