[Stormster]

I had heard this was pretty standard toddler stuff but I just didn't expect it from my get up and go little guy.

He loooooves to be home now. Half the time when we are out he looks at me and says "home?" He wakes up around 7 and I have to literally start easing him into his clothes 45 minutes before we leave. He's funny about what he wants to wear too! He has this one T shirt that is white and has the word "mine" on the front, really tiny. He knows what it says and cries and cries for his "mine" shirt. (ironic, right?) or maybe not!

I don't think it matters where we are going. He loves school but makes it no easier to get ready for school than anything else. It just seems like a transition issue.

Does anyone have any ideas to make the mornings less stressful? Thanks!

[feelingreyt]

Storm, I know what you mean.

I need ideas as well. Both my boys have a hard time leaving in the mornings. By the time we are all out the door I need a nap! No kidding!

[Saya]

Storm, I was just thinking of posting this! Anabel has been TERRIBLE about getting dressed and getting out of the house recently, in a way we haven't seen in like a year. Things that have worked in the past have been giving her choices of what to wear and letting her make the decision, and letting her watch TV while I get her dressed and brush her hair (it's her one TV watching part of the day on a weekday). But right now NOTHING is working - everyday has been like pulling teeth to get out of the house, and there are always tears. ARGGGHHH it's been going on for weeks now and I'm just sick of it!!!

[mondk]

We are homebodies, so Joshie right now anyway, loves going out of the house...one thing I do with him though, is if he is going somewhere the next day, I start telling him this the night before to prep him. Then, I get him up that day and talk about the upcoming activity...that seems to prepare him a little more easily.

Don't know if it will work, it's my only suggestion!

Blessings, Michelle

[bethy724]

I always had a GREAT toy for the car (Magna-doodle, coloring book, favorite book) for motivation to get in the car - the toys stay in the car.
Now that he is kindergarten we have breakfast @ school-since my son wakes up starving it gets us out the door nicely.

[momraine]

We also, when my kids were younger and now still that they are older, lay out the clothes the night before. We talk about what is happening the next day as part of the bedtime routine. If we have to go somewhere very early, like appointments or something, we pack something to eat for breakfast in the car. For longer drives or when I know we will be waiting, we do a backpack of toys and snacks. The laid out clothes make it easier in the morning. You can let the child pick the night before. We even laid out hair things for dd.

[jules17]

a kitchen timer!!! i set it, and tell them how long they have to do xyz. we make a game out of it. "hurry, hurry, hurry, see if you can have it done before the bell goes off!"

i swear, i have never seen them move so fast.

[Jo Ellen]

If you have told your son you are leaving to go somewhere and he is bucking getting ready to go you can take him as he is as long as he has something on. When he gets to where you are going and realizes he is not dressed as he should be for the day he may decide on his own to get dressed without issues. When my daughter was in preschool I had to do this a few times but that is all it took. I hope this helps.

[momraine]

I have also started telling my youngest that he has to get dressed before leaving his room in the morning. He wants to leave his room so he gets dressed fast. Otherwise it can take him forever.

[Stormster]

Originally Posted by Jo Ellen

If you have told your son you are leaving to go somewhere and he is bucking getting ready to go you can take him as he is as long as he has something on. When he gets to where you are going and realizes he is not dressed as he should be for the day he may decide on his own to get dressed without issues. When my daughter was in preschool I had to do this a few times but that is all it took. I hope this helps.

Jo this is the only thing that works for us too!!!! Yesterday we went somewhere barefoot (took shoes in car and put on while in car seat) and PJ top. When we got there he let me put sweater on (over PJ top) I guess you just have to be flexible and creative sometimes!!!

As for other suggestions.... nothing works EXCEPT telling him i will let him play in the front seat of car which we don't have time to do anyway! Used to be we'd stop in a parking lot at the river near house to watch trains and boats but even THAT has lost it's appeal!

[Saya]

A good friend of mine got so sick of the morning clothes change drama with her toddler that for months her solution was to change them into their clothes for the next day the night before! Her logic, which is hard to argue with, was "hey, how dirty are they going to get just sleeping in their crib?"

I'm saving that solution for a last resort though - plus A loves her PJs so I don't think it would go over too well. . .

[Stormster]

Originally Posted by Saya

A good friend of mine got so sick of the morning clothes change drama with her toddler that for months her solution was to change them into their clothes for the next day the night before! Her logic, which is hard to argue with, was "hey, how dirty are they going to get just sleeping in their crib?"

I'm saving that solution for a last resort though - plus A loves her PJs so I don't think it would go over too well. . .

that is funny. wouldn't work for us though for a few different reasons!

[sheababy]

I have this same problem too and must admit I've resorted to bribery. It works most of the time. DD loves the Flinstone vitamins and I give her Pedalyte Fiber Gummies. So before she can have a dinosaur or penguin she has to be dressed, shoes and all. However, this still doesn't stop the "oh I need milk, oh I need by blanket" and on and on before she can get in the car.

I am a jump out of bed at the last minute and haphazardly get ready with no particular routine (I shower the night before) so I see her not getting ready as mostly my fault. I am going to try getting up 30 minutes early next week and getting things ready the night before.

[Stormster]

Shea I'm routine woman and not even that seems to help us!

[yehudit]

A good friend of mine got so sick of the morning clothes change drama with her toddler that for months her solution was to change them into their clothes for the next day the night before! Her logic, which is hard to argue with, was "hey, how dirty are they going to get just sleeping in their crib?"

We've tried this too, but whenever we do thing 2 wets through her diaper to her clothes and bedding. But she rarely does this when wearing pajamas

I recently posted about this and just strated a new strategy. I made a chart of all the things he has to do in the morning with a spot for each day of the week. I drew a picture of the thing (like a pic of shirt, pants, and socks to represent "get dressed). Once he does he gets to make a mark of his choosing in the space of that day (he can draw a pic, make a check mark, put a sticker, etc.). It's only been one day and the kids were out of school today, but so far it's working well. He was really excited to get through his routine and even corrected me that he had to eat breakfast before doing his OT because that's how it is on the chart .

The other thing aI do is if he refuses to get dressed I tell him he's going to have to go to school in his PJs/go to bed in his clothes. That usually works too but once I actually did have to send him to school in his PJs.

Good luck,