The 5 most underrated morning hacks for working parents with young children
We asked parents for their most underrated morning hacks, and the answers were not complicated or Pinterest-worthy. They were very simple and honestly a little obvious once you hear them! The most helpful tips are the ones that feel too basic to bother with until you actually try them.
Check out the following most underrated morning hacks for working parents that are sure to make life easier! We know you’ve heard it before, but they’re game changers.
Wake up before your little ones
Okay hear us out…..even 30 minutes makes a huge difference and gives you an opportunity to start your day on the right foot. Enjoy your cup of coffee while it is still hot and get dressed without an audience – ahhh the luxuries of life!
There is a steadiness that comes from having even a small window of calm before the chaos. That steadiness really does carry throughout your entire day.
Pack bags and prep lunches the night before
Classic for a reason. This one has been said a thousand times because it genuinely works, and yet most parents still find themselves at 7am hunting for a water bottle or throwing together a lunch while their little one needs something.
Make it a non-negotiable part of the evening. Bag packed, lunch made or fully prepped, anything that needs to leave the house sitting by the door. It costs about ten minutes the night before and saves far more than that the next morning when your brain is still waking up and patience is thinner.
Lay out clothes the night before
Having everything laid out the night before saves a ton of time, potential arguments (no, you can’t wear shorts in -7 weather), and eliminates having to frantically rummage through the dirty laundry hamper the next morning for a matching pair of socks.
If your child is old enough, they’ll likely want to choose! Even a two year old can point to which shirt they want. It builds confidence, and gives them a sense of ownership over their morning.
The countdown method
Young children do not process “we have to leave right now” very well. A sudden transition demand is genuinely hard for a little one to meet, and the meltdown that follows is not about the shoes.
Steady countdowns change this. Ten minutes before you need to leave, say it out loud. Five minutes, say it again. Two minutes, shoes on. You are not nagging, you are preparing their nervous system for what is coming. Over time, this becomes part of the rhythm of your morning and departures get smoother because your little one is not being caught off guard every single day.
The car snack swap
Not every morning, just the hard ones.
On the days where breakfast at the table is adding stress instead of sustenance, move it to the car. A banana, a cheese stick, a whole grain muffin, something real and easy that your little one can eat on the way to daycare or school. The table battle disappears, the timeline gets back on track, and everyone arrives in a better state than they would have otherwise.
Tip: Keep a small stash of grab-and-go options in the kitchen for these types of mornings. You can also check out our easy banana muffin recipe at the bottom of this blog post to help with quick option ideas!
Her Yes Club was built with working parents in mind
We know that childcare is often one of the biggest stressors for working parents. Her Yes Club takes finding it and managing it off your plate so you have one less thing to worry about. Download it from the App Store or Google Play Store to get started today.
