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Parenting

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Original poster

babies and the school run: eeek! (to impose a routine or not )

42 replies

SenoraPostrophe · 16/09/2006 15:31

I don't think i need to expand on the title really. have to get 3 kids in car by 8.50am on Monday, including 2.5 week old ds2. it will be hell, but i'm wondering whether imposing a routine will help (and I'm using "routine" here in a generic sense, with no connection to any author).

I probably will I think (based on bad experience with not imposing a routine on ds1) but wondered what others had done. also just wanted to post a thread with eeek! in the title.

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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juuule · 16/09/2006 15:33

Routine? In what way?

popsycal · 16/09/2006 15:35

DS1 was still going to his childminder 3 days a week when ds2 was tiny and i was on maternity (had to pay for her so he went.....).
Had to get him there by 8:30 as she did school run then activities etc......

I left him in his sleepsuit while he was still weeny. Fed him as usual then gave him a bit more just before leaving.
I set myself a time to get out 10 mins before I really HAD to leave iyswim!! Had all stuff in the car the night before. Everyone's clothes laid out downstairs etc.

Will you have help getting the kids ready or will you be on your own?

BettySpaghetti · 16/09/2006 15:37

When DS was born and I had DD to take to pre-school nursery every morning I used to just do the basics for DS (clean nappy and feed) if time was short. Providing he had those he used to sleep on the short journey there (by pushchair or sling). Theres plenty of time when you get back for wash/bath/clean clothes etc.

How long will the school run take each morning?

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stitch · 16/09/2006 15:37

it you have a 2.5 week old, then the best advice would be,
get someone else to take the kids to school for a week or two.
is there anyone else along your road who has children going to the same school? ask them if they wouldnt mind helping out? or someone from the kids classes? when your new baba is older, return the favour.
congratulations on new baby

Original poster

SenoraPostrophe · 16/09/2006 15:40

yup all on my own! dd will dress herself though and ds will too on a good day. but I'm worrying about the bad days! I have to drop dd off at school and ds off at nursery, though it doesn't matter if he's late. whole run takes 25-30 mins. hopefully i can find someone to take dd for a few weeks but have no volunteers so far.

juule - I mean do i just let him sleep and wake when he likes as he is doing now, or do I start putting him to bed and getting him up at set times in order to fit in with the school run. it will probably help, but he is very young, hence my dilemma

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Original poster

SenoraPostrophe · 16/09/2006 15:42

betty: I hadn't even considered trying to give ds2 a bath before leaving! do people do that then?

someone else would be good, but most people I know have their own run in the other direction. I'd ask dh but he's very close to breaking point as it is (long story mostly unrelated to ds2)

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popsycal · 16/09/2006 15:43

I went with the flow SP - though ds1 was 2 and a half when ds2 was born

think brbiery might be in order
sorry I mean positive reinforcement of course

Original poster

SenoraPostrophe · 16/09/2006 15:43

also can't return the favour due to lack of space in the car!

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Gobbledigook · 16/09/2006 15:44

SP - I'm not sure there is anything you can do really as you are going out so early in the morning. Presumably he is going to be awake anyway first thing, so just work out when you will feed him, get him ready with the other two and go. Take milk with you (or just yourself if bf of course!) so you can feed him if he is going ballistic at any point!

You'll probably find he just sleeps during the school run.

It's 2 yrs since I did this when ds3 was literally a week old, so I can't really remember (was nursery run, not school run but same thing really!). I do remember that when ds1 started reception last year there was a mum with a newborn (again 1-2 weeks old) and he pretty much slept the whole time.

I think you are just going to have to 'suck it and see' as they say and make any adjustments accordingly. I'm not sure you can 'plan' in that way with such a young baby.

popsycal · 16/09/2006 15:45

a 'snack bag' in the car for the oldest two....dried fruit whatever......
favourite story cd in the car that they really want to hear?

my advice is feed then pop him in the car seat and cross your fingers

Original poster

SenoraPostrophe · 16/09/2006 15:46

hmm - ds is just over 2 and a half so it should be possible to go with the flow then. didn't have this problem when he was born.

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BettySpaghetti · 16/09/2006 15:46

I used to let DS wake up of his own accord unless time was creeping on and then I would wake him so we had time for a nappy change and feed before leaving (but that was a rare event). I find it difficult to wake a sleeping baby TBH so tend to avoid it wherever possible!

Try and do as much as you can the night before eg. school bags packed and ready to go, lunches made and in the fridge, clothes laid out so the older one can start getting dressed etc.

Good luck. Just take each day as it comes and learn along the way -you'll soon find the best way for you all

juuule · 16/09/2006 15:47

I would just carry on as you are doing letting him sleep and wake when he likes. I would do the basics,nappy change,feed, top-up just before going out. Then he is comfortable so you should be able to get on with sorting your other 2 children needs. I found that small babies fit in with whatever was happening before they were born as long as they have a dry bottom and a full tummy. Congrats on new baby.

popsycal · 16/09/2006 15:47

are you breast feeding?
do you have a sling that you can feed/carry ds2 in while getting the other two sorted?

Gobbledigook · 16/09/2006 15:48

Oh, are you talking about the fact that you have a 2.5 yr old, rather than just that you have a newborn? Is it the '3 small children' thing you are 'worrying' about?

If so, go with the taking toy and snack options. Last year, when ds1 started school, ds2 was 2.10 and ds3 was 12 months. A box of breadsticks was my lifesaver! Sad but true!

BettySpaghetti · 16/09/2006 15:49

SP -re:bathing in the morning. I certainly would never have attempted it but I'm sure you get some lunatics who would .

Original poster

SenoraPostrophe · 16/09/2006 15:49

gdg: that's the thing: this week he's been waking between 9 and 10, so dilemma is really whether to start waking at 8 in order to get ready or whether to just plop in car seat and see what happens.

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popsycal · 16/09/2006 15:50

if he is asleep i would be tempted to have the other kids ready 20 mins in advance then try to put ds2 in car seat and if he wakes you can do a quick feed

Mercy · 16/09/2006 15:51

Senora, when ds was 2 weeks old I had to take dd to playgroup 3 mornings a week (dh was at work). I didn't have any sort of routine except waking him in the morning (well, when say I wake him obviously sometimes he was awake already or other times I would just lift him out of the cot and into the pram). The rest of the day I just let him feed and sleep whenever.

By the time he was about 8 or 9 weeks old he seemed to form his own routine and would often go to bed at the same time as dd.

The yuonger ones can sometimes fall into a routine of sorts pretty quickly from what I've seen.

Gobbledigook · 16/09/2006 15:52

Hmmm, I used to get ds3 up at 7am and feed him and dress him etc. Then, by the time we were leaving and as he was so small, he would fall asleep in the car seat and pretty much stay asleep until we got home. Surely if you try not to wake him it will just be more stressful adn then if he wakes at a difficult moment you've got him screaming to be fed while you are trying to bundle everyone in the car/help dd into school or whatever. At least if you've got him up and fed and clean, and he's been up over an hour, he'll be ready to go back to sleep.

Even now (mine are 5.5, 3.10, 2) I do get everything sorted the night before - all clothes laid out, book bag and any money/forms sorted, lunchboxes made up. I can't see it working any other way!

Original poster

SenoraPostrophe · 16/09/2006 15:53

yes: I think it is organised mum time isn't it? I have never prepared a packed lunch the day before! and clothes...oh I'm dreading it!

(yes, it's the 3 of them that worry me really: 2 would be OK!)

OP posts:

Gobbledigook · 16/09/2006 15:53

I should point out, I did follow a 'loose' routine and it worked really well. I know lots of people don't bother but I'm an organised, routiney sort of person. I did have all mine sleeping through the night very, very young but I know it's not everyone's bag.

Gobbledigook · 16/09/2006 15:54

SP - it is if you want a stress free morning. I'm a very organised person and if I couldn't find a shoe or something like that in the morning, it would tip me over the edge

As it is, we are never late (touch wood) and it's pretty much stress free because all we have to do is eat breakfast, do teeth, get dressed and go.

stitch · 16/09/2006 15:58

sp, you cna always return the favour, even if it is years and years later. and it doesnt have to be exactly the same thing.
a routine with such a young child might be difficult. just try and make sure he is fed and clean bottom before you stick him in his car seat.
babies that young do not need a bath everyday.

stitch · 16/09/2006 15:59

packed lunchs?????
give the kids school dinners, its one less thing for you to worry about

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