It’s nice to have the morning as planned out as possible so that you can go through it as smoothly as possible and your toddler knows what to expect. Since I started my job I’ve had to make sure to streamline my mornings so that we can get out the door in record time.
If you have a toddler, you know exactly how hard it can be to get out the door when you need to. I’ve found that not only does a mapped out routine help us get out quicker, but it also makes my mornings more peaceful! I can relax and even sip on another cup of coffee while getting my toddler ready for the day. Read for ideas on how to streamline your morning with a toddler.
Wake up routine
Some mornings toddlers don’t wake up in a good mood. Mine will wake up crying or whining and honestly I don’t want to deal with that.
Now, I make sure that I wake her up with a song and a cuddle session every morning. During this time she calms down if she woke up on the wrong side of bed, and gets her act together.
I open up the windows/ blinds etc. Then go through the events of the day as I gather up her clothes. While doing this I try to be animated. This puts me in a better mood, but also engages my toddler. It makes for smoother transitions through our routine.
Getting dressed
I have her help me dress her up I keep certain items within reach that she can go bring like diapers.
I don’t give her outfit choices yet. On days that I go to work, she wears somewhat of a uniform which consists of a top and leggings or jeans. Having a minimal wardrobe makes morning so much easier!
While I get her changed, we talk about the colors that we see. Or the article of clothing she’s putting on. When we’re done she’s putting any wipes and lotions away.
Then goes to drink her water, which is ready for her in a reachable location in the kitchen.
Leave room for variability
Sometimes she does wake up before I have the chance to wake her up. On a day like this she may want a snack before we head out. So I make sure I always have fruit and yogurt on hand.
If she wakes up really early. I’ll add some yogurt to whatever fruit I give her to minimize the chances that she’ll be begging for more.
This plan prepares me for variability so that I’m not scrambling around and getting anxious.
On days that we are done with our morning routine very early, we have more time for silliness. So we’ll play around a bit.
Heading out for the day
We leave shoes in the closet by the door. She picks out whatever shoes she wants to wear, I put them on her and it’s out the door.
Lately my toddler has been saying “no” to most questions that she’s asked. I now realize, that a quick suggestion of a “yes” clears up any hesitation on her part, for now…
How have you made mornings with your toddler easier? Please leave a comment below!