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Toddlers: 24 Months+
tibuli
member
Daycare for 2 1/2 year old for 2 or 3 days when baby comes?
tibuli
member
My husband and I are having a disagreement about if we should put our 2 1/2 year old in day care 2 or 3 days when the baby comes. He would go Tues-Thursday or Tuesday and Thursday for 2 days. There is no option to go just in the mornings. Things to think about:
1-Daily rate of 38 dollars. It would be doable, but it will be tight with just my husband's income.
2-My son doesn't like change. He is excited about baby sister, but the reality might be different as he loves one on one attention and will have a hard time adjusting.
3-I will have a c-section. my mom will come to stay with me the week after. I had no complications last time, but there are no guarantees. My husband's work is pretty flexible and he could attempt to work from home.
4-I had a hard time with Reilly last time, mainly due to anxiety and the inability to breastfeed. I think my husband was nervous about this. I feel a lot better about everything because I am not pressuring myself to breast feed.
5-My parents are very supportive and we get along good. They want to come up at least one day a week. I want my husband to take off some Fridays so we can have some time together as a family.
6-Lately Reilly has not wanted to go to day care because he wants to be with me. Once he is there, he is totally fine.
I want to go to two times a week, my husband wants 3 times a week. What would you do?
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Re: Daycare for 2 1/2 year old for 2 or 3 days when baby comes?
I understand your conflicted emotions over putting DS in day care. I had the same feelings when I thought about doing the same thing when I got a part-time job last year. And I didn't have another child.
For us it's worked out great to put DS in day care. The one he goes to is church-sponsored and I think of it more like a school than a day care. They sing, do art projects, story time, music and all kinds of stuff. My son is 2-1/2 now and he loves it. He started when he was 18 months, 2 days a week, and he would cry a bit for the first two weeks but then he was fine. Now my son goes with no problem.
His day care has allowed me to work, first in an office and now from home, which I can't do at all when he's home. He's a very active child and day care is great for him. He was going 3 days a week 9-3 but my work hrs have increased so now he will be going 5 days a week 9-3. I'm looking forward to it honestly. I'm a much happier mom when I have time to work on things I love and he's happier when he's learning and socializing with other kids.
I think you should try 2 days a week at first and see how that goes before doing 3 days. You'll definitely need a break when baby #2 comes. I have many friends that put their LOs in day care when #2 came and it's been great for them. Good luck!
DS goes to daycare full time and I had thought about keeping him home with me more when the baby came but in all honesty, having 2 kids right away scared the crap out of me so we decided to continue full time until I would have pulled him for the summer (I teach). This time has enabled me to get used to a newborn again, breast feed whenever DD needs/wants to and to get her on some type of routine. I also figure DS got me alone for 6mo, why shouldn't the new baby get me alone for a few months as well? For us & our situation, its worked out very nicely. DS also loves daycare & learns so much. He would be bored playing at home all day while I sat on the couch.
Do 3 days if you can. Trust me, you will need it. Plus, it allows you to focus on the new baby (which is virtually impossible with a 2.5 year old around) and your DS will be happier maintaining his routine and getting to play with his friends. It is boring for DD to be home with me and baby, and boredom leads to acting out.
Confused, does he already go full time? I would send him 3 days a week if he doesn't like change, as this will be more consistent plus since it is three days in a row it won't be all broken up.
If he doesnt already go, I still vote 3 days basically b/c I think it'll give you the break & time you need with the new LO! Plus then on the 2 days off you can hopefully line up your parents to help on one of them and assign them to the baby so you can really focus on DS and maybe do something special just the 2 of you each week or something. If he is home w/ you 3 days this won't be as special b/c you'll have 2 out of 3 days that you'll have to be juggling the kids.