If you have a preschooler, toddler, and newborn...

cmbedd · September 2011

DS#3 is 4 days old. DS#2 is 19 months, and DD is almost 4. DD started preschool this year and goes 3 mornings a week. My H is home this week but starting next week I'll have to get all three kids out of the house for drop off and pick up. Any tips??? I'm sort of at a loss as to how we will get everyone out of the house on time and also how I will drag DD, DS (who still requires a hand to get from place A to place and new DS in the carseat from the car to the door of the preschool for drop off and pick up. I know it can be done and I know we will figure it out...just wondering if others are in the same situation and if so, how do you do it?

Any other tips on life with 3 little ones are appreciated as well! Thanks!

angelakh · September 2011

I only have one, but see moms of 3 dropping off LOs at preschool. The most common way I see is a double stroller with the oldest either holding on to Mom's hand or the stroller.

TinyPinkBug · September 2011

I only have a toddler and a preschooler who acts like a toddler. And we NEVER get out of the house on time, it is so stressful on us all. I would suggest trying (it would never work in my house, but may yours) giving you preschooler the big boy task of getting his own things together, getting himself dressed, and maybe some easy task involving getting your toddler ready like getting out LO#2's shoes or something to keep him occupied and feeling helpful while you get the other two ready. I also would worry so much about everyone in matching clothes and out of PJs, well the two little ones anyway. I have taken my 2 yr old to drop her brother to school in her bathing suit and rain boots because that is what she wanted to wear. I have seen parents drop off siblings with toddlers in diapers and oatmeal covered t-shirts, carrying them barefoot. We've all been there. As for at school, I see parents bring a double stroller and put the two little ones in the stroller and the older one walk. Take your time, if you are late, you are late. If it gets too overwhelming, you can always ask the preschool staff if they can help. Maybe they can even have a teacher come get your oldest from the car so you don't have to get the younger two out. Good luck.

Spin313 · September 2011

I only have two: 3 1/2 yo DS and 6 month old DD. I make sure to wake up before the kids get up so I can get myself ready. Often, I lay out all the kids clothes the night before and put all the stuff (bookbag, diaper bag, coats) next to the door so nothing gets left behind. I get DS ready first, and then get DD ready while DS is having breakfast. Also, I plan to be out of the house 10 minutes earlier than necessary...then even if we run behind, we're still actually on time.

franciscaz · September 2011

When the twins were still babies and Harmon started last year my nanny asked Harm's teacher to fetch Harmon from the curb. It was a lifesaver and Ms. S didn't think it was big deal. That way Miriam didn't have to get the twins out of the car.

CMM05 · September 2011

Hi! I have 3 very close in age to yours DS1 is almost 4, DS2 is 22 months and DD is 3 months.

DS1 goes to pre-k 5 days a week and DS2 goes 3 days a week.

We luckily have curb-side drop off and pick-up......it honestly is a lifesaver. BUT......you would be surprised at how many schools will help you out if they don't offer that. Even if they won't come get DS1 from the car for you, many will let you park right at the curb. I would definitely ask.

As for getting out of the house......you will figure it out.....because you have to! Both of my boys also went to camp this past summer, so I was getting all 3 of them ready and in the car when DD was 2 weeks old.

After everyone is dressed and fed, I put all of the totes, my purse, diaper bag, etc. in the car. Then, I put DS2 in the car (he is the most difficult right now and runs away if I don't get him buckled in the car). After that, DS1 gets in the car and then I put DD in. There were many mornings at first when DD was screaming the whole car ride because it was time for her to eat. Several times I had to pull over in a parking spot at school after getting the boys out of the car to feed her. It was hard at first, but got easier the more we did it.

I give the boys a lot of forewarnings (i.e. 2 more bites and then we need to get out shoes on......or.......after mommy puts DD in her seat, it will be time to walk out the door.)

GL! You can do it!!

shopgirl78 · September 2011

I did. Mind are now older: 1st grade, PreK and toddler but I had a Prek4, toddler (2.5) and NB. Wse'd walk to PreK as its less than one block, so I'd use the double stroller. MH alway walked DD to class and I would walk her home with the boys. It sucked that it was winter, on really bad days, MH would offer to come home and pick her up so I didn't have to get the boys out. Honestly, it was just part of our normal routine. Some day sucked (NB would be hungry) but you do what you gotta do and you get through it...

akayf · September 2011

I only have a 3 year old and 3 month old but here's what we do. I lay out everyone's clothes the night before. DS's backpack and diaper bag are both packed too(I usually run errands while DS1 is at school since it's only 2.5 hours and it's silly to go home Plus it's so much easier to get stuff down with only 1 kid..so I need to make sure the diaper bag is ready)

DH wakes up first. He gets DS1 up and they eat breakfast together while I get myself ready. He also dresses DS for me before he leaves for work(he leaves at 8:15/8:20) DS2 is a heavy sleeper and often doesn't wake up on his own for the day until after 9 or 10. Luckily, he is wakes up happy, even if you have to wake him up. If he's still sleeping, I'll wake him up 30 minutes before school starts, change his diaper and clothes, give him half a bottle and then load everyone up in the car.

When we get to school, which is luckily only 5 minutes away. I have to walk DS1 into school. It's run by the YMCA at the local community center. The preschool classrooms are on the 2nd floor. I grab the half-finished bottle in case it's needed and get out the stroller. Baby goes in the stroller. DS1 holds onto his handle(I have a large carbiner clipped onto the stroller. It helps for him to have a clearly defined thing to hold onto) And we all walk in.

it has been working for us.

ETA-do you have a sling or a stetchy wrap? You could wear the baby across the parking lot and then both hands will be free to get the older 2 into the building.

HarrietNJMommy · September 2011

I had a 3 year old, a 19 month old and a newborn. I did dropoff/pickup for a while with all 3. AND, when I was doing this, 2 other moms were in the same situation (with very similar age spans) at our same preschool.

The EASIEST way is to find another mom to bring your child out to you or in to the school. I would really try and do this. It makes it easy all around. This way, you don't have to get all 3 in/out of the car at the preschool.

Otherwise, get your baby out first and into a stroller, your preschooler and toddler MUST hold hands OR hold onto the stroller and then you can go.

GL! You will survive! I did this and lived to tell!

HarrietNJMommy · September 2011

We are NOT allowed curb dropoff or pickup and the teachers do not leave their classrooms to help as they have other students to tend to. So, finding a "mom" buddy worked out much better for me.

Also, do as much as you can the night before (I still do this, since I have a kid in K, a kid in pre-K and now a preschooler in a 2.5YO program) - outfits, lunch, snack, homework, etc.

GL again!

bim38106 · September 2011

My friend is about to be in the same situation (due soon w/#3), I'll have to let her know about these responses!

Just wanted to mention that my old neighbor was in the same situation as well. I wasn't working, so I would come to her house 3 mornings a week and watch the 2 youngest for 15 mins while she took her oldest to preschool. May not be the most ideal way to do it (I love the Mommy-buddy idea!), but in a pinch, maybe there's someone close by who could stop in for 15mins to let you run to school? An elderly friendly neighbor, high school kid (depending on time of course!) or something?

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