I work with my husband and we were planning on having the baby on daycare two days a week and then me staying home for the rest of the week. We visited a great place today and my husband suggested we could do 4 half days instead of the two full days.
I don't know how I feel about it and if the 4 half days will cut our routine too much. What are you guys doing for daycare? Does any know what is better for a baby? I feel like two days a week will help us to keep a routine, but this is the first time I am doing this so I have any idea. Any ideas will be appreciated
Re: Daycare Question
My daughter is in daycare and, in our experience, kids are pretty flexible. Whatever will work best for you and your husband will work the baby. Usually the beginning is a bit tough as they are getting used to a new routine but, once the routine sets in, that is what they know and they will adjust to that schedule. One thing that I will say is that you will spend more time dropping off an picking up if you do four 1/2 days then if you do two full and that can be kind of a bummer as those things do take time each day. I think you really have to decide which scenario works best for you and go with that.
My daughter is in daycare and, in our experience, kids are pretty flexible. Whatever will work best for you and your husband will work for the baby. Usually the beginning is a bit tough as they are getting used to a new routine but, once the routine sets in, that is what they know and they will adjust to that schedule. One thing that I will say is that you will spend more time dropping off an picking up if you do four 1/2 days then if you do two full and that can be kind of a bummer as those things do take time each day. I think you really have to decide which scenario works best for you and go with that.
Thanks to all of you. My commute is only 10 minutes and I purposely look for daycare centers that were on my way to work. However, our winters here can be pretty bad and I feel that driving with a baby in the snow will be very stressful. I guess I just need to talk to DH and see if we can compromise.
CakeBatter: I did the two hour commute for 2 years when we just got married and it was too much for me. I hope you can go PT.
My son goes part time to daycare. Most centers are cheaper for full days than half days. Full day for my son is 40 and half day is 32. I would go with the 2 full days. Kids are flexible and it may also interrupt nap time if you are picking up during nap time.
As an infant teacher I have some mixed feelings about both of these schedules so here is my take:
2 days a week- This is typically TTH at most centers which means there are 4 straight days spent at home with mom/dad getting 1:1 attention which is great. But that also means that come Tuesday morning at drop off it will be hard, really hard for some kids. This schedule works great for a child who has no separation or stranger anxiety, but for a child with some of either of these, this can make for a lot of anxiety about going to childcare.
4 half days- The consistency of being at childcare more days a week will help the child adjust quicker and allow the child and caregivers to bond quicker thus making the experience more enjoyable for the child. The only downside to this schedule as PP mentioned is that it can interrupt the routine of the child. If half day pick up/drop off time is at 12:30pm, that is typically in the middle of lunch/going down for naps. If you are picking up at the half way point, it might not be that big of a deal but there are some parents who stay home in the AMs and work in the PMs and this can be hard on the child and the class. If everyone is going down for naps and a child comes in having had a nap in the AM with mom this can be really annoying for the teachers in the program. I would ask what the plan is for children coming in at the half day mark and see if that works for you. I have seen centers where said child would be expected to lay on a mat for the hour long nap time (not what I would want to pay for).
Sorry that is so long, but I just wanted to share of a teacher's side of the coin. Good luck with your decision.