Page 3 | How do you get ready with a toddler?

TinnedTom · 2023-06-30T17:21:45+00:00

Usually DH and I tag team in the mornings so one of us will get ready while the other looks after our 2 year old then we swap. However, DH is going away for work soon so I’ll be on my own - this might sound like a silly question but how do I manage to get showered and dressed? I could get up before DS but would rather not as he wakes at 5 usually!

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Giltedged · 01/07/2023 01:34

… bingo.

Seriously, parenting toddlers is hard enough. Do we really have to hold a mother a bit worried about coping alone responsible for all of the ills of society?

Wicksytricksy · 01/07/2023 02:30

I either get up before him or he comes in the bathroom with me. Inevitably he opens the door and disappears off to play or yells "bottom" at me repeatedly.

If DD is up as well I often leave them both in front of the TV. DD is a massive tell tale and he can't even fart without her letting me know in the loudest voice known to humanity so I can always hear if there's an issue.

If I need to have the "everything" shower I do that at night once they're in bed.

BotherThat · 01/07/2023 03:08

I used to take DD1 in the shower with me when she was 2. Both of my kids were climbers as toddlers and if left unsupervised, would attempt to scale a wardrobe or use the headboard as a tightrope or similar shenanigans.

WandaWonder · 01/07/2023 04:20

I just got ready, shower and getting dressed and teeth didn't take hours so I just did really

mathanxiety · 01/07/2023 04:36

ShirleyPhallus · 30/06/2023 20:53

But… couldn’t you just bring her in to the bathroom with you and let her play with loo rolls / chat to her / let her wipe down the glass etc etc?

im not suggesting leaving the toddler on another floor, but I do think it’s a bit madness not to be able to do anything without absolute hands on supervision at every moment

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Have you ever noticed how many hard surfaces there are in the average bathroom, plus the attractive nuisance of loo water to dabble hands in and drink, the loo to fill to the brim with loo roll and then flush, the sink to climb into, the cupboard under the sink full of cleaning stuff to swig, the towel rails to pull down, the delicious minty toothpaste to suck on or decorate the walls with, the hot water tap to run, not to mention the bathtub to climb into, the floor to soak and slip on. Truly, a bathroom is a paradise for an enterprising and adventurous two year old.

Peony654 · 01/07/2023 05:35

Just leave them whilst you have a shower, in a safe room with the door closed or baby gate?

Jemandthehologramsunite · 01/07/2023 05:45

Peony654 · 01/07/2023 05:35

Just leave them whilst you have a shower, in a safe room with the door closed or baby gate?

This. Would they be ok in their room or in the cot with some toys? You probably want to think about this longer term as not being able to leave the toddler alone for 5-10 minutes probably isn't feasible, what if you need to go to the loo or something

SErunner · 01/07/2023 07:01

Make sure upstairs is safe and just get in the shower and leave them to it. I encourage her to bring toys into the bathroom but I can hear her easily wherever she is upstairs. It only takes me 5 mins to shower and then she usually comes in and watches/joins in brush teeth, hair etc.

FrillyGoatFluff · 01/07/2023 07:19

Surely every bathroom has a door? Bring them in with you, shut the door, toys on the floor, have a quick shower. I spend a lot of time flicking her with water and we sing lots of watery songs (five little ducks is a particular favourite! Lol)

Into your bedroom together, door shut to contain, toys on the floor. Slap on some makeup while you chat to them.

That's how I do it with my 14mo. I'm not going to win any Glow Up awards, but I have make up on and my hair is blow dried... I don't understand why it's so complicated?!?

ShirleyPhallus · 01/07/2023 07:19

mathanxiety · 01/07/2023 04:36

Have you ever noticed how many hard surfaces there are in the average bathroom, plus the attractive nuisance of loo water to dabble hands in and drink, the loo to fill to the brim with loo roll and then flush, the sink to climb into, the cupboard under the sink full of cleaning stuff to swig, the towel rails to pull down, the delicious minty toothpaste to suck on or decorate the walls with, the hot water tap to run, not to mention the bathtub to climb into, the floor to soak and slip on. Truly, a bathroom is a paradise for an enterprising and adventurous two year old.

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But…. You’re there with them to keep an eye on them….?

HAF1119 · 01/07/2023 07:47

I get ready with mine around me, always done the mornings alone so I haven't really thought about it to be honest! Sometimes I set him up with toys in the living room and know he's happy and have a quick shower, sometimes he potters about in the bathroom with me, he's 3 now and I leave the bathroom door open and give him free reign to go up and downstairs but he normally just stands and stalks watches me in the shower, when he was 2 if he wasn't happily playing downstairs with the stair gate on then I'd lock us both in the bathroom and leave him with toys but he'd generally just watch me and boss me 'wash yourself!' Same with getting dressed etc I'd just shut us in the bedroom unless he was happy doing something downstairs

Solsticesummer · 01/07/2023 07:51

I used to shut her in the bathroom with me with a cushion on the floor and coco melon on the iPad! We could still chat while I showered

00100001 · 01/07/2023 07:51

mathanxiety · 01/07/2023 04:36

Have you ever noticed how many hard surfaces there are in the average bathroom, plus the attractive nuisance of loo water to dabble hands in and drink, the loo to fill to the brim with loo roll and then flush, the sink to climb into, the cupboard under the sink full of cleaning stuff to swig, the towel rails to pull down, the delicious minty toothpaste to suck on or decorate the walls with, the hot water tap to run, not to mention the bathtub to climb into, the floor to soak and slip on. Truly, a bathroom is a paradise for an enterprising and adventurous two year old.

Show quote history

So.... ?

You're RIGHT THERE.

How are they reaching things like toothpaste and even if they could you're 2 feet away from them and can see them ...

strawberry2017 · 01/07/2023 07:58

Take them to the bathroom with me. Toys on the floor.

Mochatatts · 01/07/2023 08:02

My 2 year old stands and chats to me while I shower. There's a stairgate at the top of the stairs so she can leave the bathroom and go in her bedroom. But we just manage or shower the night before.

bussteward · 01/07/2023 08:04

Giltedged · 30/06/2023 20:54

It depends @ShirleyPhallus . If the bathroom isn’t safe or can’t be contained or whatever. Just different toddlers and houses and all the rest of it, isn’t it?

Exactly. These threads always attract someone smugly parenting their easy, biddable child in an ideal set-up. Kids are different! Lives are different!

DD at two would have had the shower curtain down, eaten the hand soap and put all the loo rolls down the loo in the time it took me to blink.

Not sure why showering the night before is such an unbelievable thing, either. She was a 4.30am riser for a year. So a shower the night before then stumbling downstairs to cuddle with CBeebies, and later get dressed together in her room, was a far easier solution than trying to shower in the morning.

bussteward · 01/07/2023 08:06

ShirleyPhallus · 01/07/2023 07:19

But…. You’re there with them to keep an eye on them….?

Show quote history

But… you’re in the shower and kids move fast. By the time I’ve pulled the shower curtain back and stepped over the side of the bath to grab her, she’d have done something. Anything.

Dollmeup · 01/07/2023 09:58

If I wanted to wash my hair, shave my legs etc I did it in the evening after bedtime so I could take my time. If my partner wasn't there I'd just take the monitor in the bathroom with me.

I need a quick morning shower to wake me up but that takes about 2 mins. I had a travel cot in the living room so I'd just put them in there with the TV on while I had a quick shower and dressed. By the time they outgrown the travel cot the routine was pretty set so they just still sat and watched TV while I showered. I just let them potter around while I did my makeup. I just eat on the go anyway so I'd grab a few bites while packing bags etc.

However my kids have never really been the kind to climb on the worktop, draw on walls etc. If they were I probably would have had to take them in the bathroom with me!

mathanxiety · 01/07/2023 17:28

So.... ?

You're RIGHT THERE.

How are they reaching things like toothpaste and even if they could you're 2 feet away from them and can see them ...

Bless...
You're in the shower, with the curtains closed (no shower screen here as the shower in in the bathtub) and DC climbs up on the loo, reaches across the sink and grabs the toothpaste. Or maybe it's his lucky day and he finds a razor. The possibilities are endless.

There's water in your ears, there's shampoo in your hair, your eyes are closed, the shower itself makes a splashing noise, the bathroom fan is buzzing away. Yet you can hear and see the toddler chowing down on delicious, minty toothpaste, or decorating the walls with it, or unrolling all the bog roll and stuffing it into the loo, or sticking his hands into the water and dabbling about, or opening the door to the cupboard under the sink, etc, etc.

Carbis · 01/07/2023 17:39

@mathanxiety you forgot the toilet brush 😂 My toddler loves the toilet brush 🤢

mathanxiety · 01/07/2023 21:40

How could I forget the toilet brush!

Or the stealth scrubbing of the loo with a toothbrush?

00100001 · 01/07/2023 22:07

mathanxiety · 01/07/2023 17:28

So.... ?

You're RIGHT THERE.

How are they reaching things like toothpaste and even if they could you're 2 feet away from them and can see them ...

Bless...
You're in the shower, with the curtains closed (no shower screen here as the shower in in the bathtub) and DC climbs up on the loo, reaches across the sink and grabs the toothpaste. Or maybe it's his lucky day and he finds a razor. The possibilities are endless.

There's water in your ears, there's shampoo in your hair, your eyes are closed, the shower itself makes a splashing noise, the bathroom fan is buzzing away. Yet you can hear and see the toddler chowing down on delicious, minty toothpaste, or decorating the walls with it, or unrolling all the bog roll and stuffing it into the loo, or sticking his hands into the water and dabbling about, or opening the door to the cupboard under the sink, etc, etc.

My shower isn't a sound proof windowless box where razors are in reach of a 2 year old climbing in the loo...

I cannot understand how it's "impossible" to take a shower with a 2 yo present ... If they're that feral when in the shower give them an iPad for 3 minutes.

mathanxiety · 01/07/2023 22:19

The word for an adventurous, inquisitive toddler isn't "feral". It's "normal".

And the razor isn't in the shower.

EmeraldFox · 01/07/2023 22:26

mathanxiety · 01/07/2023 22:19

The word for an adventurous, inquisitive toddler isn't "feral". It's "normal".

And the razor isn't in the shower.

And a two year old that might scrub the toilet with the toilet brush but not a toothbrush because they know that is for their teeth, not for the 'yukky' toilet bowl where the wee and poo go? What do you call them?

Bigoldmachine · 01/07/2023 22:31

allow Lots of time for interruptions basically…

I do my normal getting ready routine but with lots of interruptions (which is fine by me, toddler being a toddler and all). I get the kids ready first, then get out an interesting puzzle or toy, and the iPad with something they like on, then I have a shower, get dressed, dry my hair, do makeup, yes they come and chat to me, show me toys, have fights I need to break up, bring me books to read etc but it does work!

to be fair my first child was a rule follower and wouldn’t have dreamed of doing anything like smear toothpaste on the walls or lick a loo brush, second child is far more of a loo brush licking type (as is oft the case), but luckily first child is such a grass he’d never get near it without her ratting him out anyway. Also he’s always been used to this, I used to do the same but with him in his bouncy chair, then his cot and now just playing in his room/with a screen. It’s worth working on imo, it’s good for toddlers to get used to you having to do things for you. Just allow lots of time

How do you get ready with a toddler?

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