Daycare moms with 2 or more kids- need your tips and advice!

I am currently on maternity leave and will be going back to work in a month. I'm already dreading the morning routine and can't fathom the idea of getting out of the house on time with a toddler and an infant! My boys will be 2 and 3.5 months. The daycare is at the school where I work, so I don't need to make multiple stops, thankfully! My 2 year old usually only wakes up a few minutes before I go in and get him to get him ready. He's very content to hang out in his crib when he wakes up. I'm BFing the baby, so I'll need to nurse him before we go.
So... if you've done it or currently do it, my question is,how?? Give me all your best tips to make this work!

Re: Daycare moms with 2 or more kids- need your tips and advice!

get your husbands arse out of bed to help you! Have him dress the older one while you attend the younger one. Remember, you guys are in this together, he should do some work too1 ;)

Re: Daycare moms with 2 or more kids- need your tips and advice!

I did it briefly with two DCs, at the same ages as yours are now.

I was still pumping so I'd wake up at 5:30 to pump, make the bottles for the infant for the day. Get in the shower at 6am, be dressed and ready for work by 6:45. DH would help me by getting the toddler up and dressed, I'd get the infant up and dressed, then nurse him while DH gave the toddler breakfast (and he'd also make my breakfast, which I ate on the way to daycare).

We always aimed to be out the door by 7:30 so I could drop them at daycare by 8 and get to work by 8:30. Both DCs were in the same room at daycare so that was very helpful. In the beginning I would use the double stroller and snap the infant seat in -- otherwise I was constantly chasing the toddler and trying to wrangle him into the class room. If I used the stroller, I could just wheel them in, pluck them both out, and leave the stroller in the corner of the room until pickup.

I also found it easier to have one large tote bag to hold all their stuff together. I'd put both their lunch bags, drinks, diapers, wipes, spare clothes in it -- instead of two separate everything.

HTH. Enjoy your last few weeks of leave!

Re: Daycare moms with 2 or more kids- need your tips and advice!

I have a 2yr old dd and a 3 month old dd and have been back to work for 4 weeks now.

Get everything ready and by the door the night before. I lay their clothes out the night before. I BF and FF. My little one usually wakes around 5 something so I BF her(rarely need to add formula after) change her diaper and her clothes and leave her in the crib while I take a shower and get dressed. I wear no make up and don't dry my hair just throw it in a bun. Then I wake up my 2 year old get her dressed, diaper changed, teeth brushed, shoes/jacket on...grab the baby and put her in the car seat.

I need to leave my house by 7/7:10 to get to work by 8...the kids daycare is on campus where I work too. I try to leave same time as DH so he can help me put them in the car otherwise I just do it myself. When I get to daycare I take the baby out first and the bag then my toddler. Toddler holds my hand while infant carrier is slung over my elbow and bag in that hand. A couple times when I first went back toddler wanted me to carry her too I quickly had to put an end to that. I bring toddler into her room first then the baby to hers.

ETA: I don't feed my toddler at home-she eats when she gets to daycare and i just eat some junk at my desk when i get to work too.

Message edited 2/14/2012 2:52:01 PM.

Re: Daycare moms with 2 or more kids- need your tips and advice!

I do it now
It gets easier once you get a good routine down (that's if everyone is on board and I can't say they always are )

I have a 2.5 yr old and a 7 month old
My 7 month old has been going since he's been 4.5 months and I kept my 2 yr old at daycare while I was on maternity just part time for a few days to keep his schedule

First off... get DH to help
I stopped BF close to starting work so can't help you with that.
Here's what I do
5:30AM - wake up and shower
6AM - get toddler dressed, bring him downstairs for breakfast and put on TV
6:15 - either get baby or get DH to get baby - feed him and dress him
6:30 - pack up car with lunches, bottles, etc
6:35 - 6:45 - get baby in carseat and in car, get toddler's sneakers and shoes on then in the car
7AM - at daycare to get them situated
7:05 - 7:10AM - on the road to stop at DD then to the office to make it in a few b4 8AM to enjoy a moment of peace and quiet with my coffee

You have it a little easier since the daycare is at work.
I used to have toddler fed at school, but he'd get too cranky and was getting up earlier

Good luck.
The first couple of weeks is tough especially till the baby is STTN
It used to be the opposite and I'd feed the baby and dress him while DH got toddler ready.

ETA - I also get everything ready the night b4 so it's ready to be put in the car and lay out their clothes along with a bottle upstairs for the baby's first morning bottle
Bring toddler in daycare first then go back for the baby.

Message edited 2/14/2012 2:59:47 PM.

Re: Daycare moms with 2 or more kids- need your tips and advice!

Thanks everyone! Luckily, my husband is very helpful already. Even before we had our second baby, he would get.up with us every morning and get our son up and dressed while I got his food ready and bag packed. It makes things much easier!