Daycare for DD when DS is born? WWYD?

babybrielove · July 2013

I'm 37 weeks with my second. My daughter is 22 mos and currently goes to daycare full time as DH and i both work full time. I miss her so much working full time and am wondering if when DS is born if I should cut her daycare down to 3 days a week we can do three or five days while on my 12 week leave or if ill just be too tired to be active enough w her and should just keep her in her routine. This will be the only time ill ever have off work this long and I feel like I want her w me as much as possible but my mom thinks its more important for her to keep her routine and for me to rest and that I should send her full time. Wanted to see what others did. Thanks so much ladies!

jf198400 · July 2013

I would definitely drop her to PT, especially if you can save some money. My kids are 18months apart, and I kept DD home full time during my ML (although we were switching childcare arrangements anyways). I had a wonderful time being with both of my children. It was much more fun than being home alone with an infant. I didn't have any difficulty recovering or getting rest. The important thing for me was making sure DD got up and got activity in the morning so she would still take a good afternoon nap.

Mrs.RockyM · July 2013

We sent DD1 to her regular scheduled pre-k. We wanted to maintain DD1's schedule as much as possible. Maternity leave was as much about bonding with DD2 as it was about me healing, and there's no way that could happen with DD1 there. Plus there's no way I'd have been able to handle DD1 during the day, especially when I really did need to sleep when DD2 slept!

ebp913 · July 2013

I sent DD because I wanted the alone time with DS that I had with our first. I kept her home here and there and that worked out great. She was way happier playing with other kids than being with me and a cranky newborn anyways.

meganandchase · July 2013

DS was 26 months when DD was born. I kept him home for one month, because between DH and MIL, I had help the whole month. After that, he went back to daycare full time. Having a newborn is exhausting, and being able to take naps when she did made a huge difference. It also allowed for the all important bonding time with DD.

Then when DH brought DS home at night, I was excited to see him and spend time with him, and DH got a little time with DD.

Amymichelle925 · July 2013

I kept DS in daycare full time when DD was born. I really wanted to spend those week days recovering and spending quality time with DD (just like I was able to do with DS when he was born). DS loved going to daycare every day...it kept him in his routine and he got to run around and play. I picked him up an hour or two earlier than I typically would when I was working. This worked out well for us and I'm so glad we did it this way.

jo4janet · July 2013

cyprissa:
I am currently on leave with DS2 and DS1 is still in daycare full time. Keeping his routine has been good for him with all the change at home. Also, it is so hot here and I just can't see taking my newborn outside in the heat of the afternoon at this point for any length of time but DS goes stir crazy inside. Additionally, I figure that I had 12 weeks to bond and snuggle with just him so number 2 deserves the same one on one time.

This is what I did, but it was winter and I was so glad I did it. It is hard with a newborn and a 2 year old. Good luck to OP.

Red_Dahlia · July 2013

These responses are so interesting! I'm due in December and 100% going to leave DD in daycare full-time. But now I'm not so sure... it would be nice to spend some extra time with her and save $$$$. Too bad we couldn't have her go part-time. (We could, we'd just have to pay the full-time rate)

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