Help me get my mornings organised before dd starts preschool...

[DIYandEatCake]

It's just dawning on me that in a few weeks (she doesn't start properly til October) we're going to have to get out of the door at 8.45 five days a week. I'm a sahm to dd (3.5) and ds (8m) and our morning routine is usually: 8ish - get up, bf ds, play for a bit, breakfast (which takes ds ages and makes ridiculous amounts of mess), I shower while ds plays in cot and dd dresses herself, do everyone's teeth, hair, faces, play a bit more, pack a bag of stuff, rush to whatever toddler group and get there 15 mins late (that is a good day, a not so good day involves tantrums, baby screaming, spilled drinks, last minute nappies, and even greater degrees of lateness).
I'm the first to admit that I'm disorganised and not a morning person (sadly neither is dd). Anyone who's got mornings down to an art form (with preschooler and baby) please can you share some tips?

Your going to have to get up earlier!
We can get out in 1h15 (Kids to nursery/breakfast club, me and DH to work, one packed lunch). 1hr 30 is much more relaxed.
Can DS have 2 breakfasts? One before you go out, which ideally is low on the mess factor, and then a second breakfast when you get back?

You've got it right, imo, about food before clothes. Some people will swear by not coming downstairs before everything that needs to be done upstairs has been done.

Can you get up before the kids, and have your shower, then put PJ's or dressing gown on over your underwear?

No playing til you are ready to leave the house.

Pack the bags, and find the clothes, the night before, and put them by the door / on a chair in the bedroom.

Start off by putting realistic times next to all the events that need to happen, add in some contingency for the pooplosion just before you leave, and then work out what time you need to get up.

so, for example:
8.40 arrive at school
8.30 leave house
8.25 start getting coats, shoes bags on
8.20 finish dressing DD
8.00 Mum into shower, hair, clothes etc, DD start getting dressed, DS in Cot to play
7.50 teeth and faces for kids
7.30 breakfast for everyone
7.20 rouse DD
7.00 rouse DS for bf in your bed

Can you shower in the evening instead?

DD is starting nursery next week, she has to be there for 7.30 & I have to be at work for 8.15, so I'll be up at 6 & probably shower the night before. They will give her breakfast though & it's just round the corner.

If you don't need preschool for childcare, you may find they are used to people dropping off after taking older siblings to school, so 9am or later could be when they expect everyone to be there and they start doing group activities, with free play before that.

However well organised you are, I'd expect the 8mo will have occasional nappy changes right before leaving. You can only do your best.

Disclaimer- my 3yo starts preschool this month and I feel the same.

Thank you. I like the idea of writing down times going backwards, I'll do that. I like the idea of 'second breakfast' for ds too! I am aiming to get up before both kids so I can be showered and ready - going to be hard though, ds is waking me 4 or 5 times a night at the moment. We're leaving at 8.45 as we'll be walking there. We're going to have to do earlier bedtimes too, all change!

I know your wee one has you up through the night,span early start for you might not be ideal at the moment.....I get up at 6/6.10am, have my shower and dry my hair before getting the kids up at 7am. I find that if I have myself done, I can cope a lot better getting everything else done. I also set up the breakfast stuff the night before (bowls, cups, spoons etc), and when I get out the shower, that's when I put out their apple juice, cereal and milk etc. i also have a cuppa whilst drying my hair - can face anything once I've had a coffee!

*so an, not span

We get up at 7.30,
Dd 1&2 get ready for school
Ds comes down for breakfast (divide and conquer in this house)
Ds goes to get dressed I throw some clothes on
Dr1&2 get their breakfasts while I feed twins.
Make pack lunches while all 3 get shoes, bags, coats etc.
Do hairs then twins into pushchair while older 3 line up at door for final inspection and bag check.

Out to school and nursery
When I get back that's my time for breakfast shower etc

Wow slightlyinsane I feel like a right wuss now for worrying about getting two little ones out of the door! I'm in awe