Could really use an opinion regarding my daycare situation

LVbaby07

Hi!  This may get long-sorry!  I am due with #3 in May.  Currently my 2 girls go to a private preschool program about 20 minutes from me.  My oldest will be going to Kindergarten in the fall, but my middle one(3) will still be there.  Issue is, they dont accept infants, only 2 years plus.  With my first two girls, my mother watched them until they were each 2, but cant with this one, so I have no experience with infant daycares.  Anyway, I love the place my 3 year is at, and would hate to move her, but can I really go to 2 different places?  I know I can, but do I want to?  We also know the owners for the preschool personally, so that may be weird leaving, but I know that shouldnt be an issue.  I am just concerned about taking my 3 year old out of her norm...but she will adjust, right?  The daycare I am leaning towards, regardless, if my 3 year old goes I really really like and would be very comfortable with having her there, but I just feel bad about taking her away from what she knows now.  There is a cost difference of about $106 more a month if I have them together, because we do get a great discount at there current place b/c we do know them personally.  But that increase would not be that big of an issue.  This new place would be 15 minutes closer as well.  Thoughts?  Any moms go to more than one daycare/school?  I will be going to 3 potentially..daycare, preschool and kindergarten! 

jf198400

Personally I would keep them together.  I can't imagine doing 2 dropoffs, much less 3.  I have my 2 kids at the same DC and dropoff easily takes me 15mins.  Remember that for each dropoff point, you have to get children in and out of carseats.  Also I like that when there are holiday parties at school, I get to visit both kids.  What if both DC's were having a Halloween parade or a Thanksgiving lunch at the same time, how would you choose which child to go to?

LVbaby07

EllaHella:

I only have one child but I do know a few coworkers who kids go to different schools. 

Is it possible for your H to take one of the LOs to school?  Three dropoffs sound miserable. 

Or is a nanny at home possible for your infant so it is one less drop off? 

My husband could potentially drop off, but he could not pick up, so I still would be picking up three.  I work from home, so the nanny would be a possibility, but we would rather not go that route and is a lot more expensive in our area actually. 

LVbaby07

jf198400:

Personally I would keep them together.  I can't imagine doing 2 dropoffs, much less 3.  I have my 2 kids at the same DC and dropoff easily takes me 15mins.  Remember that for each dropoff point, you have to get children in and out of carseats.  Also I like that when there are holiday parties at school, I get to visit both kids.  What if both DC's were having a Halloween parade or a Thanksgiving lunch at the same time, how would you choose which child to go to?

The holiday party thing was actually a huge thought in my head and I completely agree, I have no idea what I would do.  My husband said we would figure it out, but I dont want to have to do that! 

MrsSDgirl

I have two drop offs.  DS1 is in preschool, and DS2 is at an in home daycare.  It's really not that bad once you get a routine going.  It does, however, take a while so you have to plan for it.  I leave my house at 6:45am.  I drop DS1 at preschool first (~7:00am.  This is near our house.)  Then I drop DS2 at daycare.  Daycare is further away, but near my work.  We get there ~7:40.  Then, I'm at my desk by 8:00am.  So, it's totally doable.  But, I'm looking forward to next year when they'll both be in the same preschool!

mommymegan831

I believe most daycares have a preschool plan

jnealet

D1 is in preschool and D2 is in an inhome.  They are not close to each other at all, nor close to our house.  But we had to do some quick transitions back in the day and infant spots are tough to find. 

95% of the time, I drop off and pick up D1 and DH does the same for D2.  There is a little more planning when it comes to one of us travelling but we make it work. 

azuremama

I would not voluntarily choose to do three separate dropoffs.  Even if each only takes a few minutes, it will really add up!  Your 3-yo will adjust to a new place. 

LoCarb

We don't use two places now but eventually will when DD1 hits K. It will be tough and maybe a PITA but like PP said you'll get a routine down. That being said, I may try to limit to two locations.

shannm

I do two drop offs right now and will continue for at least another three years.  I would not do three unless there were REALLY extreme circumstances.