Moms with Toddlers

emaddock

We are having the hardest time getting our 2 year old out the door in the morning.  It was tough before but now with Baby Brother, it is even tougher.  Any advice for making this morning transition easier?  We have made a "list" of what she needs to do in the morning (I know that sounds crazy but she loves lists) and I am contemplating a sticker reward chart.  But the tantrums in the AM are just a bad way to start everyone's day.

byrne15

get up earlier??

we also do sticker charts for certain things we are working on and it seems to work very well.

we also get ds#1 up earlier so we aren't as "rushed"

superned

Same here.  I honestly don't know if we'd ever leave the house if DH wasn't here in the mornings to get DD ready.  I've only had to do it once so far and it took forever.  We were late and she dawdled so much on the walk to child care that we got caught in a downpour.

If you aren't able to have a second pair of hands, I'd probably just do as much as possible the night before.  In the morning all DD has to do is use the potty and get dressed (she has breakfast at child care).  I've even given up on teeth brushing in the morning. 

I lay out her clothes and make sure her bag is packed before she goes to bed.  DH gets her up and brings her down to the bathroom and then basically barricades her in the bathroom to get her dressed so she can't get distracted by other things.

I like the idea of a list.  I'd also think about picking your battles and just not worrying about some things (like teeth brushing...we do it at night before bed and if it doesn't get done in the morning some days, oh well!).  Also, make sure that she's getting enough sleep.  I know I'm totally grouchy if I have to wake up early and didn't get enough sleep.  : )

emaddock

Thanks ladies! We get up early and do a lot the night before such as make meals for the next day, bath, lay out clothes. The battle is usually over taking off her pajamas and putting on her clothes. We talked about how we need to do this every day but she still fights us. She clearly wants control over the situation. Trying to figure out ways to give her some control over the nonnegotiable morning routine items.

superned

emaddock:

Thanks ladies! We get up early and do a lot the night before such as make meals for the next day, bath, lay out clothes. The battle is usually over taking off her pajamas and putting on her clothes. We talked about how we need to do this every day but she still fights us. She clearly wants control over the situation. Trying to figure out ways to give her some control over the nonnegotiable morning routine items.

Does she get a bath each night?  Honestly, I'd just bathe her at night and then put her clothes on (or at least whatever she could sleep in comfortably) to sleep, at least for right now.  Kids don't usually get dirty while they sleep!

vanessaNOV2

Prep stuff night before. Ds 1 is 3 and takes FOREVER to eat breakfast. I now set a timer on microwave and when it beeps it means times up! I also do this when he uses potty, he can sit on it for like an hour.

emaddock

vanessaNOV2:

Prep stuff night before. Ds 1 is 3 and takes FOREVER to eat breakfast. I now set a timer on microwave and when it beeps it means times up! I also do this when he uses potty, he can sit on it for like an hour.

Timer is a great idea!