How do you get ready with a toddler?

[TinnedTom]

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!

My DH is away all the time for long periods with work (military), only way is before I get the kids up. Both of mine are pretty happy in their cots when awake so I just get up when I hear the first one and get ready. Takes me around 5/10mins to get showered and dressed. I couldn't do it if they were both up, one is 3 and the other is 15 months. However before I had DC2 I would get ready when DC1 was up, I would close the stair gate upstairs and put the tv on in my room. He was fine while I got showered/dressed.

My feral two year old was allowed to roam free upstairs but kept climbing the damn radiators and sitting on the windowsills. All the windows were locked but I still had to do a thorough check before every shower. I’m back to toddlers roaming free now and even though my twins aren’t climbers, I still have to regularly do a window lock check.

So whatever you work out OP, make sure the windows are locked.