https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 17 Apr 2026 21:27:56 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/morning-routine-help#post-2786611 Wed, 15 Nov 2017 14:09:43 +0000 Mrs.Pinecone316 2786611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@macintosh: My 2.5 year old is the same way! I've found that if we have somewhere to be at a certain time in the morning and I don't have time to fight with her about getting dressed I get her dressed as soon as she wakes up before we go downstairs for breakfast. For whatever reason she is very cooperative as soon as she's up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/morning-routine-help#post-2786441 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 18:56:21 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2786441@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: @snowjewelz: totally get him dressed when he’s watching tv. He likes school and usually does fine at drop off, but if I mention school first thing in the morning when he wakes up, he’ll lose his mind crying and saying he doesn’t want to go! And he would know immediately why he’s getting dressed first thing in the morning. Instead, i try to let him wake up and just get him dressed after he’s played and eaten breakfast. I doubt this would help anyone’s morning routine/time management in the am, but reading both your posts,i was like uh uh! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/morning-routine-help#post-2786438 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 18:29:29 +0000 codeitall 2786438@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you are still having trouble, you could just resort to the nuclear option like we did :)</p> <p>No pajamas for our kid! He hated changing clothes so much that we now fight the battle at night before bed to get him in clothes for the next day. Now he doesn't need to change in the morning, it is just wake up and go! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/morning-routine-help#post-2786375 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 12:38:39 +0000 hellobeeboston 2786375@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@macintosh: yay! i was also going to suggest getting LO dressed first thing. That's what I do because otherwise its a fight. And when they're still sleepy &amp; waking up its easier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/morning-routine-help#post-2786345 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 11:55:20 +0000 macintosh 2786345@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Today was better! By some miracle, DS slept in and I got a chance to take a shower first. Then I got DH up, started breakfast, then got DS up and dressed. The monkey wrench was that I had to run out to get cash for DH to take the bus, but we still left the house earlier than normal. Phew! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/morning-routine-help#post-2786281 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 08:51:46 +0000 matador84 2786281@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm with some of the pp's--I say get dressed before breakfast. I get my 3 kids up and ready by myself in the morning and if they aren't dressed they don't eat. It's kind of a motivator for them.</p> <p>I get ready<br /> DS and DD get ready<br /> DS/DD eat breakfast<br /> Get DS2 ready (infant so it's a little different than my older 2)<br /> Get out the door </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/morning-routine-help#post-2786276 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 08:39:41 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2786276@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My morning routine involves me getting showered &amp; dressed before waking up DS. If I'm really moving fast I can start my coffee while he's asleep. At daycare, kids are still fed with a big kid sized bib. I also get him dressed during his diaper change. </p> <p>You could try waking up 15 min earlier every 3-4 days and soon you'll have 45-60 minutes back to yourself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/morning-routine-help#post-2786262 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 05:57:18 +0000 Mrs. Goose 2786262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I see there were lots of suggestions to dress first, that was going to be my biggest tip! If I dress my toddler as soon as I pull her out of bed we have hope of getting places in the morning and on time too. It’s amazing how much time it saves to do it that way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/morning-routine-help#post-2786254 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 00:17:54 +0000 irene 2786254@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I forgot if 2.5 year old can start dressing themselves, but I am pretty sure DS was dressing himself by 3 in the morning. He gets up, potty, brushed his teeth, change, and I would have his breakfast ready downstairs. Something to start letting him do himself? I promise you, it really does pay off.</p> <p>Now DS is 5.5, DH insisted that we do NOT ever, ever wake him up. We gave him a cheap IKEA alarm clock. DS would set it himself, and if he somehow didn't wake up, I could remotely play music in his room with my phone (my phone controls the speakers in his room). But the key is, we never go in, because as strange as it is, kids really love the morning routine of the parents lovingly get them up, and play tug-o-war every morning (I've been there and it was miserable. Thank God I don't have to do that anymore... knock on wood). DH said if one morning he ended up really didn't wake up and was late, let it be, just take him to school late and he'd learn from it and won't do it anymore. That is honestly the best thing ever. Nowadays our routine:</p> <p>6:10 I hear DS' alarm goes off, he gets up<br /> 6:15 I shower. DS uses the potty and change into his uniform. He plays before I am ready.<br /> (This is also the time I would play music in his room remotely with my phone if I hear that he still is not awake)<br /> 6:30 I am ready to make breakfast<br /> 6:45 breakfast time for DS (which he takes FOREVER to eat, and that is my dilemma)<br /> 7:10 breakfast finishes, DS puts dishes in the dishwasher, wipes the table, pack his bag, brush his teeth, get ready<br /> 7:35 DH comes downstairs, get into car.</p> <p>If DS is ever late, DH would literally drive off at 7:37 sharp. If that ever happens, I won't take him in until later when school already starts. He knows we mean business, and so far he has never missed DH's ride.</p> <p>ETA: Another thing is, DH makes it a pretty big deal to be "the first one" at school. Like it is the coolest thing ever. And how being late is so embarrassing and uncool. So that is some unconscious drive for DS to get up in the morning on his own.</p> <p>ETA: Oh! If he's a messy eater and a bib doesn't work, just put an oversized T-shirt on top of whatever he is wearing and see if that works? I did that for a brief period of time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/morning-routine-help#post-2786246 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 22:50:16 +0000 macintosh 2786246@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone! I’m definitely going to dress him right away tomorrow. I’m also going to try to get up earlier to grab a shower first. It barely takes me 15 minutes to shower and dress and it does help me wake up. Weekday mornings have been so painfully slow, I’m lucky to get out the door within 2 hours of waking up :shocked: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/morning-routine-help#post-2786245 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 22:35:57 +0000 SweetiePie 2786245@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: yeah, I also change him into his clothes while he watches TV :silly: so much easier that way. </p> <p>Our routine is like this:<br /> 7am mom and 3yo wake up<br /> 7:15am 3yo has breakfast and plays or watches something<br /> 7:15-7:30 pack DH lunch, get him coffee, etc.<br /> 7:30-8:15am I get ready<br /> 8:15 dress 3yo while he watches TV, show ends at 8:30 and that’s when it’s time to leave so I use the show ending as our transition. I also have an alarm set for 8:30 every day and when it goes off he knows it’s time for school. Sure he still fights me some days (he’s 3) but mostly he says “that means it’s time for school!” And we put shoes on and go. </p> <p>I do also make sure his backpack and stroller are ready the night before. I also only wash hair at night these days. I might shower in the AM if I didn’t shower the night before but I never have time to wash and dry hair anymore. So then I have 45 minutes just to do makeup and get dressed, basically, which kinda feels luxurious.<br /> This will all go out the door in 3-ish months when I have DS2. But for now it works very well. </p> <p>In your case though, I agree with others to dress him sooner if he’s more cooperative when he first wakes up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/morning-routine-help#post-2786226 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 21:35:32 +0000 PinkElephant 2786226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'll agree that the less time the kids are awake, the better! If I'm scrambling to grab a few last minute things for myself and I spot a good window for getting my girls in car, sometimes I'll seize the moment and load them into their carseats with a toy (or have them put their shoes on in there) while I pour my coffee or write a check or something....that way I can run around like crazy for 2 minutes while they're contained, and dash out the door when I'm ready. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/morning-routine-help#post-2786198 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 18:56:56 +0000 Eko 2786198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree that you should change him after he goes potty. </p> <p>I wake up and get his cloths laid out before waking him up. Then we head straight for the potty and change since he's undressed. My son doesn't like to change either if he's in the middle of something. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/morning-routine-help#post-2786197 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 18:54:23 +0000 Tanjowen 2786197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@macintosh: Your routine is pretty similar to ours, but we go straight from breakfast to change, brush teeth and do hair. Then he can play while I get dressed. I find it's easier to do all my stuff and put things in the car and then I just have to grab the (often resisting) child and hustle him to the car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/morning-routine-help#post-2786185 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 18:11:17 +0000 ShootingStar 2786185@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a really tough time getting DS dressed at that age. At one point I was bribing him with my phone. If he got dressed without so much struggle I’d put on Frizen for the 3 minute ride to daycare. I also started feeding him in his learning tower and dressing him while he ate, which he tolerated really well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/morning-routine-help#post-2786159 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 16:58:01 +0000 snowjewelz 2786159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My almost 3 year old is a struggle to change a lot of mornings too. We usually have 1.5 hours between wake up and leaving. TBH I usually change her while she's watching tv and not paying attention haha! This is our routine - </p> <p>7-7:30 Wake up, DH makes milk/breakfast for kids while I get ready<br /> 7:30-8 I change both girls, DH packs their drinks/food/milk whatever for the day<br /> 8-8:30 I nurse DD2, DH changes then they leave<br /> 8:30-8:45 I quickly tidy up and rush off to work </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/morning-routine-help#post-2786155 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 16:40:19 +0000 petitenoisette 2786155@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely agree to give him as little time to play and get distracted as possible in the am. Are you waking him up or going in because he's already up? If you can wait to get him up til the last possible moment I'd do that. If that's not possible, then I'd definitely get him dressed as soon as you have him up after potty. </p> <p>Our routine though I know can't be quite same for you:<br /> DH up, showers<br /> Me up, showers, pack up for the day while<br /> DH gets LO up, dressed<br /> Come downstairs, hand her her breakfast in a to-go cup (always either frozen pancakes or waffles, she eats more breakfast at school), shoes and coat on and then out the door. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/morning-routine-help#post-2786146 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 16:02:07 +0000 Foodnerd81 2786146@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you shower and get dressed before getting DS up? I would personally try that, then getting him dressed and ready befor breakfast. That way if he takes forever to get dressed, or to eat, it just shortens the play time he has left before leaving. </p> <p>(I say that and even with more time in the morning I’m always running around and late and often don’t get the kids dressed until after breakfast and we end up struggling...) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/morning-routine-help#post-2786145 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 16:00:43 +0000 shabang 2786145@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've found that it's more productive to give them less time. If possible, I'd get yourself completely ready before he gets up. Then, handle all the him getting ready items right when he wakes up/before he knows what's going on (potty, undies, dressed, we even do teeth). For us, once we go downstairs, the kids don't go back up. Breakfast. Potty/shoes/coat/go! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/morning-routine-help#post-2786140 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 15:48:20 +0000 PawPrints 2786140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would get him dressed immediately after breakfast so it's an easier transition since he's already doing something structured. Other than that though, it's very normal for a 2.5 year old to make a habit of throwing wrenches into routines. We use the Janet Lansbury/RIE approach: I can see you want to go play. It's time to get dressed now. Looks like you're having some trouble with this, so I am going to help you get dressed. (Close the door so he can't run away, and put on his clothes even if he's struggling). Typically after a couple times, he'll get that this is a boundary that will be enforced and stop challenging it. Good luck. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/morning-routine-help#post-2786139 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 15:45:55 +0000 Adira 2786139@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: I agree - have him get dressed right after he gets up and goes potty. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/morning-routine-help#post-2786129 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 15:20:26 +0000 gotkimchi 2786129@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would move getting dressed to when he goes potty and undies then he can play and eat breakfast as much as he wants uninterrupted - then a 5 min warning and out the door </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/morning-routine-help#post-2786127 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 15:16:00 +0000 looch 2786127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>2.5 is a tough age, they understand everything, but they don't really quite understand the power that they have related to the battles that they choose to fight. When my son was that age, I would just do as little as possible in the morning and basically do whatever I could to prepare the night before. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/morning-routine-help#post-2786124 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 15:11:45 +0000 gingerbebe 2786124@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My order is:</p> <p>Mom gets up.<br /> Shake Dad up (he's going to need a while to get going).<br /> Packs all the lunch, coats, daycare bags, etc. in the car.<br /> Start coffee.<br /> DH gets the boys up and dressed.<br /> Mom toasts bagel/waffle and preps a cup of milk for each kid.<br /> Buckle the kids off and go.<br /> DH takes the boys to school.<br /> Mom gets dressed after everyone leaves.</p> <p>I realize this doesn't really work in your situation, but basically even on days I solo, I get everything for the car and everything for me done first, then I get everything the kids need in the car, and I get the kids absolutely last. I just get them dressed and throw them in the car. They eat a car breakfasts that are neat (waffle, bagel, Nutrigrain bar) and we do leisurely breakfasts at home on the weekends. </p> <p>I shower at night and when I have to solo, I wake up around 615am and grab the boys at 645am. We have to be out the door at 7am in order for me to drop off and make it to work on time by 8am. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/morning-routine-help#post-2786118 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 15:02:30 +0000 macintosh 2786118@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’ve never been a morning person, and now that I have a strong-willed 2.5 year old, its been even worse. I move slow in the morning, so everything up to getting DS dressed is pretty slow paced. Then when it’s time to stop whatever activity he’s doing and get changed, he wiggles around, runs away, and generally tries to push my buttons from the time i start to when we walk out the door. Should i just get him dressed right after he wakes up? He used to be a very messy eater but he’s a lot better now.</p> <p>Current routine:<br /> Mom wakes up<br /> Help Dad get up<br /> Go in DS’s room<br /> DS goes potty, changes into undies<br /> Eat breakfast<br /> DS plays while Mom showers and gets dressed<br /> DS gets dressed (and acts like a maniac)<br /> Mom grabs bags and puts on coats<br /> Out the door </p>