Help me think this through

[twotrue]

I have a 4yo daughter and twin sons who are 15m. I pick up the boys from daycare and then need to pick up DD from after school care.

At DD'S school there is no wheelchair/stroller access. I have to walk up 5 steps and through two sets of doors. Currently the boys are still in infant car seats so I just carry a car seat on each arm when we go in to get DD.

However I will soon need to switch them to convertible car seats. So how do I get everyone inside to pick up DD? All I can think of (and it's going to be a PITA) is to take out one boy and put him in a back carry. Then just hip carry the other one.
Their car seats are on opposite sides of the car so I can't really trust one to stand on the sidewalk while I get the other.

Is there an easy mom trick that I'm missing? This dilemma is one of the reasons I'm trying putting off convertible car seats as long as possible.

[macchiatto]

That is tricky. :/ Yeah, I would probably throw one in an Ergo or something (I personally would do a front carry just b/c it's quicker for me, but whichever is easier for you) and carry the other on my hip. I think that's your best bet given the stairs, short of seeing if they have someone who could bring DD out to you but I don't know how realistic that is.

[josieposy]

Is there any way you can switch the pickup order around? Or does that make things worse?

[origami]

Can someone bring your DD to the door - or can you ask permission to park right by the door - so you can leave your DSes in the car, assuming pickup is fast? (::::whispers::: or just leave them in the car?)

I'm not sure if your DSes walk. If they do then I'd just hip carry one and hand hold the other while he walks. If they don't yet then I'd put the stroller at the top of the stairs and load them into it there. Either 1 at a time or do the ugly carry (under the arms) with both together. The trick to getting them both out of the car is getting 1 out first, bringing him to the other side of the car and then "pinning" him between your body and the open car door. (Or putting him inside the car on #2's side, if you have a van, but that works better when they're forward facing.)

A lady at my kids' old school hip carried both of her twins (no carrier). I was never that coordinated but that's how she got in and out.

[twotrue]

Oct 4, 2014 14:04:03 GMT -5 josieposy said:

Is there any way you can switch the pickup order around? Or does that make things worse?

Daycare is near my work and DD'S school is a mile from home so reversing the order wouldn't make sense. And unfortunately DW can't help because she doesn't get out of work early enough.

Guess the Ergo is going to be my friend.

[josieposy]

Oct 4, 2014 19:16:27 GMT -5 twotrue said:

Oct 4, 2014 14:04:03 GMT -5 josieposy said:

Is there any way you can switch the pickup order around? Or does that make things worse?

Daycare is near my work and DD'S school is a mile from home so reversing the order wouldn't make sense. And unfortunately DW can't help because she doesn't get out of work early enough.

Guess the Ergo is going to be my friend.

Aww bummer. Welp...it was a thought.

[nikki25]

I deal with this and the best way is I just call the school about 3 minutes out and a teacher walks her out. Honestly, it is easy peasy. I am sure if you talked to them they would have no probably walking out your DD. And, if you need to drop her off with the twins do the same thing. I call right before and someone meets me right outside; they are so incredibly accommodating.

[nikki25]

And, honestly, I would have never thought of that but when I was pregnant with the twins, the director and I were talking and she had to cut off the conversation because she had to walk a toddler boy out to a mother with twins. I never, ever, thought about it but I promise they will not care if you ask to walk her outside. Our daycare is similar, steps down, two doors and difficult parking. Good luck!!

[macchiatto]

Oct 4, 2014 21:39:09 GMT -5 nikki25 said:

I deal with this and the best way is I just call the school about 3 minutes out and a teacher walks her out. Honestly, it is easy peasy. I am sure if you talked to them they would have no probably walking out your DD. And, if you need to drop her off with the twins do the same thing. I call right before and someone meets me right outside; they are so incredibly accommodating.

That's awesome that they are so accommodating!
OP, I think it's definitely worth asking! Hopefully they will understand and be happy to help.

One of the moms at my Y hip-carries both of her twins in and out of the Y all the time (they're about 13m) but I was never that coordinated either and I hate having no hands free. To me it was always worth it to use the stroller but I didn't have a daily DC-with-stairs situation to deal with.

[Deleted]

I would get a cheap stroller and bring them in and out if it is a long walk.

[nikki25]

Oct 5, 2014 19:14:17 GMT -5 macchiatto said:

Oct 4, 2014 21:39:09 GMT -5 nikki25 said:

I deal with this and the best way is I just call the school about 3 minutes out and a teacher walks her out. Honestly, it is easy peasy. I am sure if you talked to them they would have no probably walking out your DD. And, if you need to drop her off with the twins do the same thing. I call right before and someone meets me right outside; they are so incredibly accommodating.

That's awesome that they are so accommodating!
OP, I think it's definitely worth asking! Hopefully they will understand and be happy to help.

One of the moms at my Y hip-carries both of her twins in and out of the Y all the time (they're about 13m) but I was never that coordinated either and I hate having no hands free. To me it was always worth it to use the stroller but I didn't have a daily DC-with-stairs situation to deal with.

I agree, it is definitely worth asking the worst they can say is 'no' but I have to imagine they have dealt with this before.