working moms of two or more...

skibi83

I posted this on the working moms board also...

I am having my second this month, and when he arrives, our little lady will not be in daycare until January. I was wondering how did your older children adjust to not being at daycare when that has been so routine? Also what did you do? I think she will miss her friends. She is a very social little lady.

mbgreenwalt

My DD was 21 months when I had DD2.  I kept her home on my mat leave 4 days a week, but I did send her on Wednesday.  She did fine with this.  I wanted her to stay familiar with DCP and the routine there.  It made it easy to run errands and get things done around the house.  Also, I liked that I could have one on one time with DD2 those days. 

ebp913

I am planning to keep my DD home 1 or 2 days per week but probably not more than that.  We do a nanny share and she enjoys it and I really want to have time to devote to this new baby without worrying about my toddler.  We'll have to pay the same amount regardless of how often she's home so that's not a factor for us.  I have 12 weeks of leave and I want to make sure that I get the time with this baby that I had with my DD when she was tiny.  

msualum96

We're at an in-home DC and had to pay half of our normal weekly rate to hold his spot during my mat leave, so I figured I'd just send him 2 days a week, since we were paying for it anyway!  It was GREAT!  DS enjoys playing with his friends, and it gave me a chance to have one on one time w/ DD.  I could also run errands, clean the house, etc. w/o a newborn & toddler to deal with!

kari11w

We are able to do part-time daycare with DD. She goes 3 days per week. My DS is kind of high maintenance so on the days I have them both I go over to my moms. DD loves DS and is obsessed, however, she has regressed a bit and it makes it hard for me. DD will only take bottles right now (previously took a sippy no problem) and wants to be held all the time which is very difficult to do while holding a gassy, constantly spitting up newborn. I miss DD so much when I'm home without her and I feel guilty, but I need to spend some one-on-one time with DS.  

lemon.sarie

Both times I've kept the older girl/girls in daycare a few days/week when the newest one came home.  This kept them in a routine, and since they love daycare, it was an easy decision.  It also allowed me one on one time with the newborn, and to get rest/things done around the house so that when the older ones were home I could be more 'present' with them.

If you can afford it, I highly recommend it (I kep DD1 in daycare 3 days/week until DD2 was about 4 months, and with DD3, DD1&2 are still in daycare 2 days/week until the end of this month - I am going to miss the time I get with them there, but financially it's a stretch to keep them there).  I'm in Canada, so 1 year mat leave each time.