(Updated) How long to get a handle on our new morning routine?

lmdbww

I need to get a handle on DD's morning routine.  She starts preschool next week so we need to leave the house by 8 (her dropoff is at 9 am). I will bring her to work with me, have about a half hour downtime to eat breakfast, and then drop her off.

I started this week with getting her bedtime routine going at 8 again, getting a bath, putting next day's outfit out, etc.  She's doing well at night, but in the morning she's a nightmare. 

Yesterday she was hard to wake up but easy to get dressed, but we still left an hour later than we had to.  Today she was impossible to wake up, got half dressed, and we left a half hour later than we needed to.  

In reality, how many weeks/days do you think it will take to get the hang of it? 

Update: Ok, so today is day 4 of our new bedtime/morning routine.  Yesterday I got to work on time, DD was fully dressed and brought breakfast. Today, we were 10 minutes early! Fully dressed, with breakfast. So, we're heading in the right direction, and I am interested to see how it goes next week when she really is going to preschool.

n&bcarlson

An hour or even a half hour late is a lot to overcome.  I would give it at least a week to get in the routine.  Sounds like you may need to break the routine down into smaller steps and figure out how much time realistically they will take, then make sure to get her up early enough.  For example, I would only allow 10 minutes for myself to get breakfast, but it takes DD over 30 minutes so that's what I allow.  We get up at 7:15 and I allow her until 7:45 for breakfast, then 15 minutes to potty and brush teeth, then 15 minutes to dress and and do hair- out the door at 8:15.  It takes constant prodding and reminding from me at this point, so I have to watch the clock like a hawk.

angelakh

I agree that an hour is a lot to overcome!  I would try transitioning her bedtime even earlier, like 7:30.  I also try to remove any distractions, like TV or toys.  

 

rsd12

After a summer of no morning schedule, I was a bit worried getting everyone up & dressed by 8 am (last year it was by 8:50 am & I was driving & less importance on getting there ON time)!  It helped that we ALL went to bed early, with me getting an earlier start than them I can have everything ready that they need to get going in the morning.  My kids (3 boys) are fed, dressed, teeth brushed & shoes on 15 minutes before the bus comes!  I am sure we will have rough mornings but so far we have been off to an excellent start. I do try to get some things done the night before - pick out clothes (if it is a struggle let her help), pack lunch, coffee ready, back packs packed.  This gives me more time in the morning too focus on them.  

Mrs Manners

Could you try an earlier bedtime? Ds needs to be in bed asleep by 8:00 for our routine to work. I've found that it's best foe me to get up and shower and then go in and wake him up. I turn on his lamp, wake him and tell him good morning and then leave him in bed. I then go put on my makeup and dry my hair (his door is open and light on so he's coming alive during this time). We then get him out of bed, brush is teeth, put on sunscreen, clothes, shoes (all out out the night before) and wet his hair. Showers or baths for him are done at night. I then hand him a boiled egg or a piece of fruit to eat while I load our bags in the car and put on my work clothes. He eats his full breakfast once he gets to school. The trick for us was that time he has to wake up slowly in his bed before I try to get him out of bed. He's still whiney some days during the getting dressed part but is totally fine once he gets down stairs and gets something to eat.