A mum has made a stark admission of how she gets her daughter up and ready in the mornings. She simply puts her to bed in the clothes she’ll wear the next day.
The working parent says this method saves time, and possibly a lot of energy, given the familiar struggle to get children out the door on time for school or nursery. But what if you could simplify your morning routine by having your child sleep in their outfit for the next day?
This is exactly the strategy one hardworking single mum who has started to streamline her mornings. Maisie, juggling full-time work, revealed that her daughter “sleeps in her clean clothes for the next day” to cut down on morning prep time and to prevent meltdowns since her daughter is “not a morning person”.
On her TikTok account, @maisieandnova, Maisie shared some unconventional parenting techniques she employs as a “mum who works long hours”, which not everyone agrees with. This includes her daughter, Nova, sleeping in the next day’s clothes and having breakfast in the car.
Maisie disclosed that she wakes Nova at 5.45am simply by “turning the light on” in her room. While Maisie gets ready for work, Nova rises at her own pace and then they set off for nursery, with Nova often eating her breakfast en route, reports the Mirror.
The mum penned: “She has breakfast in the car most working days. I ask her the day before if she wants it in the car or the house, she says the car so that she can sleep longer in the morning.”
If they’re delayed leaving work, Maisie will change Nova into “tomorrow’s clean clothes” so the tot can doze off in the car and be carried straight to bed upon arrival at home. She further explained: “Yes, you heard that right, she sleeps in her clean clothes for the next day (it’s always comfy [clothes] like joggers and jumpers). She isn’t a morning person and if I dress her in the morning it causes lots of upset and tantrums.”
Moreover, Maisie admitted she sends her daughter to nursery even when she’s under the weather because taking time off work isn’t an option for her, though she clarified this is “within reason”.
She elaborated: “I will still send her to nursery if she’s not [feeling] 100%, within reason. I have bills to pay and we’re in a cost-of-living crisis. Belly ache, snotty nose, or a slight cough isn’t a medical emergency or a debilitating issue. If you’re not okay with your child catching a cold then they shouldn’t be in nursery.”
Opinions were divided among commenters regarding the mum’s parenting style; some criticised her approach while others empathised, arguing there’s nothing wrong with her decisions given her circumstances.
One social media user posted: “Oh my god I’m glad I’m not the only one who dresses them before bed if we have to leave the house early! ,” with another chiming in: “I agree with everything. Her little girl is loved, and she’s doing the best she can in the situation we are given.”
A third added: “Absolutely refreshing to see this perspective. My family wouldn’t have what they have if we didn’t make compromises like this,” while yet another follower declared: “You are doing the very best. I love how she gets a choice about breakfast, you are considering her wants too. You are a fantastic mum working hard to provide.”
