STM's...childcare after the 2nd child arrived

erind0213

I am just curious after the last HDBD thread.

Of the second time or more moms, what did you did with your older LOs when the new baby arrived. Did you keep them home with you or continue to send them to a DCP.

We currently use our neighbor who watches children in her home. Courtney goes there 4 days a week currently, sometimes 5 and I was thinking then when I was on maternity leave I would still try and send her 2 maybe 3 times  a week to keep her in the swing of things.

kj07

I can't speak for myself, but I know my friends continued to send their older child to preschool when the second one arrived. It allowed the older one to keep a routine, allowed mom and #2 to spend time together, and let mom relax a bit (as much as caring for a newborn is relaxing).

missmuffin87

Hazels going to be starting a preschool program 2 mornings a week. I think it will be good for her to get a break from the baby and have some big kid interaction. My grandfather is also taking a couple weeks off work and wants to hang out with her some days to give hazel and I a break from each other.

enjoylife

If A had been in daycare we would have continued it in order to keep his normal routine as undisturbed as possible. However we were only using a babysitter in our home when I was working so we 3 all stayed together my 12 weeks of maternity leave. 5 in the evening was what I looked forward too all day since that was when Dh was home too. It was tiring since I couldn't nap when the baby did but we survived

TMNTgirl

My mom/MIL watch the boys when I work part-time now and when I was on maternity leave after baby #2 they still came over and helped/watched DS1 and did activities with him 2-3 days a week. It helped keep DS1 used to his routine and it was a nice break for me to just have the newborn to care for.

PGASTL

I kept sending Reese to daycare so she could keep a routine. Also we had to lay to hold her spot anyway so she may as well go. It was the best thing to do- Charlie was colic-y at first and I really needed to rest in the daytime. Plus I had a c/s and couldn't be as active while healing. I am so glad that's what we did and would do it again.

theuntaggablek

PGASTL said:

I kept sending Reese to daycare so she could keep a routine. Also we had to lay to hold her spot anyway so she may as well go. 

All this. (sub S for Reese.) I also appreciate 1 on 1 with new baby & some quiet moments to rest.

jnicolen1

PGASTL said:

I kept sending Reese to daycare so she could keep a routine. Also we had to lay to hold her spot anyway so she may as well go. It was the best thing to do- Charlie was colic-y at first and I really needed to rest in the daytime. Plus I had a c/s and couldn't be as active while healing. I am so glad that's what we did and would do it again.

i SAH, so i continued to keep oliver home with us after duncan was born.  however, it was DIFFICULT, because like PGASTL, i had a c section and duncan was colicy (reflux).  if oliver had already been in daycare or preschool, i would have kept sending him on exactly the same schedule.   it would have been so nice to have him in a more structured environment, getting lots of attention.  with both of them home, his routine was messed up, and i couldnt make everyone happy.  ever.  it was rough.

babycakes

If G had been going to daycare, I would've kept with that routine.  But normally my mom would watch him for the few hours between DH and my work shift.  Once on mat leave, G just stayed at home with me.  It was tough though.  It would've been nice to have some newborn B and mommy time without G there.

watermellens

We continued to send B to day care but only twice a week. It was more a break for me than anything else. I LOVED those 2 days a week. I wish we had kept him in 3 days or even 5. The first couple of months were so so so hard for me. If he was in school, we would have of course kept him in school

bosha711

DS was cared for in our home part-time, prior to DD's arrival, so when I had DD, DS just stayed home with me while I was on maternity leave.

My mom came over to help out for 2 of those weeks & we had our normal babysitter come over every Friday as well.

DS started at a DC center once my maternity leave was over.

If he had already been going to a center before I had DD, we would have definitely had him continue his normal schedule of going there. It was tough having him home with me while taking care of a NB.

keags5496

We'll keep E going to daycare. Partly because if I pull him ill lose his spot and partly because I want that schedule for him.

pitterpatter129

We sent Nate to daycare for 8 weeks.  Then twice a week to a MDO program for part of the day over the summer.  Now, sigh, I'm home all day long with both.  He loves school and I love working, but my paycheck barely covered daycare for 2, so I'm staying home for a couple of years.  I love my kids, but I'm still adjusting!  Not pumping at work is a big thrill though!  Nate probably had more bottles than nursing sessions as a baby and my supply suffered because of that. Back on topic, sending Nate to "school" while I was at home with a newborn was the best idea EVER.  There is no way I would have functioned well with both kids at the beginning.  I was just so exhausted.  It gave me time to establish breastfeeding, nap, and recover before having two kids all day.  My mom and MIL came to help on the first couple of weekends when my DH had to work too.  

kat81again2

still sending DS to daycare. I might have been able to save money (doubtful, though--they'd probably have given up our spot), but we decided it was just SO much easier for him to keep his routine and for us to focus on the newborn. I don't know how I'd care for DS while nursing a newborn and getting basically no sleep at night. Hats off to the SAHMs!!!