Anyone switch from daycare to nanny with #2?

Rocklandholly

DS is in daycare and we love it/he loves it, but I don't know if we could do it with 2. We both have long NYC commutes (about 1 hr & 15 -30 min each day).  I run out of work to catch the last train before daycare closes and get home around 6:30.  DS goes to bed around 7:30 and in that hr i fed him, bathe him, etc. There have been nights when he is so exhausted & cranky and its been trying for both of us...Once he goes to bed, I make dinner for DH and me. DH gets home around 8.  I dont' know if I could do this w/2, plus go back to washing/making bottles for the next day and all the extra packing up of stuff for daycare that an infant needs.

I don't love the thought of a nanny and it would be more expensive....I also feel guilty taking DS out of daycare because I know he loves it.  I also know a nanny will help us out so much w/having the kids fed or food ready at night, not having bottles to wash/make, laundry for the kids done, which would allow me to spend more time w/them on the weekend. 

Did anyone make this switch to nanny with #2? 

Rocklandholly

I should also add DH travels...so when he does I am already late for work and its hard enough to shower and get ready w/one kid....

hansa11

It sounds like a nanny is the way to go for you.  If you can afford the additional cost, there's not a price you can put on for reducing stress in your life.  A nanny worked out financially because we would have actually been paying more for an infant and toddler in a daycare center. 

I've never done daycare because I was a SAHM when my first was young, so I've never done the switch, but I have to say having a nanny keeps our household afloat and keeps me sane.  My husband also travels for work and is in grad school, so I'm often solo parenting.  In addition to not having to do drop-off and pick-up and everything associated with that, she does the kids' laundry, keeps their rooms clean and does light housecleaning and errands.  Basically all the little stuff that would have to wait until the evening or weekend actually gets done.  Even with a nanny, my reasonable work hours and ten-minute commute, I still only have an hour and a half at home before my younger one's bedtime.  Once he's in bed, we start the older one's bedtime routine. 

dizzycooks

We plan on switching to a nanny when we have #2.  The cost of infant care + toddler care is just too much.  We may actually end up going with a live in au pair for cost reasons.  We have a pretty small house, but the cost savings would be huge. 

All the reasons you listed are reasons I would be considering (laundry, picking up after the kids, drop off, etc.)  Plus, even if I am still prepping dinner, it would be nice to be able to ask her to turn the crock pot off or take the casserole out at 5 so the dish is warmed up for the oven.

If you really can't swing a nanny financially, have you considered hiring a cleaning person?  Or maybe someone to do laundry or dinner prep once a week for you?  Or maybe a college student who can do pick up/drop off for you?  Just some ideas.

ChicagoWeded2007

When we have #2, I have thought about having a nanny, but still sending the older child to preschool 2 days a week.  I could pay the nanny a little less and my older child could get more social interaction and all the other benefits of daycare....

NicoleWI

We did. Worked out great for us. SOOOO much easier on me and the cost was pretty much the same in my area once we had 2 kids. Plus, the illness difference (yes, yeah, I know, whatever, DS might get sick more when he starts school--or maybe not) was HUGE!!!!!! DD was sick ALL THE time in daycare and half the time we'd get it or she'd be up all night w/ croup, and 103 fevers were routine. It was a serious disruption to our lives the whole first year and a half or so. DS has hardly been sick.

ebp913

I don't have 2 yet but we recently moved our DD from daycare to a nanny share combination with parents day out.  The nanny has our daughter and 2 other girls 3 days a week and then all 3 girls go to PDO 2 days a week.  This works great for us because we get the one on one attention of the nanny and the socialization from "daycare".  When we have 2, we may get our own nanny but it probably wouldn't be for awhile and we would still want our kids to go to PDO.  If you can swing something like that, it could be a good compromise. 

One of the best things I have noticed about the nanny is that our DD naps SO much better.  She used to not nap well at daycare and crash at 7 but now she happily naps 3-4 hours a day (she LOVES sleep) and stays up until 8-8:30 which works great for us.  We get more time with her after work and she's happy and rested.  It's so worth it for that alone.   

chels0120

To me this would be a no brainer. More help around the house, kids not having extremely long days for commute reasons and my mental health in check. You could make sure that the nanny takes them to play dates and such to keep the socialization and plans activities for your LO now while the baby is sleeping and such.