Would you send your kids to 2 different daycares?

BPer · February 2014

I really like the daycare that Hannah is in now. It's fairly new (just opened over the summer) and most of the teachers are great. We've reserved a spot for LO2 there for when I come back from maternity leave in September/Octoberish.

But, come September, Hannah will be eligible to enroll at the campus daycare at the university I work at, which is the most coveted daycare/pre school in our area. People put their kids on the waiting list right after they are born (despite the fact that they must be 18 months old to attend, and they only enroll in September.)

Hannah's daycare is fine for the purposes of daycare, but I'd really love for her to go to preschool on campus. Would it be ridiculous to send them to 2 different daycares? Once DS is old enough, I'd move him over too.

hmp1 · February 2014

If there was a better preschool near me that didn't offer infant care, I would be willing to put James in a different preschool. We are looking into options for pre-k now to decide if we will move him or have him continue at the school they both go to.

Since she will be on your campus and it isn't out of the way, I would consider it.

Holly_1007 · February 2014

I wouldn't hesitate in your case. A 2 yr old has different daycare needs than an infant. This won't add to your commute either.

BeebopandBuddy · February 2014

We almost did this with ours last week. DD is eligible for a great pres-chool in our area that is $300 cheaper each month than the daycare. DS is not old enough to go there. I was ready to split them until I told the daycare and they agreed to drop their price so that it is only about $100 difference. We decided that the convenience of one drop off spot and the fact that they will be there together (since they have always been together) was enough reason to keep them at the same place. However, if the daycare had not changed the price, they would be in two different places.

If it is convenient for you because there is one drop off and the other location is at your place of work, I would do it.

MommaP12 · February 2014

I would do it! Sounds like a great opportunity for Hannah and doesn't add to your stress.

melody921 · February 2014

Since it's on your campus, I would think about it. If I had to go out of my way, absolutely not. Life is complicated enough getting everyone to school and work on time.

mrsbhk22 · February 2014

At one point, my 3 kids were in 3 places. The toddler daycare offered preschool but it sucked, so I moved DS1 to a "real" preschool (which didn't take toddlers) and kept DS2 there because the basic daycare part was fine. DD stayed with my aunt.

Sure, it's way more convenient for them to be in the same place, but I thought the educational value was worth the inconvenience.

Edit: DS1 was 3.5 at the time. I'm not sure preschool does much for 2 yr olds, but by the time they are 4, I wanted something more structured.

danabsd · February 2014

I just keep thinking about getting 2 kids out of the car then putting one back in to go somewhere else. The way Beb acts now that would be enough to keep them in the same place. Also, I absolutely love our daycare, if I didn't the car thing probably wouldn't weigh so much on it.

Hyaline · February 2014

I probably wouldn't. But--this is colored by my perception of campus daycares. The one at my former job was really coveted and had super-long wait lists, too, but it actually wasn't any better, quality-wise, than other centers in the area. I'd talk to families who have used it, or, preferably, have used it and other centers to make sure it's truly that much better than what you're doing now.

If you think it really is best for both kids, yeah, go for it. But if you think Hannah's fine at the DC you're in now, I think I'd be comfortable leaving her there.

hmp1 · February 2014

danabsd said:

I just keep thinking about getting 2 kids out of the car then putting one back in to go somewhere else. The way Beb acts now that would be enough to keep them in the same place. Also, I absolutely love our daycare, if I didn't the car thing probably wouldn't weigh so much on it.

Right now, DH and I usually split drop off and pick up (I drop off, he picks up). But if they were at different schools, I think we would just be assigned a kid. I would take Leo because he sleeps in and I can drop off later. James is an earlier riser so it wouldn't be a big deal for DH to drop him off on his way to work.

linzeek44 · February 2014

Hyaline said:

I probably wouldn't. But--this is colored by my perception of campus daycares. The one at my former job was really coveted and had super-long wait lists, too, but it actually wasn't any better, quality-wise, than other centers in the area. I'd talk to families who have used it, or, preferably, have used it and other centers to make sure it's truly that much better than what you're doing now.

If you think it really is best for both kids, yeah, go for it. But if you think Hannah's fine at the DC you're in now, I think I'd be comfortable leaving her there.

I was going to make a similar comment in regards to campus care. Always super popular. Not always of outstanding quality.

L8kissie · February 2014

I was going to say heck no, but the college preschools I've worked at are amazing. I'd totally suffer until they were able to be together. It seems like too good of an opportunity to skip.

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