Parents of 3 under 5/6, How the hell do you get out?

[sneakapeak]

Im just curious.

I have 2 DC's, aged 3.5 and 1. I find everything from washing, dressing, feeding and leaving the house to bath time absolutely caotic.

I feel sometimes that I spend my time in a guddle. Just wandering around with one sock or one glove looking for the other whilst one screams and the other misbehaves then I somehow get distracted and im emptying the washing machine then distracted again then I remember im meant to be dressing the one socked child.

I then (god knows why) find myself wondering about a third then come crashing back to earth when it's screamingly obvious I barley cope with 2.

I just can't imagine 3 little ones with only 2/3 years (or less) between them all and how on earth you get them all ready and out the door every morning without loosing it.

Is there a secret to calm parenting of small children.

Any tips or advice for a very unorganised mum?

[Kendodd]

Get them all dressed and breakfasted the night before, then they just get out of bed and off they go.

[Egg]

Mine are 4, 2 and 2 (but nearly 5, 3 and 3).

It is easier now DS1 (5 in Feb) can dress himself and go to the loo himself etc. When they were younger, esp when twins were tiny, getting three dressed and wrapped up warm to get out of the house was hideous.

It is worse in winter obviously, as gloves are a PITA and just takes longer with extra layers.

We inherited a tumble dryer when we moved in the summer which has helped (not helped environment mind you).

Once the children are downstairs in the morning I try to keep them down here, and bring their clothes and toothbrushes which somehow makes it quicker.

My main problem is the fighting and non sharing that goes on with mine.

We just got a tiny kitten. I feel like I have a newborn... Esp having to get up in night as she was crying .

In morning mine watch tv from 7 to 7:30, so I can get ready/showered etc. Then breakfast. Must be getting dressed by 8am and can be out of the house by 8:30.

I had better run for the shower now.

[Lougle]

I have 3 - all girls - 5.0, 3.4, 1.8.

DD1 has SN so goes to Special School, and HAS to be ready for her bus by 08.25. Non-negotiable.

DD2 goes to preschool and starts at 09.00.

They all wake really early (between 05.00 and 05.30), especially as DD1 is an early waker and noisy.

DD1 needs full help with dressing.
DD2 can do knickers, socks, some trousers, needs a bit of help with preschool t-shirt but can do buttons.
DD3 needs full help.

The key for me is not to do anything til the last minute - any earlier gives them the opportunity to undo what I've done!

I grab a pile of clothes for each of them, dress DD1 at 8.00 and do shoes, hair, coat, etc. Out the door at 8.25 when her bus arrives.

Then I either help DD2/dress DD3, or if I managed before DD1 left, they play for a minute or two. I prepare DD3's lunch.

Then it is a mad dash of 'treasure box toy, coat, shoes, hair, lunch box - let's go!!!!'

Take DD2 &3 to preschool, then come back and spend the morning with DD3 until 12.30 when DD2 comes home, and 15.30 when DD1 arrives home!

[Restrainedrabbit]

Oh yes I have baskets for everything!! Basket each for mallows, wipes etc one for baby and one for 2yr old, basket for essential toiletries, basket of nappies etc downstairs to save trawling up stairs. Alarm set on mobile half an hour before school drop off and pick up to ensure getting ready happens on time.

[sethstarkaddersmum]

' please collect all your soft toys and put them in your bed. It is very important. They need their naps. This takes 10 minutes of self important collecting whilst I wash kitchen floor for example'

that looks like a brilliant tip Toddlerama, I'm going to do that.

[sethstarkaddersmum]

outdoor clothes in boxes by door, one box per child. Bags with spare clothes, changing things etc permanently packed.
they all have lots and lots of socks so it is easy to find a pair, lots of school uniform so I don't have to think much about whether dd has a clean shirt etc.
and you get to things on time by leaving what look like stupid amounts of time to get ready - if it takes half an hour to get ready to leave the house, that's how long you leave.

[TaperJeanGirl]

I have 3, 5, 3, and 1, I HAVE to lay out outfits the night before or we wouldnt get out, so every night I iron their outfits, and put them in a little pile with knickers, socks and vests and shoes, get them all up, fed (they are bathed the night before) then point the older 2 to their pile of clothes while I get ds dressed, usually works ok unless 1 of them has a breakdown about something! packed lunch has to be done the night before as well, I have now made my life harder by getting pregnant again, so I do struggle some mornings, especially now as they need hats and gloves, these can tip me over the edge in the mornings!

[toddlerama]

I only have 2, but am super organised as I'm trying to convince DH to go for a third .

Gloves on elastic threaded through coat sleeves.

Shoes basket in porch

Peg each in porch with coats and hats (this means that I can let them grapple their shoes/coats/hats on whilst I faff with buggy/warm up car depending on where we're going.

Car seats are a pain in the ass. I send oldest one into car from far side whilst I strap youngest in. By the time oldest has scuffled her way across the back seat and climbed up into her seat, I've strapped youngest in and am ready to come round and strap her in. This means I don't have one milling around in the pavement/road and don't end up screaming in horror as I see the top of a ponytail through the window on the roadside....
Also means I only need space on one side of the car when parking.

They are 2 and 3 btw.

If given an easy job, they will perform it like it is of the utmost importance and this keeps them occupied in order for me to do something useful. eg. please collect all your soft toys and put them in your bed. It is very important. They need their naps. This takes 10 minutes of self important collecting whilst I wash kitchen floor for example. During the autumn, please pick up all the leaves in the garden and put them in this box so they are tidy lasted around a month everytime I needed to do something!

I think it gets easier when the youngest is more reasonable (1 year olds are tough - you have my sympathy!)

[SylvanianFamily]

socks - all the same works best (though coloured ones, and ensuing matching madness has crept in) .

I put away clothes on hangeers as 'outfits'. So I pick up a hanger, and the pants, vests, trousers, t shirt and jumper are all there. Benefit is that you can give a choice between two complete outfits, so reducing length of discussion compared to "which shirt, which trousers, which pants - arghh they look crazy together". Also, if I have a hand on someone, I can dress them entirely. If I have to turn around to find a t shirt, they'll be gone, and I'll need to chase them all over again.

I dress myself first. always. Otherwise that's how you find yourself running around outside at ten to nine in your jammies and slippers like a mad person.

[skydance]

I have 3, a 6 year old, 3 year old, and a 1 year old.

Our house is pretty chaotic to be honest, I'm not all that organized but I seem to manage to get them all to school and nursery on time, clean and with everything they need!

I do sort clothes out the night before for everyone and any bags, make sure all coats, gloves etc and shoes are in place as well.

DS1 and DS2 can dress themselves, DS1 can wash himself as well, I just put breakfast in front of them and leave them to it, so I only really have to sort DD and again with her I just give her a piece of toast and leave her to it with breakfast.

I just keep shouting at the other 2 I hate bumping into my neighbour coming out of her house in the morning, she has no children and must think I'm crazy woman constantly shouting through to the other oom, get out of the shower, eat your breakfast, shoes, coats, now, code red, NOW!!! hmmm yes good morning.

I also do the odd socks thing, glad to hear it's not just me, and I look back to the days with just 2 and it seems sooo easy, even though it didn't feel it at the time, so yes 3 is hard work like you wouldn't believe but it's great and you do somehow muddle through.

[sweetkitty]

I have 4, 6yo, 4yo, 2yo and 7mo.

Everything done night before I get up about 7ish on a good day and get myself sorted before waking the DC.

I have to admit I shout a lot in the morning and the house is usually a mess but we are never late for school.

[SylvanianFamily]

Tsk - crazy predictive spelling

[SylvanianFamily]

How the he'll do we get out? We get out like hell.

I can't help but notice that five school runs on the trot at least one child has been reduced to tears (they take yarns to create this charming wall of noise effect).

However , the show does stay on the road.

My can't live without techniques:

I have a visual morning tasks list for the 4 year old and the 6 year old. I got a laminator from maplin, and laminated pictures and stuck Velcro on the back. They take a card with a 'job' hold it in their hand to remind them, and then post it in the box when it's complete. The benefit is that they just about accept it as a fair system: I don't keep nagging them with a mounting list of tasks - I just say over and over "clear the board, clear the board" . A treat when the board is clear: I used to let them out to the garden in summer, now they open their advent calendar.

I take my battles early, which DH sometimes disagrees with. The kids get dressed at seven a.m. - no arguments. IME, if they are planning to be contrary, you might as well take the tantrum early, so it's done and dusted by the time you are actually walking,

I use timers heavily. I set it for five minutes before I need to be walking, and when it rings, everyone is on e doorstep, however tempting it is to do 'one more thing'. This is mainly for my benefit - but rushing littlies is miserable.

I dress my 4 year old. Our progress is that he generally does not scream too much at the coat,

[Haribojoe]

Have got 3 DS (5, 3 and 13 weeks)

I haven't found it as hard as I thought gettin gthem all ready and out the door for the school run BUT can feel the difference between now and when I had DS2, was much easier then as it didn't matter what time we were up and about.

Before the baby was born I practised and perfected getting myself showered and sorted as quickly as possible, did things like keeping all my cosmetics etc in basket by the bath so I literally get out of the shower and can be ready in less than 5 minutes.

As soon as the baby is dressed and/or fed I load him into car seat or pram so he is ready to go and as soon as the others have eaten breakfast I make them put on shoes and coats.

This means I can let them watch Cbeebies and do a few quick chores (loading the dishwasher etc) and as soon as it's time to go everyone is ready to walk out the door.

I must admit I have lowered my standards with some things, for instance I'm not worried about whether socks match anymore, as long as they're clean then we're good to go.

And I don't beat myself up if the house is spotless, I'm more worried about whether or not the kids are happy and tended to.

[ragged]

Ladies, my 6yo DS can out-wail any 3 of your girls (simultaneous), I dare say. (Boy is he LOUD).
I have 4, I am often late to get to places. But I just muddle thru and we are mostly ok (sometimes quite early!!). I get everything done the night before or as soon as I think of it, as a rule. Like loading up the buggy with bags and lunches and nappy bag the night before. I write constant lists of what to be doing next.

[Geepers]

I have six, although oldest is seventeen so looks after himself. The others are 9, 7, 4, and twins who are 10 months.

I find being first up and making sure i am washed and dressed before the rabble descend is vital.

We have never once been late for school, or anything actually. It's just about being organized, knowing where things are and having a routine.

[Poshpaws]

What I found/find hardest about getting out and about was when we had to be on time somewhere.

When DS3 was born, DS1 was 5.5 and DS2 22 months. DS1 had to be to school on time and he was never late, but I had to be ultra organised. I still have to be, now that I work 3 days and DS1 & 2 need to be in school and DS3 at nursery.

[sneakapeak]

God your all supermums .

What about that mum of 7? Bloody hippy, she must be. Who the hell can get 7 kids to school and NOT be shouting .

Right Im going to get a basket today and stick it at the front door. Good idea.

I also agree with washing and dressing DS before he is let loose.
It's just that DD and DS wake at exactly the same time and DD does not want put down all morning .

I need to think this through and plan to get at least DS completely ready before I attempt the rest of our morning.

I don't get their stuff ready the night before either which seems so bloody obvious.

I end up faffing and cleaning for ages until I fall into a heep on the sofa around 8.30pm and sit like a guppy infront of the TV!

Thanks for all the tips and good luck with all the new babies .

[Restrainedrabbit]

I've got three under five and it boils down to being organised, picking your battles and allowing a certain level of chaos we have a bag by the door for gloves etc and do toothbrushing and other morning ablutions downstairs. Ivdo however get them all dressed before coming downnin the morning otherwise they run riot and it takes ages.!!