How do you get ready in the morning with an 11 month old?

[SpringTime2023]

Logistically, where do you put them? They used to be happy playing by themselves in their cot or playpen with toys for 30 mins - but over the last few weeks she's really kicked off being left.

The only other thing that is proven is watching nursery rhymes on a tablet, but I keep reading how awful these are at their age so I feel the weight of guilt ugh.

I get up earlier than my LO (also 11 months) to shower and get ready properly these days

I just got ready at super speed in 5/10 mins whilst they pottered around on the floor. Or if we weren’t going out until after her morning nap, I’d get ready during that. I wouldn’t always resort to the tablet if possible.

I would sit her on my bed with books and get dressed, do hair etc next to her. Keep talking to her etc x

I just involve my 14 month old in what I’m doing and always have. She plays in the bathroom with her bath toys on the floor and I talk to her whilst washing. Then she’s sits with toys whilst I get dressed. Keeping talking to her or singing to her. She loves unpacking my make up bag!!
That being said… she’s quite a chill toddler and doesn’t race around so I know I have it easier than others!!!

I got up earlier than Dts. Coffee and being able to shower in peace made a better me
For the rest of the day! They were (still are) early risers but it worked for us.

DT’s were in their cots or in playpen whilst DH and I got ready for work. We used the playpen from day one so they were used to it.

My youngest is 9 months but this is what I do too

Cot/playpen/pushchair. Baby proof your room. Bottle, snacks, toys, nursery rhymes, wait for a nap, get up earlier, do you have a partner?

Think I need to do some baby proofing then.

She's currently waking at 5am average so I can't get ready before (need to figure out why that is).

She was happy on her own playing but now grumbles a lot, maybe it's a phase.

She loves exploring but in the bathroom currently loves climbing on the toilet or pulling the toilet roll. Think I need more toys :)

As long as she's not actually crying or actually getting upset, let her grumble for the essential stuff like showering. Then snack /breakfast or just let her potter about with you while you do other stuff , like getting dressed.

I have 14 months old twins and mine have stopped entertaining them selves for 30 mins too whilst I get ready.
I’ve started doing my makeup in the kitchen because it’s next to the living room and giving them a snack in the playpen with miss Rachel on 😂
i try to do minimal tv with them unless I need to do something so they’re abit excited by it x

Playpen/travel cot

Mine have either crawled around my room while I'm getting ready or sat in my bed with a milk and watched TV!

While showering they have to be safe of course, so either in a cot or a safe space.

So let her grumble?

This is exactly what I do! My make up bag is her favourite thing to play with. I do the same for everything - cooking, washing, cleaning. It's much better for them to get involved with things you're doing.

Put her in the (empty!) bath with some toys

My son at this age got hold of my handbag while I was getting ready for work. The next time I looked round he had found my lipstick, pulled the top off and decorated his face with stripes!

What is your bathroom setup?

For various reasons it is not possible to baby proof our bathroom. We have a shower over the bath and keep the room warm.

At 11 months I would take my clothes into the bathroom. Baby in a bath seat with toys at one end of the bath, me and the shower at the other end. Quick shower and get dressed before baby got bored of the bath seat. Then teeth if I was lucky. Rinse and dress the baby. Lots of interesting toys on rotation.

This works until the baby can climb out of the bath seat.

Amazed people had their babies in playpens for 30 mins! Mine screamed if I just put him on the bed and walked over to the wardrobe to get clothes. .

How did I get ready? I didn't. Shower only when he's gone to bed.

In the morning brush my teeth whilst holding him. Same for having a wee Same for making him food. I just ate whatever I could grab.

He screamed blue murder if he wasn't held.
I'm glad those days are over.

Playpen for 5 minutes while I'm actually in the shower (sometimes she grumbles but I just leave her to it as it's such a short time) then she potters around the bedroom while I get dressed and do make up.

Maybe just let her grumble, it won't kill her.

In cot with toys for a quick shower, do hair (using hot curler/strightners, so can’t have them pulling at my legs) in the kitchen while they sit in high chair next to me having a snack, helps me with make up by banging my brushes together.