Getting Kids Out of the House in the Morning

I have a 2 yr old singleton (DD) and twin 7 mo olds. My 2 yr old is forever dragging her feet to get out of the house. She is so dang moody and has a meltdown and every waking moment! We do need to get her to bed earlier (we have bedtime issues too that I'll save for another thread), but even when she wakes in a good mood, she starts in on something and we can't get out of the house. I'm constantly late for work and getting snippy with my DD. I hate how I react to her, even through I try so hard to push her gently and try to stay positive with her.

I can't imagine what it will be like with the boys hit her age. I may just go crazy!!!

Any suggestions???

 

Maybe you could offer a reward or treat that she can have once she is buckled into the carseat, and if she has a temper tantrum on the way she can't have it. It doesn't have to be food (I don't let DC eat in my vehicle) It could be a special cd to listen to, or a coveted toy to play with or book to read during the drive. My DS started having those meltdowns, and would give him a few minutes to gain composure but if he didn't I had to physically dress him and carry him kicking and screaming to the car. He did outgrow it, though.

 

I don't have the experience with getting 2 infants and a toddler out the door, but I do have the experience trying to get 2 toddlers out the door. In our house, with my boys it is all about keeping the same routines and expectations. On the days we go to school, they know that they have to eat breakfast earlier than normal and get dressed right away, and that mommy has no time for goofing around. I typically have the TV on while we are eating breakfast and getting dressed so that is a nice distraction from meltdowns. They still will and I just ignore the meltdown. Sometimes they don't eat, but they get a snack when they get to school so I know they aren't starved (that's our biggest battle).

Is she receptive to positive reinforcement. Possible sit her down and explain that she needs to cooperate so that everyone can get to school/work on time. For everyday that she cooperates she will get a star, and at the end of the week when she has X stars, then she gets a reward. I am not sure if that will work yet for your daughter, but it might?

Good luck!!

 

I have similar issues w/ my older two, who are almost 4 and 5. They are the harder ones to wake up in the morning, and when I do get them up and they put clothes on and want to sit/lay on the couch, when Im trying nicely to get their shoes on. The twins are 2, and I get them dressed and put their shoes on, but they will usually get the shoes for me if I am doing something else. My 2 yr DD is actually the best about things in the morning..she will bring me everyones shoes and coats, etc.

I plan on starting a chart for all of the kids to assist w/ everyday routine activities. (such as getting ready for school in the morning) b/c my two older ones drag their feet sometimes, and even when we are out the door they may mess around in the van before buckling up, and I need them to buckle as soon as they get in, so after I buckle the twins we can just go, instead of waiting for them. ...

Im not sure if a sticker/reward chart will work for your daughter or not, but its probably worth a shot. Do you dress her or does she do it herself? Have you tried getting her up 10-15 minutes earlier so she has more time to get herself together? If the twins wake up first can you get them ready and then put them somewhere *highchair, walker/swing) while you get your daughter ready? If you are currently letting her do things herself, maybe if you start doing it for her and explain that if she cant be a big girl and get ready on time, mommy has to do it. If shes not doing it herself maybe there are little things you could start letting her do as a priveledge IF she gets up like a big girl in the morning without too much trouble.

 

Great suggestions! I'm going to try a reward based system and see how it goes.

 

Well we're the exact opposite. I have 2 yr old twin girls and a 5 month old son. I've had to get them all out of the house on my own, THAT'S a challenge!

What I do - I put the girls on the changing table one at a time - and do everything all at once right there. I change them, dress them, do their hair, socks and shoes before they're even allowed to get down. That way I know they are all ready to go as soon as I am. Nothing else matters. I've found if I DON'T do that, then it's a drag your feet and takes us 2 hours to get out of the house kind of morning. They will take 20 minutes just to put on socks, then I'm wasting time chasing after them trying to put some socks and shoes on rather than trying to get me or the baby ready. Baby I do the same way. Change, dress and back in his crib with the mobile on and some toys - he's usually happy until it's time to get in his carseat...

When all is said and done, if I follow the above routine, I can have everyone ready to leave in 45 minutes or less. If I don't follow the routine, you can guaranteed to double that time, if not even triple depending on the type of morning they're having.

Another thing my girls are into for some reason: Bananas are their morning ritual. They get bfast at daycare, but they ALWAYS have to have a banana before we leave the house. After they're dressed, I'll give them a Banana and put them on the couch. That's a guaranteed 10 minutes of quite, just enough time for me to race around and get myself ready.

Oh, and I usually set my alarm clock for 5 a.m. they don't get up until 6 a.m. so that gives me an hour to eat breakfast, have some coffee, check TS and get my lunch together. Showers are done at nighttime cuz otherwise I'd really never get out of the house...

 

Fortunately, I don't have to get up that early and get everyone out. I have found though that getting each one done at the one time works for me as well. If I know a morning melt down is going to happen, I have been known to dress everyone the night before and let them sleep in their next day cloths. Times that would nessecitate this would be late bed time, illness, any injury, or even a whole new schedule. If I don't have it all organized, it is a complete disaster!

 

Like a few posters mentioned, it's all about routine. We watch Dora from 8-825 every morning. Then, I turn off the TV & everyone knows to go to their rooms to get dressed. The twins get dressed first (with my help) & then I go & make sure my oldest is wearing something weather-appropiate. Then, it's down the stairs & in the car.
Good luck. It does get easier!

 

My situation sounds a bit similar to yours, except we're a couple years ahead of you. When my kids were that age, I did what a PP said. All three slept in the Halo sleepsacks, so the "pajamas" they wore under the sleep sack was what they would be wearing the next day, minus the pants. It made getting ready in the morning MUCH easier - and faster. I almost forgot I used to do that until I read that in this thread.

When my boys were that age, I was also nursing them. I would get them up first, dress and nurse them, then let them play on the floor/exersaucer/PnP, etc while I got my DD up. All I did with her was wake her up, change her, finish getting her dressed, and then all three of us would head straight out to the car. Since she was already mostly dressed, we didn't have to battle that part. She would be completely dressed once she hit the floor, the boys were ready to go, and we just went straight to the car.

Can you adjust your routine so most of the "stuff" is done before you get her up? That may help with getting her out the door in time.

For what it's worth, my boys are now almost three and have been NOTHING like my DD was at that age (she just turned 4 - they are 16 months apart). She can have *such* an attitude at times, and they have never pulled an attitude with me. :good: I think it helps that they have each other, and I also think part of it is a boy/girl thing - or it could just be my kids! :lol:

Good luck!