https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 27 May 2026 12:52:52 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-your-toddler-dressed-in-the-mornings#post-161805 Thu, 17 May 2012 17:11:12 +0000 Honeybee 161805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: Good to know! If DD starts acting up again, I might have to try it. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-your-toddler-dressed-in-the-mornings#post-161797 Thu, 17 May 2012 17:01:50 +0000 Andrea 161797@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Honeybee: oh yes! I forgot to mention that! Yes, we have done it several times now on the really bad days. It totally works. She usually feels silly with no clothes on and requests them by the time she gets in the car. I feel like maybe I should just do that every day now that it is warm almost every morning! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-your-toddler-dressed-in-the-mornings#post-161787 Thu, 17 May 2012 16:58:52 +0000 Honeybee 161787@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: Now that it's getting warmer out, are you going to try the Baby Center suggestion? I'm really curious to find out if it works! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-your-toddler-dressed-in-the-mornings#post-161778 Thu, 17 May 2012 16:55:21 +0000 Andrea 161778@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Honeybee: oh another thing with the car is that she wants to drive the car so she hates her seat. So, I have to do the manhandling route more often than I would like. Glad that you found a method that works for DD, especially since you have DS!</p> <p>@banana: Haha! You remembered about Oscar. Well, of course she did not care about Oscar stickers after I got them. So as @honeybee mentioned, we eliminated choices. We hid all the diapers and take one out at a time. Surprisingly, she quickly accepted that all the diapers disappeared! So I went the same route with clothes and hid all of her clothes except for 2 options that she gets to pick from. That has helped somewhat but the clothes thing has not worked as well as diapers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-your-toddler-dressed-in-the-mornings#post-161739 Thu, 17 May 2012 16:07:29 +0000 banana 161739@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@andrea: Man....what to do??? What if you stick Oscar stickers all over the shirt and say "Wanna put on your Oscar shirt?" hahaha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-your-toddler-dressed-in-the-mornings#post-161710 Thu, 17 May 2012 15:39:20 +0000 Honeybee 161710@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: Lol, I can sympathize! I remind myself that "stubborness" is really "determination," but some days are harder than others. :)</p> <p>I used to wait around for DD to do everything in her own time, but now that we have DS, too, I just can't take 30 minutes to get her into her car seat every time we need to go somewhere! Here's what I do instead:</p> <p>1. Open up DD's door and tell her to get in/buckle herself in while I put DS in. She'll usually crawl into the front seat, instead, and pretend like she's driving.<br /> 2. When I get done putting DS away, I tell her that we need to go and I need her to be a big girl and buckle herself into her seat.<br /> 3. As long as she is making progress toward getting into her seat and sitting down so we can buckle, I just keep telling her she's a big girl, she's doing a good job, etc... If she refuses to cooperate or starts dawdling, I ask if she wants to do it herself or if she wants mommy to do it for her.<br /> 4. Most of the time that works. If it doesn't, I tell her I'm counting until three and then I'm going to do it for her. I count at a normal pace (not to fast but not dragging it out either, takes about 10-15 seconds).<br /> 5. If she's still resisting, I'll man-handle her into her seat, kicking and screaming.<br /> 6. When she calms down a little, I remind her that getting into her seat "like a big girl" is much easier/funner and then I encourage her to try to do it "like a big girl" next time.</p> <p>Being stricter and not letting her take so much time has helped. At first, it ended up being a lot of tantrums and me forcing the issue; now she pretty much takes the lead. I started changing my approach after reading Mr. Bee's blog post a while back about changing Charlie's behavior. I think having too many choices/too much free range can be scary and overwhelming for kids, and I think that's why DD was so difficult for a while. She was choosing what to do and when to do it, and it was making life difficult for all of us. Now, unless she is mostly autonomous in completing a task, she doesn't get a choice; she has to do it my way on my time, and I've found she's doing a lot better with this approach. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-your-toddler-dressed-in-the-mornings#post-161697 Thu, 17 May 2012 15:26:34 +0000 Andrea 161697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Honeybee: I am still scratching my head on this one. It is the same with the car seat and she can get into herself just fine but that is another fight. I don't know - I have an extremely stubborn child! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-your-toddler-dressed-in-the-mornings#post-161692 Thu, 17 May 2012 15:22:53 +0000 Honeybee 161692@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: Teaching DD how to dress herself revoluntionized our morning routine. </p> <p>She used to be just as difficult as your DD, @Andrea: We started encouraging her to dress herself (with a little help, still) and now she doesn't fight us nearly as much. With anything that she's resisting, I always ask her, "Do you want to do it yourself, like a big girl? Or do you want mommy to do it for you, like a baby?" This goes for everything: getting dressed, getting in her car seat, feeding herself, etc... 90% of the time she'll shape up immediately and do it herself (and she gets huge praises for it!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-your-toddler-dressed-in-the-mornings#post-161684 Thu, 17 May 2012 15:12:00 +0000 Andrea 161684@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@banana: I think it is hard to force them once they know how to take everything back off! I can put it on all I want but she just takes it right back off. </p> <p>@Mrs. Jacks: Letting DD pick her own clothes still hasn't helped. She isn't able to get much on herself except for pants but we're working on it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-your-toddler-dressed-in-the-mornings#post-161677 Thu, 17 May 2012 15:03:54 +0000 Red 161677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO is 17 1/2 months and hasn't started revolting yet but I dread the day that she does 'cause she is really quite stubborn......and strong. I feel you on the body contortions - LO has been doing this back-bending thing when she dislikes something. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-your-toddler-dressed-in-the-mornings#post-161675 Thu, 17 May 2012 14:58:27 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 161675@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The autonomy thing really works for us. She picks out her outfit and dresses herself (with a little guidance). With every choice that she makes and step she completes, there is a huge amount of praise, which I think also helps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-your-toddler-dressed-in-the-mornings#post-161666 Thu, 17 May 2012 14:52:25 +0000 banana 161666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't had to deal with this yet so I'm so curious to hear what works. I would think that we would somehow just force him to but I can imagine how hard that would be. These little ones are strong! My son isn't that interested/disinterested in clothes. He just wears that we give him. Do most kids hate getting dressed or is this something that mainly little girls do? (as you can tell i'm trying to mentally prepare for when my little girl arrives!!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-your-toddler-dressed-in-the-mornings#post-161655 Thu, 17 May 2012 14:46:19 +0000 Mama2Cakes 161655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just don't allow that kind of behavior. I turn the TV off, and I say "let's get dressed" He usually says "no" and comes along to his room, but occassionally this begins a tantrum. I pick him up, bring him in his room, and just get him dressed. The crying never lasts long, he ends up dressed, and off we go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-your-toddler-dressed-in-the-mornings#post-68878 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:50:25 +0000 mrs. wagon 68878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Luckily for us, since we started acknowledging RJ's emotions he's been a LOT more agreeable in the mornings. I think he trusts us more, and we're gentler with him. I've given up trying to get his coat on though-- if he won't let us put it on in the car, I just leave it off and wrap him in it when we get out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-your-toddler-dressed-in-the-mornings#post-68870 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:39:45 +0000 abbydabbydoodlebug 68870@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Man, that's a toughie. My nieces always loved picking out their clothes and getting dressed because I always made a huge deal about how cute they are/going to be. </p> <p>I love the first example you gave from Baby Center though! That's funny. I can see how that works! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-your-toddler-dressed-in-the-mornings#post-68869 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:35:57 +0000 Andrea 68869@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@chopsuey119: well, that's how it is at the moment. it is pretty hard. they are strong and contort their bodies in ways that make it difficult. and she can take off her shirt now so putting on her shirt is the hardest! oh and she can also take off her shoes and socks but those aren't such a big deal if she leaves the house without them on.</p> <p>@BoogieBea: she doesn't care about the iPad or iPhone either. =( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-your-toddler-dressed-in-the-mornings#post-68861 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:31:16 +0000 BoogieBea 68861@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Luckily, the iPad/iPhone distraction always seems to work for LO. Sometimes I just say, "let's change out of your pajamas" and I'll just start taking them off. There's no time for negotiations in the morning so I have to just put my foot down and get him moving. I also find that if I don't give him the time to think about it, he'll just go with the flow. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-your-toddler-dressed-in-the-mornings#post-68853 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:12:55 +0000 chopsuey 68853@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow. I have no idea what I'm gonna do if my Lo refuses to put clothes on. I'll probably force the clothes on her. :) kickin and crying. ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-your-toddler-dressed-in-the-mornings#post-68739 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:33:10 +0000 Andrea 68739@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Getting the LO ready in the mornings for daycare has not been fun (understatement). She's approaching 2 so I think this is pretty standard behavior. Things I've tried that do not work:</p> <p>1. Remaining calm/no raised voices<br /> 2. Not rushing her/providing transitions<br /> 3. Acknowledging her emotions and feelings<br /> 4. Letting her pick out her outfit<br /> 5. Letting her pick out another outfit when she changes her mind about the first one<br /> 6. Bribing her with TV, You Tube, a toy, food, anything<br /> 7. Walking away and hoping she'll just come around to it<br /> 8. Telling stories/making it seem fun</p> <p>I'm sure I'm forgetting something but you get the idea. None of these things are working. I read this on Baby Center and I would want to try it except that it is winter and I would feel bad having her outside with no clothes on right now.</p> <p>"I think the advice regarding giving your child a choice is absolutely funny. It may work for kids who actually want to put clothes on. My child would prefer nothing more than to wear her blankets. She throws an absolute fit if I try to unravel her from her "blankies" and put clothes on. We even had a marathon time out session lasting 40 minutes long. Since then I remain calm and distract her with TV, if we are staying home. But if we are going somewhere and she still refuses, I calmly grab her clothes, shoes and socks, and put them in the car. I put her in the car seat with no clothes on and then when we reach our destination she always wants out of the car and I say, "But you have no clothes on, I guess we will have to sit here." She always decides to get dressed just to get out of the car."</p> <p>Another interesting option from Baby Center:</p> <p>"We have this problem, and on the days where we need him up &amp; out quickly, I've started putting him to bed in his day care clothes -- sweat pants and a long sleeve t-shirt. It has changed our mornings during the week. It works for us!"</p> <p>I think this would throw her off, though. She is so used to picking out her pajamas for bed each night. </p> <p>What are the tactics that work for your toddler? </p>