Practical tips needed: 3 under 4

[cfh2287]

I need some tips to cope with my 3 children aged 8 weeks, 22 months and 3.5. Their father is away for the week so I am on my own. When we are out and about in the day its mostly fine but I'm struggling to cope with the mornings, getting everyone dressed etc and the evenings from 5 till bedtime. If anyone has been in the same position please tell me how you coped and even made it a bit enjoyable. It just feels like too much for one person to manage.

Yikes, sounds really tough! I s have the exact same situation (singleton + twins). When my DH was away my mum came every evening to help with bath/bedtime. Do you have anyone that can come for a couple of hours?

Mornings sometimes my eldest didn't get fully ready for the day until babies were napping. Didn't bother her in the least! Low standards are your friends in this sort of situation, it wont do any harm at all.

I was a single parent to 3 under 4. I coped by:
Having a strict routine,
Getting clothes out the night before,
Getting washed and dressed before going downstairs,
Everything has a place and getting dc to help tidy before going for bath at night,
Making main meal during day and popping in slow cooker also batch cooking,
Having everything close by in bathroom when bathing,
Having a safe place to put dc if needed (a cot/moses basket),
A simple breakfast so not giving dc too much choice,
TV time after evening meal gave me time to organise bedtime things/tidy up,
As soon as dc are in bed I'd shower and get ready for bed.
It gets easier mine are all teens now and it seems a distant memory. I do think the strict routine from early age has helped and they still continue to have their own routines /are able to get themselves ready and out of the house on time with no prompting (which apparently a lot of their friends can't do).

Thank you, those tips are really helpful, tomorrow I'm definitely going to get everyone dressed first thing and see if that makes mornings a bit easier.

Fair play you must be doing so well to even get through the days if you're only asking about mornings/ evenings!

I sometimes struggle with 1 😂

I do echo the others though (even with 1) I find it's an easier start if dc is dressed / washed / hair done etc before going downstairs- even easier if I am too.
I also get out the morning clothes the night before as it seems to stop the morning faff of questioning what to wear!

After dinner could you have the older 2 do colouring/ reading/ quiet games etc as a bit of down time for all of you? Or nursery rhymes on tv maybe. You probably already bath the older 2 together etc to save time.

You are doing a grand job well done!

@Thepowerofthelook Superb advice!!