DC 3 Days/Wk and Nanny 2 Days/Wk

RachelandEduardo

Anyone send their little ones to DC part time (e.g. 3 days a week) and have a nanny the other 2 days? My 18.5 month old is home with a nanny right now but we think she would really beneft from socialization and a daycare setting. The reason we aren't considering full time daycare right now is that I will be starting a new job in March which will require a 1.5 hour commute one way meaning it will be really tough to make it back to my city in time for daycare pickup. The commute would be two days a week and I will work from home 3 days a week. It would be nice to have her out of the office and in daycare while I'm home working all day. My husband is a physican and his schedule changes so much that we cannot rely on him for daycare pickup consistently, its all on me (with some help from my parents when they are able).

So, my question, those of you who have a split schedule like this, has it worked well for your kiddo? Are there any cons to not having the same schedule every week day? Anything I'm not thinking of? Thanks!

PSU_Texan

I would recommend a mother's day out program (3 hours per day on M/W/F or T/Th) and still keep the nanny full time.  It will be nice for consistency.  Your nanny can then help you with other household items to take the load off you.  And typically MDO programs are a lot cheaper.

traveltheworld

We sort of have that arrangement right now - my parents watch DS 3 days a week and he goes to DC the other 2 days.  We are going to switch to a nanny next year but will keep him going to DC 2 or 3 days a week.  It has worked out great for us.  DS has learned a lot by being at DC.  I truly think it's the best of both worlds.

justjinny

We send our DS to DC just 3 days per week.  The other two days either I or MH stay home with him.  I feel like it works out well and haven't noticed any downside with changing up his schedule. If anything, I think it helps because DS's a much better napper at home, so we only have 3 nights a week where he's coming home after daycare and needs a really early bedtime.

TheBorg7of9

I would keep the nanny full time and just have her take the kid to classes like little gym or something for socialization.

RachelandEduardo

Thanks for your thoughts and comments. In addition to the socialization piece, it would be nice to have her out of the house when I'm working from home on MWF. I occaionally work from home now and sometimes its difficult to focus when I can hear everything she is doing. She does go to Little Gym once a week and library story time, etc. Hmmm, so much to think about!

litzo27

Several of my friends do that and it works really well for them. But a big caveat is that they happen to have nannies who don't want to work full time (one is a student and has  classes T/Th and another is an elderly lady who wants to be with her grandkids after school several days a week). So make sure your nanny would be interested if part time if you are looking into that. Also consider that if your DD gets sick then you can't send her to daycare. Will you be able to take off work? Or will the nanny be also available for emergency extra days? If that doesn't work consider classes like PP mentioned.

2chatter

That sounds like the perfect set up to me.

I work from home and one of the biggest considerations in buying a house last year was where the office was located.  My office is through the master bedroom and master bath on the back of the house - there are three doors between children and I.  When I lacked a formal full on separate office space working from home and having kids present with my mom or DH or a sitter made me insane.

I also (only child showing here?) really like to be able to go downstairs for coffee, work in the living room for a change, grab more sparkling water, let the dog out....without running into the kids (ie I can do those thing while on calls because it is silent here).  DS has also gotten great at independent play, so I don't have to drop him at DC at 7 - he can hang out while I return emails, edit things, etc. before I really start my full on day at 9.  I love having that one on one time with him.

djm31012

We have DS in DC 2 days a week and with my SIL 3 days a week and it works out great. I NEVER thought I would be a daycare mom, and now I am totally obsessed with our center and even though I will be staying home in the new year I am thinking of keeping DS in DC 2 days a week because he is so happy there.

The only caveat is when he is sick either DH or I have to take off, but we would have this if he were in DC full time anyway. Since your LO will be going to DC on the days you are home, I am sure for one off situations if he gets sick you can work something out, maybe a babysitter,  or parent for a few hours..plan your conf calls during nap time, etc.

VOR

Your child will get used to the new routine.  We had an even crazier schedule and it was fine.  

*sparky*

What @litzo27 mentioned would be the only concern I would have about this arrangement.  Your LO will get sick once she starts DC and if you don't have coverage on those days then you are stuck taking the day off or trying to WAH with a sick baby.  If your nanny has flexibility to move days around or pick up additional days then it is a good arrangement, but if not then you may find you start missing a lot more work, at least while her immune system adjusts.

 

RachelandEduardo

Thanks for all of the awesome advice. Our nanny wants to go part time (she is having a baby and wants time with her LO). Sick days will be covered between myself, nanny and my parents. I wish we had a larger house where my office is far enough away that I wouldn't be distracted. Some day...I think we are gonna give it a try (provided we can find a daycare without a waitlist a mile long)! Thanks again for the input!

ccam

We split care right now with DS - he's in DC 3 days a week and with my SIL 2 days a week.  He does great with it and it doesn't even phase him!  He sleeps well at both places and comes home happy.  We'll be switching to DC full time in the near future but he's been on this split schedule since he was 6 months and no complaints from us.  They're really adaptable.

MommyAtty

We do something similar. My in laws take care of our 2 yo and 6 mo old, but 3 days a week, DD goes to preschool from 9-2. She's learned so much by being in preschool and both kids are thriving.