Advice on managing the morning routine...

[MermaidTail7]

We had our second child a week ago, DD is nearly three and goes to nursery 4 days a week. Currently DP is on paternity leave so is doing nursery drop off and pick up, but I'm starting to get a bit concerned about how on earth I'll get me, the newborn, and DD to her nursery once he goes back to work.

I had a C-section and can't drive for six weeks, so family are going to help with pick up and drop off while I heal, but long term I need and want to be doing it.

So, parents of two or more children, how on earth do/did you manage to get you, your baby and your toddler up, breakfasted, dressed and at the nursery door for 8.45am each morning??

Good luck OP.
The 6 weeks rule isn't really a general rule. It's down to your insurer and a bit of how you feel. You might feel ok before 6 weeks. You need to be able to do an emergency stop ultimately.

How dressed, breakfasted and awake do you and the baby need to be? The crucial part is the toddler.

Clothes set out the night before

Nursery bag packed the night before and hung/set by the door

Table set for breakfast the night before with cereal etc all ready.

^^ all things your husband can do.

You and baby don’t need to be washed and ready for the day. You can do that once you’re back from the school run.

If baby isn't completely fed then you just go anyway and give them some more when you get home .
Buy babygros / pyjamas for baby that are easy to undo and double as daywear then just change nappy first thing .
Pack as much as possible the night before.

Wake up 10 mins before baby do your hair and makeup quick, feed baby, put in sling to nap, sort older child and yourself, brekkie and clothes.
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reassess baby "are they awake/asleep?) Either change/feed/leave asleep baby as required and transfer to car seat before you leave.
I fed in the sling for months so that was so helpful for busy mornings.

We didn't have to use the car tho, so I could feed baby on the way or when I was out, but the getting ready part when it's frantic worked for me.

Also - disclaimer, I didn't have a cryer 😅 so.. unless your baby is pretty chill like mine was you might need some more hardcore advice lol.

I eat breakfast after the nursery run; and once DS was weaned he ate breakfast after too. Our routine was up by 6.30/6.45 then DD(age 3) had milk and DS had a feed while I had a cup of tea/drank tea after his feed. By 7 I’d start getting everyone dressed with DD playing ot watching tablet while I got dressed and DS in bouncer then by 7.45/8 be downstairs having breakfast; get DDs stuff ready while she ate with DS in the bouncer and then out the door.

Don’t worry about the baby! I just used to make sure they’d had a nappy change and a quick feed before we left. As long as the 3 year old is ready then that’s fine. Get her bag/clothes etc ready the night before so you don’t waste time in the morning. Get yourself up and ready first if possible and then crack on with the others. Don’t worry, it’s seems a really tricky task at first but you’ll be surprised at how it just becomes your new routine and you’ll ace it. Plus if she’s a few minutes late for nursery it’s not a big deal, plenty of time to get it right for when it’s the school run.

Wake up 10 mins before baby do your hair and makeup quick,

😂😂😂

What time does your partner need to leave by? Can he get DD up, fed and dressed while you sort yourself and the newborn out?

Get everything ready the night before, down to socks laid out and school shoes (and your shoes) by the door and coats hung up ready, school bag etc, breakfast table set out with bowls. We have always done this and as they get older it helps lay down a good pattern, that they have a proper breakfast sitting at the table because it's all ready.

Also set your alarm earlier than you would normally until you work out what timings are good, then you can adjust. That's it really.

I've got 3. 2 school aged and a 6 month old.
I don't worry about getting the baby dressed. Just a feed, nappy change and into the car seat.
Older two eat breakfast in the car. Usually toast and a banana.

How presentable do you need to be?
I do the bare minimum. Brush teeth, comb hair and throw on leggings and a hoodie.
I dump the bigger two at school then back home, I'll feed myself, tidy up and get ready properly.

On the days where I need to be fully ready from the get go, unfortunately it means getting up a lot earlier. Usually 6/6:30.

Preparation is key. I have everything sitting out the night before... shoes, socks, underwear, the lot! Even hair ties and clips!

As pp have said, everything packed and laid out the night before. Also I used to get up at 6am, wash and get myself completely work dressed, hair, make up etc, then put on an apron (not my style normally in can assure you) then go at everything until I had to leave, remove apron, put on suit jacket, lipstick and off I went. It was efficient but exhausting. Silver lining of covid being home working is now normal so I need never do all that 5 days a week again!

Use this time to get your DH to teach your 3 year old how to dress, put on own shoes & coat etc.

Your second child will have to adapt to their lot in life; they’ll get all your attention once you get home, but first thing they’ll be thrown in a snow suit/all in one and dragged on the school run hungry!

Portable breakfasts your 3 year old can eat in the car might help you if time is really an issue; when you get an hour on a Sunday, make up breakfast wraps (tortilla wrap with egg & sliced cheese, and/or ham & bacon, English muffin with peanut butter...), freeze and take one out each night to microwave before leaving (or give them whilst you sort baby out, so they can feed themselves).

Definitely breakfast table, bag & clothes sorted the night before.

Baby can stay in night clothes unless leaks.

Unless you're planning to go anywhere other than straight home after drop off, go for easiest clothes etc for you - superficial respectibility is your watchword here, and anyone who turns an eye to a harrassed mother of a newborn still in pjs with hair scraped back in a pony when the morning has all gone wrong can do one.

So had dc2 as a c section- agree it won't be 6 weeks before driving, speak to you midwife or hv.

It hwlped our day started around 6am.

Dc2 fed, nappy changed. Left in sleep suit. Then I had shower before dh left for work. Then dc1 fed, dressed and we walked out.

I had breakfast when we got back.

Thanks All, this is making me feel alot less panicked!.. DP is usually out the house by 6am and not back until 6pm as he works a 1.5hr drive from home, although he plans to WFH one or two days a week where he can (works for a small company, so WDH is dependant on his week to week workload).

I already prep everything for DD nursery the night before as I like to be organised, but I think the 'bare minimum' approach for me and baby for the nursery run, plus the use of the sling for sorting breakfast stuff would be a good plan..

I'd LOVE to be able to feed on the go in the sling, but I never managed it with DD... Im quite large chested even when not BF (GG cup!) so trying to negotiate those, a sling and a latch was just beyond me!

@MotionActivatedDog I did say I had a pretty chill baby 😂 she woke at the same time like clockwork 🙌

No problem here as 2yo makes sure we are all awake by 6am anyway :-(

I'd say take it slowly. Does the elder child need to be in nursery at a certain time?

Well, there's a lot of shouting! "Shoes, teeth, have a wee, hurry up!" 🤣🤣🤣

When DS2 was newborn he was fed, clean nappy and in the buggy or sling - I used to change him when we got home. I'd just have a quick wash, chuck on some clothes, if there was time some make up. I often use a timer to get DS1 ready in time because otherwise he messes around.

@NelliePig Wake up 10 minutes before baby and do hair and er... make up? Blimey. Are people putting make up on with newborns? I don't think I even brushed my hair for at least two weeks. My standards were obviously low.

OP - rather than a sling when sorting breakfast stuff, I had a Moses basket the front room and the kitchen/diner for the baby.

I found slings very impractical for rushing around up and down stairs, helping with toddler shoes etc. It wasn't fair on the baby to be jiggled around so much either. They are good for non-rushing times though of course.

I stopped putting on makeup when my daughter was born nearly 4.5 years ago 😅😂

I have bag packed the night before and clothes out ready. I've mastered 10min shower & make up for myself. Breastfeed baby while DS is eating breakfast. Unfortunately drop off usually coinsides with newborn wanting to nap so she has a little scream there and back - only 5 mins in car. It is a bit manic but home to a nice quiet house by 9am and can enjoy cuddles on the sofa and a peaceful breakfast.