How Much Time Should It Take to Get 2 Kids up and Dressed and off to Day Care??

Lisa-

I have a 3 year old and a 5 month old. I work full time (insane, I know...). Anyway, I get them up at 7. FIrst the 3 year old. I get him dressed and then he watches one episode something "ON DEMAND" while he drinks a sippy cup of milk (his coffee). Then I get the baby up and feed, and dress him. They are all ready to go by 7:45 or so.

I recommend doing a trail run over the weekend so you can see how long it takes you.

If I am dressed before they get up...I only need about 20 minutes to get out the door. .. my kids are 5 and 1.5. Have all clothes laid out the night before. Have everything in the car or by the door.

I find this question utterly hillarious. Knowing you already got some great advice about night before prep. I must say, the world will know how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie pop, before we know the answer to this question......best of luck to you on your new part time job.

I would make a "dry run" a day or two before you have to start work. Have their clothes ready the night before. Get yourself up at 6 so you are totally ready for when they get up. Get them up at 7, do everything you have to do to get out the door by 7:45 and take them to McDonalds. Then you will know for sure. The first time may take a bit more time if they aren't used to getting up and running out the door. If you try to rush them the very first day, it could be unpleasant and stressful for all of you. It will become routine. Good luck with your new job!

you need to let the three year old start dressing herself if she can. just lay her clothes out. I would allow yourself more that 15 mins definatly. I am a person who is either right on time or a couple mins early. I would try an hr. If that isn't enought time that an hr and 15 or mayb you will need an hr and a half. I really think an hr would be goof for the kids. make sure your ready before they get up. get them ready and out now if they need to have time to wake up i would get them up before your done getting ready put them in front of the tv go finish getting ready and than get them ready. Good luck!

My kids are much older - of course you still dress them both, they're tiny!! - but I think you need longer than 45 minutes to give them breakfast and get them both dressed. As you all get used to the routine it will probably speed up but I would make sure I was completely ready before getting them up - I would get up at 6am to shower and get completely dressed with make-up, make my bed and start getting breakfast on the table. Only then get the kids up - I'd say 6.45ish.They'll feel less hassled if they've got time to enjoy breakfast, watch a little TV etc. Good luck - sounds like you've found the perfect job - take care - Alison

I always get my clothes and the kids clothes ready at night. If I don't I wil have a hard time. I never give myself enough time. Ideally I should be getting up about 5:30 a.m. becuse I have to be at work by 8:00 a.m. I should leave the house by 7:00 a.m. But it never happens that way.
First of all my 4 year old always gets up in a bad mood no matter how early he goes to bed. He fights me all the way. And he is very slow about getting dressed. My 2 year old gets up in a good mood and is easier but he is not potty trained yet and at timess I have to change him again just before leaving out the door and it thoughs me off on time.
In the kitchen at breakfast its back and forth for me. One yelling get me juice while the other is yelling I don't want this oatmeal I want eggs. Then if I make eggs he now wants the oatmeal.
I never have enough time to get myself together and I end up applying my make-up and finishing my hair in the bathroom at work.
To make a long story short I think no matter how early you get up something is going to put a rench in your plans.
And my kids are always tossing their shoes around so make sure you always keep a pair of shoes nearby at night. I've waisted 30 min. once looking for shoes!!
Good Luck!!

I get three kids up dressed and out the door in the morning.

1 is 7 so can dress himself but has ADHD so I have to hound him :-D

1 is 4 and is mostly half asleep so I have to dress him

and then a 2yr old as well.

It takes us about 45minutes to get out the door in the morning...though I generally feed them breakfast in the car on the way (Granola bars, dry cereal, breakfast burritos, hashbrowns cooked in the toasted, frozen waffles etc.)

Hi Lisa,

I have one two year that I have to wake and get ready in the morning. I lay the clothes out the night before and prepare whatever I need to pack to take to the daycare also. Then in the morning I wake him up and change his diaper but leave him in his pj's so they don't get dirty when we eat breakfast. Then we have breakfast and I change him (usually while he is watching a little tv or playing). It takes me 30 minutes but it is very tight. Since you have 2 kids, I would start with the 45 minutes and then adjust from there if needed. I think its important to let them sleep as long as possible which is why I only wake my son a half hour before.

Good Luck, J.

Hi Lisa
I get up at 6.30 to get the kids out the door by 8.20. That includes making my sons school lunch, preparing breakfast and cleaning up, getting one of them washed and dressed (the older one does himself) and then getting myself showered and dressed. I have a six year old and three year old so they are probably easier to get up than your age kids, the six year old pretty much gets himself up but needs to be pushed a bit to get this accomplished. I think an hour and forty five minutes for just getting the kids up should be plenty of time.
Maybe you could have a practice run one morning before you start. You wouldn't have to get up as early but could concentrate on getting up as if it was a work day and see how long it takes you all to be ready to "leave".
Good luck in your new job.

I really like the suggestion of doing a dry run...just to see how your kids move & behave early morning! my daughter is not a morning person and it takes her a bit to wake up so we have to start early so she can take her own time...

i lay everything out the night before and like to be totally ready to go myself w/ breakfast ready before i wake her up...that way you can focus on the kids...i would maybe try a bit earlier (like 6:45 or so) at first to make sure you have enough time and then you can adjust as you get used to the routine...

good luck at your new job!

It should take the same amount of time it takes to go anywhere else ie. church, Grandmas, etc. Just allow another 15 minutes so if something happens you won't be late. Depending on the kids, it should only take 30-45 minutes to get ready until their teenagers and each needs showers, etc.

I can get the kids and myself up, ready, and in the car in an hour (for church and gymnastics) if I have to.

I would definitely not get up at 7:00 because it leaves no room for last minute poopy diapers or meltdowns. (Also, I have found the more you rush a child the longer it takes!)

I set EVERYTHING out the night before -- clothes, toothbrushes, breakfast dishes, shoes, diaper bag prepped, etc.

Also, this isn't an insult, all kids do things at their own pace - but you might see if your 3 year old can dress himself now (mine won't even let me help anymore - has to do it ALL by herself). It sure would help in the morning rush.

Good luck.

I have to have my son up and going by 7:30. To get him up, dressed, teeth brushed and breakfast most mornings takes about an hour. He is however going through a very uncooperative stage. Believe me 45 mins. goes by super fast in the mornings. I would give myself at least an hour. Good Luck with the new job!

it all depends on the children if this is not their regular time to get up you might want to adjust the time they go to bed and get up a few days ahead also here are some hints to help make the morings go smoother. have them pick out what they are going to wear the night before have what ever they need to bring with them to day care in their own backpack annd have it packed the night before and placed ready to go at the same spot everyday. you may want to check to see what time your day care stops serving breakfeast most of the day cares i,ve used and worked in stop serving breakfeast at7:30-7:45

i have two girls 6 and 2 years old. the oldest is in kindergarten and starts school at 8:50. we leave the house at 8:15 to take the little one to daycare first, and i make sure the girls are up right around 7:30. both the school and daycare are just 5 mins from home. i have to be to work at 9:45 so i have at least 30 mins to myself after the girls are at
school and before i have to be to work its great( my work is also just 10 mins away)

Hi Lisa,

I noticed you have a few good responses, but I thought I would contribute.. :) You didn't mention, are you getting up at 7 as well or before? If you are up a ready by 7 then 45 to 1 hr should be enough time. If you are not ready either then no that won't be enough time. I like the response from one of the Mom's to do a dry run first, that would be very helpful.

My son is 9 and between the two of us getting ready it takes us 1 hr. to get out the door.

Good luck and congrats on your job,
S.

Your question cracks me up! How much time SHOULD it take? Ideally? Well, my reality is that some days take longer than others? I recomment at least one dry run, getting as much done the night before, and getting yourself ready first to try to avoid as many setbacks as possible. I would initially give your kids more time (an hour), because this will be an adjustment to them as well. Best of luck!