https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 13 May 2026 00:13:18 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids/page/2#post-2428445 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 21:51:09 +0000 ElbieKay 2428445@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>FYI my almost 2yo asks for milk first thing in the morning -- it's legacy routine from when we weaned 6mo ago -- and then he is ok to wait for full breakfast til our nanny arrives at 7:30 (and formerly 8). Can you do something like that to tide him over and then let the nanny handle the rest? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids/page/2#post-2428437 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 21:45:50 +0000 matador84 2428437@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't read any pp but I have been solo parenting in the AM since my first child was born. I feel like I have created a pretty good routine! I actually kind of hate it when DH is home in the morning on a rare occasion because he totally throws my schedule off!<br /> My kids are 3 and almost 2.<br /> 615-my alarm goes off. If the kids aren't up on their own yet, I make my coffee and a quick breakfast (almost always something I can microwave and/or run around the house with)<br /> 630-I get dressed and do my make up. I really try to lay my clothes out the night before but that doesn't always happen.<br /> 640-Back to the kitchen where I pack the kids their lunch and get their backpacks ready. I fill up their cups with milk or water and put it in the side pocket on their backpacks. Breakfast for them is always something I can heat up at daycare. If one child or both happen to be up at this time I either fix cereal for the older one or give the younger a yogurt. Definitely something where they don't need supervision eating it.<br /> I try and avoid any/all tv in the mornings.<br /> 650-Wake up 1 child and get them dressed, sit on potty, brush teeth, do hair<br /> 655-Wake up the other child and get them dressed, same as above as needed. I also have both kids clothing laid out the night before.<br /> 700-710 at the LATEST-I strap them in their carseats. This might sounds ridiculous but I keep their shoes in the car and don't put them on until we get to daycare. It saves me a step getting out the door! I toss their backpacks in the trunk and any other things we might need--nap mats, diapers, my lunch, etc. This gives me a minute to collect myself before pulling out of the garage.</p> <p>You can totally do it, but find the routine that works for you! I do feel pretty good about myself MOST mornings knowing I can get myself ready and presentable and 2 toddlers out the door in an hour or less 5 days a week! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids/page/2#post-2428148 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 17:31:09 +0000 Andrea 2428148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: I also did a reward chart for getting dressed by herself so that was motivating until she got into the routine and now it's just second nature. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids/page/2#post-2428120 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 17:17:27 +0000 Boogs 2428120@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's a lot of rushing. To make things slightly simpler we have simple breakfasts and get clothes set out the night before. We only have school twice a week, I dread the fun in the fall when kinder starts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids/page/2#post-2428109 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 17:12:33 +0000 Veggiemama 2428109@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like others have mentioned I have as much as possible ready and packed the night before. </p> <p>One thing that makes a huge difference is I get up before the kids and get myself completely ready, eat breakfast and put the bags in the car. It's painful but it's much easier when all I have to do is finish packing their lunches and focus on getting them ready. </p> <p>They both need a few minutes to get up so I start waking them up 15-20 minutes before they need to actually get out of bed. </p> <p>My youngest is also very clingy and the slightest thing can upset him and throw off the whole morning so having everything else ready really helps in case he wants to eat breakfast in my lap, or doesn't want me to leave his side while he gets dressed etc. </p> <p>It's still stressful though especially now that it's snowy and freezing outside! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids/page/2#post-2427977 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 15:55:21 +0000 HLK208 2427977@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have to leave by 7:45am for DS to go to school. We need to be up and at 'em at 6:30. I feed them, brush teeth, make sure they use the bathroom, get them dressed and then have them play quietly while I get ready. It's a struggle but we just need to be aware of the time on the clock and I have to be quick. By the time I get home from taking DS to school, I have about 10 minutes before I leave to take DD to school (just on T/TH) so we have to be ready before taking DS. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids/page/2#post-2427956 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 15:46:56 +0000 winniebee 2427956@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@KayKay: Ryan's up around 6. Tyler by 7. I have to be out the door by 815. Ryan is a stage 4 clinger so doing anything with him in the morning takes 2x as long. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids#post-2427887 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 15:23:51 +0000 KayKay 2427887@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: how long do you have between wake-up(s) and getting out the door? my girls are usually up somewhere between 630-730a, and then we need to be out the door by 8:50a, so we have 1.5+ hrs each morning. there is no playing unless we have time between eating/getting ready &amp; walking out the door. </p> <p>we tried getting dressed before breakfast (and sometimes K still wants to...because she sings the "clothes on, eat breakfast, brush teeth, put on shoes &amp; off to school" song from Daniel Tiger). but i swear she always picks to eat something messy on those mornings, and then her clothes are dirty before we even come close to leaving the house. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids#post-2427693 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 14:11:27 +0000 winniebee 2427693@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: yeah it's like he just wants to lounge in his jammies until the last possible moment. i think i need to start changing him right away. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids#post-2427607 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 13:22:44 +0000 gingerbebe 2427607@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have 2 to get out the door in the mornings (yet) and DH does the daycare drop offs most days, but he's forgetful so I have to prep everything the night before for him. </p> <p>- I pack the daycare bags and place them in the car the night before. I pack some Nutrigrain bars or snacks in the bag that DH can hand to DS if he's hungry on the way home.<br /> - We leave DS' shoes in the car - we carry him into the car and put his shoes on before unbuckling him from his carseat. We always take his shoes off and leave them back in the car before we take him out of the carseat when we get home.<br /> - I make DS' entire breakfast the night before and cut it all up and put it on a sectioned plate. (I buy them frequently from the dollar bin at Target). It fits inside a gallon sized ziploc bag and DH knows just to microwave the plate for 15 seconds and then add fresh fruit in the morning, like a banana. So I cut up pancakes, drizzle syrup on top, chop up a turkey sausage patty and whatever else he might want and stick it in the fridge. I also leave a sippy cup of milk with a piece of painter's tape on it that says MILK (bc DH can never tell the difference between the water cups and milk cups).<br /> - I lay out DS' outfit on the guest room bed the night before so that DH can just get him dressed in there in the morning without struggling or chasing him around (as opposed to changing on the floor or something). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids#post-2427510 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 12:21:56 +0000 Andrea 2427510@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You mentioned that T fights about getting changed. Once DD1 started doing that, I began making her do it before coming out of her room. She wakes up and changes right away and then comes out for breakfast. I agree with pp's suggestion of making simpler breakfasts. We do the same so there's really no mess to clean up. I just dump the dishes in the sink and deal with them later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids#post-2427495 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 12:10:03 +0000 cascademom 2427495@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I put the car seat with DS #1's coat and shoes in it on the landing the night before. I make DS #2's bottles the night before as well. I get dressed before the kids on both week and weekend days. When it's not my turn to take them to school/daycare, I get up at 5:15am (hopefully without baby waking up too), get ready, and head the Metra stop walking distance from our house for work. I still make bottles and get the car seat by our bedroom for DH because he can be flighty and unorganized in the morning.</p> <p>I tend to the baby first, feed, and then dress him. Then take the car seat with stuff into big brother's room. There we wake him up and get ready. He stalled a lot this morning, but negotiated with him to get dressed and downstairs. We have coats and shoes on before going downstairs. Hugely helpful. Then, I grab bottles from fridge and donuts for DS #1 for the 3 minute car ride to daycare. Getting stuff ready night before is absolutely key to mornings going smoothly. Some mornings are worse than others. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids#post-2427403 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 11:00:46 +0000 winniebee 2427403@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PrincessBaby: She does this currently; she puts R down for his morning nap and cleans up the bomb (and does laundry and light housework). But, R will be starting school in the fall and I don't currently have plans for her to be here in the morning...this morning was particularly bad and it got me thinking about the fall. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids#post-2427398 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 10:58:28 +0000 PrincessBaby 2427398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: Can you get your nanny to do light housework? Our nannies have always picked up the morning's catastrophe, unloaded/loaded dishwasher, kids laundry, etc. It is SUCH a huge help just to come home and the dishwasher has been ran and unloaded. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids#post-2427384 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 10:51:12 +0000 winniebee 2427384@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: it WOULD be a huge luxury! I'm keeping her on some level, at least for after school care. I am toying with keeping her current schedule (730-530, three days) for that very purpose, but ONLY if I am pregnant with a third by then. If not, then maintaining her current schedule is less important and I'll just have to deal!</p> <p>@brownie: LOL! I have absolutely put him in the car without socks and shoes on when he has tried to refuse getting them on to go to school. He cried the whole way and now just the mere threat of it is enough to scare him into getting dressed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids#post-2427380 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 10:49:56 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2427380@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: We have done several mornings like that too. If you fight or can't make a decision, we put her in the car seat and then grab the rest of our stuff and go. I will dress her in the van before we head into school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids#post-2427378 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 10:48:07 +0000 brownie 2427378@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I single patented for 3 month before my hubs got a job and joined us. I made all of the food we ate on the weekend (all of it). So I had all the lunches made and ready to grab and go. I had 5 outfits for all set up on Sunday. I made a breakfast casserole that we ate and made smoothies and frozen them. Then just defrosted one each night for me the next morning. Microwave sausage is a godsend (seriously invest). Heck if we didn't have so many allergies in the house I would buy the microwave breakfast sandwiches and call it good. </p> <p>I gave up on battles. The first time he refused to put his shoes on I took him out to the car without them. He freaked out the whole way there but I had a different pair he put on when we got there. No more fights. Did the same thing when he wouldn't get dressed. I took him naked.<br /> I just left the mess until the weekend when I could deal with it again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids#post-2427375 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 10:46:52 +0000 coopsmama 2427375@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, I don't have to take my kids to day care every day but I do have to get them out really early two days a week for early morning Bible studies and get togethers. I can get the kids out of the house in 30 minutes flat if I've done two things - dress them before they go downstairs (so, they get out of bed and are immediately dressed) and have breakfast already made. I try to throw together an easy crockpot breakfast or an easy breakfast casserole for the oven the night before (it takes 5-10 minutes to put together tops so the same amount of time I'd be spending in the morning and it has sausage, hash browns and eggs) because my kids also like a big breakfast. I bake it first thing when I (or my husband depending on the day) wake up so that feeding them is easy and something I don't have to think about on those days we have to practically run out the door. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids#post-2427373 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 10:45:24 +0000 SweetiePie 2427373@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: duh! Sorry I missed that line.<br /> I know this might seem extravagant, but could she still come in the mornings to help with that whole routine even though you don't technically "need" her? I know a few people who still have their nanny for a full day because they need be help in the morning. And while kids are at school they have the nanny do errands like grocery shopping, making freezer meals, organizing the kids drawers, etc. Its not exactly nannying but it allows them to keep their full hours which most seem happy to do.<br /> But again, I know it might be a huge luxury to do that. I am of the mindset that if I can pay someone to make my life easier, I do it :-) It is hard for me because I am a control freak by nature and I feel lots of guilt about it, but my husband has started converting me since having a kid. Sometimes you just can't do it all (and remain sane).<br /> ETA: also agree with @T.H.O.U. that you can still do some really "kid gourmet" breakfast meals that can be done in batches and frozen. I've done the egg muffins with sausage, spinach, potatoes and they were a huge hit! Did mini ones. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids#post-2427360 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 10:34:15 +0000 winniebee 2427360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: I could! But I'm more worried about the fall when she won't be coming at all in the morning....until then, R will be home with her during the day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids#post-2427358 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 10:33:00 +0000 MamaG 2427358@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is there an option for the boys (or even just R) to eat at school? We pay an extra $2/day for K to eat breakfast at school. It's so worth my morning sanity. She's pretty pissy about it because she wants to eat before we leave the house, but she's young, she'll adjust ;)</p> <p>For the older we do a lot of yogurt breakfast. She'll have yogurt and a banana. Once C gets going, she's very energetic, but getting her motivated in the morning is hard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids#post-2427348 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 10:22:56 +0000 SweetiePie 2427348@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have no advice because I'm not in your shoes (but still find "life with two" posts interesting :-) )<br /> Could you ask the nanny to start coming at 7 instead? I would think that an extra 45 mins could greatly help you and would be worth any extra expense. I know mine comes at 8am twice a week but if I asked her to come at 7 she'd be more than happy to make an extra hour of pay. But she's a morning person! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids#post-2427345 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 10:18:51 +0000 kodybear 2427345@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I find that rushing out the door makes me and my 3 yo more stressed and usually ends badly. So I try to give her some time to wake up. So after going to her room I let her read or lay in bed an extra 10-15 min. Then we go eat. Breakfasts are usually easy like frozen waffles pancakes or yogurt and toast. Then after breakfast I get them out the door. 3 yo does try to stall a bit but I'm pretty militant on the routine so she knows when it's time to go. It does take some coaxing to get her shoes on and her jacket but I can usually get her out the door without tears haha DS is a bit easier as he just goes with the flow. I'm scared for when he starts to be more opinionated! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids#post-2427337 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 10:13:09 +0000 Anagram 2427337@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We make hot breakfasts for LO1 every morning and when I was in mat leave, I had both girls by myself and LO1 was in school twice a week. I would dress her as soon as she woke up. Then do her breakfast and put her in her chair to eat....while she ate, I did her hair then nursed the baby. After she finished eating, I would grab her bag and lunch (packed the night before), load the girls into the stroller and put shoes on then and then head out to the elevator w both kiddos. If she didn't eat breakfast, I would pack it to take to school where they would try again.</p> <p>We don't tend to have crying and tantrums in the morning, so that's probably just personality.</p> <p>I had to wake up and dress myself before the kids woke up. Right now, I'm back at work and my husband solo patents twice a week and he showers and dresses before the girls wake up (he gets up at 6, toddler is up between 6:15-6:30), then he dresses and feeds them both. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids#post-2427313 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 09:57:37 +0000 dagret 2427313@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>microwave breakfasts! Oatmeal (old fashioned oats) and microwaved scrambled eggs with cheese are staples in our house. For the baby, I bake sweet potatoes ahead of time and chunk 1/2 of one up every day for her and add a handful of cereal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids#post-2427311 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 09:57:19 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2427311@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: My kids are older and my husband is home with us until 7 (I have them from 7-drop off at 8) and there is no way we could manage cooking breakfast. Occasionally he will do some eggs if we all wake up really early but its a rare treat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids#post-2427307 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 09:55:30 +0000 winniebee 2427307@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Tidybee: the nanny does the dishes currently. I'm looking ahead to the fall when she won't be here in the mornings. Also, she doesn't get here until 7:45 currently and R wakes for the day at 5:30 / 6 so he can't wait that long to eat. R wakes so early that he wakes me for the day...but I should just start bringing him in my room and getting changed before we go downstairs. The no playing rule is good. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids#post-2427305 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 09:54:14 +0000 winniebee 2427305@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: You're right, I need to change the menu in the mornings. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids#post-2427304 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 09:54:13 +0000 Tidybee 2427304@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: Can the nanny give R his gourmet breakfast and do the dishes?<br /> I may be strict, but to get 2 kids dressed and out the door by 8:30, I've imposed a no playing rule as in no pulling toys out. Of course, she finds ways to play with her breakfast and such, but when one thing is done, we move on to the next and I just keep after her whether she likes it or not.<br /> I also find that as long as I'm dressed before the girls wake up, the morning just goes smoother because I can concentrate on them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-solo-parent-in-the-morning-with-2-kids#post-2427296 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 09:50:05 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2427296@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: Still, most of those things can be made ahead! </p> <p>Egg muffins are great and super easy. You can experiment with different combinations of adding potatoes or sausage or cheese or veggies. </p>