Parents of 2 or more children ...

B&C03

I am expecting baby #2 around the end of July. I also have a 2 year, 3 month old son who is very active . Come September my husband will need to return to work from FMLA. I know I will need a C-Section so I will need help at home the first two weeks and lucky to have DH around until September but plan on enrolling DS in pre school because I feel I will need bonding time and he currently has no other children to interact with. My options for preschool are 2 days a week, 3 days or 4 days a week ( 2.5 hours a day. Of course we need to pay for this. How many days do you think is reasonable? I thought 23 days might be a happy medium, 2 days might not be enough with chores and a newborn to deal with. 4 days might become too expensive. Any thoughts?

JoannaJes

If its only for 2.5 hours a day, I would definitely just do two days a week. It is going to be a PITA to get two kiddos ready to go and in the car, and then have to turn around again in a couple of hours to go pick him up. I cant imagine that would be enjoyable to do four days a week, every week.

Newborns sleep a lot, but what about in the spring when you will probably want to do more consistent naps? Your younger one might not appreciate having to get in and out of the car that much in the mornings. 

rsd12

well, expense is a big deal for us... so we chose a program that was 2 mornings a week the 1st yr, and 3 mornings a week the 2nd year. My oldest did get into a magnate school, which was every day, all day, and free... but I thought that was too much time away from home for him, especially since I am home with the kids. If it was mornings only I may have done that program (but it was free). My middle son is in a 4 morning a week program (but he is receiving services for a speech delay) and it works really well for him (free, well our tax money at work ; ). My youngest will probably do a 2 morning/week program the following fall... I am so not ready to rush putting them in school ; ) and honestly I love the mornings when we are all home together.. things start to get so hectic/rushed when they start school and they are only so little so such a small period of time. I have not had any issues bonding with any of my boys (the first two I had home with me, and the second and third I had home with me at the same time too). I won't lie I do like having only 1 home with me now most mornings!

B&C03

JoannaJes:

If its only for 2.5 hours a day, I would definitely just do two days a week. It is going to be a PITA to get two kiddos ready to go and in the car, and then have to turn around again in a couple of hours to go pick him up. I cant imagine that would be enjoyable to do four days a week, every week.

Newborns sleep a lot, but what about in the spring when you will probably want to do more consistent naps? Your younger one might not appreciate having to get in and out of the car that much in the mornings. 

 

As mentioned, I think 4 days was too much for him. Toting a child into the car to pick up another one is not a problem ... when they start to hit 2 years old is when it becomes tough. Besides both centers I am looking at are only 5 -10 minutes away from home so I have about  2 hours at home to clean and or tend to the younger one. It sure beats me having no one to help me now at all with my active 2 year old. I do not know what you mean about consistent naps in the spring. Again ... I'm considering 3 days a week as opposed to two.

RnMom2Be

I'm in a similar situation.  I am having my second baby in May and my son with be three in April.  My DH ONLY gets 2 weeks off to help me when I have my repeat C-section.  We are enrolling our son in a 2 1/2 hour two day a week preschool program in September BUT this summer, I am swinging it on my own.  I have family that lives close to help out.....

JoannaJes

B&C03:

JoannaJes:

If its only for 2.5 hours a day, I would definitely just do two days a week. It is going to be a PITA to get two kiddos ready to go and in the car, and then have to turn around again in a couple of hours to go pick him up. I cant imagine that would be enjoyable to do four days a week, every week.

Newborns sleep a lot, but what about in the spring when you will probably want to do more consistent naps? Your younger one might not appreciate having to get in and out of the car that much in the mornings. 

 

As mentioned, I think 4 days was too much for him. Toting a child into the car to pick up another one is not a problem ... when they start to hit 2 years old is when it becomes tough. Besides both centers I am looking at are only 5 -10 minutes away from home so I have about  2 hours at home to clean and or tend to the younger one. It sure beats me having no one to help me now at all with my active 2 year old. I do not know what you mean about consistent naps in the spring. Again ... I'm considering 3 days a week as opposed to two.

No, you said that 4 days might cost too much, not that it would be too much school for your LO.

As far as consistent naps...I was talking about your second child and their daytime sleep needs.

zoe_cat

When DD was 2 she went two days a week for 2.5 hours per day.  This year she goes 3 days, and next year she'll most likely go 4 days.  I think 2 days a week would be just fine.  It is a drag driving her back and forth and trying to coordinate it with DD#2's naps.

macchiatto

I'd do 3 mornings a week. Hopefully you can schedule your infant's morning nap to take place while you're home in between preschool dropoff and pickup for your older child.

Sawyerplus1

DS is in a 4 morning a week pre-school (2.5 hours a day). We didn't have the option of how many days to choose, but I think we'd have gone with 4 anyway. I like having those mornings with DD (and in september, also with this LO).

It is kind of annoying to get the kids ready and out of the house twice in the morning, but we live close, so it doesn't take long to get there and back (we often walk), and it's not as annoying a time frame as I expected it to be back in september.  And DS loves it. We have very few friends with kids, and none his age, so I'm glad for the opportunity to play and socialize for him.

Asquared

I did 2 days/ week for her first year in preschool- I think that's a good place to start! :-)

MommyMelissaM

I say 3 days. My 3 year old goes that right now and loves it. It is MWF.

kpips20

We were in a similar situtation when DD arrived. I started DS in preschool 2 days/week (also only 2.5 hrs) and after a month upped it to 3 days. He really wanted/needed the extra play and learning time at school and DD usually napps from 9am-10:30 which gave me some quiet time to do housework etc. Yes it sometimes feels like a really quick turn around from dropping him off to picking him up but I'm so glad we added the 3rd day.