Picking a delivery date?

TheNutt · April 2014

I have to have a CS, that is a done deal after 2 previous CS's. Technically we will get to "pick" our delivery day pending any complications. The decision we are trying to make is to deliver on 9/1/14? This would make her eligible for kindergarten on her 5th bday making her a young kindergartner or waiting and having an older kindergartner. Decisions.... decisions.... Part of me is also thinking about the cost of an extra year of child care which we all know is $$$. Anyone else facing the same decision?

Irisheyes1247 · April 2014

I'm not in this boat, but I do have a kiddo close to the cut off. In NYS, its 12/1, and she is 10/27, which puts her at the young end, and she is the youngest in her class right now. Being that she has a late bday, we have the opportunity to wait till the end of next year when she is 4 going on 5 before we decide about what we will do for K, if we will wait until she is 5 going on 6 to send her. We are also dealing with developmental delays that are playing into these decisions.

I think a lot of it will depend on your kid as the grow, so you're having to base your decision on a lot of unknowns. Will he/she be mature enough for K (sitting still, following directions, doing teacher directed, non-preferred activities), even if they are the correct age? Will they have learning delays that will hold them back, or will they be a whiz and then potentially be "bored" being the oldest in the class. There are a lot of articles about being either the youngest or oldest in the class, although I'm not sure how scientific they are. It just always seemed to be a big topic of discussion for my DD1's bmb, Nov10

beck12803 · April 2014

We have this with DD1. In our state, cut-off is 8/1 but extended to 8/8 for early registration and she's 8/7. But the decision isn't coming as easy for us, and we still have a couple years. Trying to decide if she'll be mature enough, if she'll be ready to go soon, or what if we wait and it ends up being the wrong decision. It's hard to say before you get to the point what the child will be like, developmentally.

JustCricket · April 2014

I went to a school where the cut off was 12/1. My bday is 11/30. It was a private school so they 'tested' anyone with a bday after 9/1. I think if you have the option it doesn't hurt to have baby on the 1st. That way you can look at how she is at that point and make a decision then. Some kids are just ready to start kindergarten early. Others need that extra year. FWIW being the youngest in school never was a big deal. Only thing that annoyed me was getting my DL after everyone in HS. But that just meant I got to ride around with my friends and not spend money on gas.

Ceridwen21 · April 2014

Do you know the sex of your baby? I have a lot of kindergarten and elementary school teacher friends, and the general consensus is that (on average) it's better to have a boy be the oldest in the class, whereas girls do just fine being the youngest.

rockychryslerb2010 · April 2014

I wouldn't pick 9/1 just so LO could be eligible for K a year earlier. I would pick 9/1 if the date worked and leave the K decision for later. Personally, I'm glad this one will be a late Sept baby, so he/she will be one of the oldest (my state also has 9/1 cutoff). I'm definitely influenced by my mom (K teacher and now elementary principal), but I think being oldest in the class is a good thing. I would seriously consider waiting a yr if I had an early Sept baby.

FWIW, my state does offer screening for children born 9/2 to 10/15, which if they pass they can attend while 4, turning five. So bday doesn't necessarily have to be before 9/1, and if the child really is ready for K early, the testing would show that.

PerpetualHJ · April 2014

Our cut off is Sept 30th. I have a due date of early September. I will have the baby of the class but I plan to send her just after her 5th birthday because she will be in the same class year as her cousin who was born early this year.

ConversationFear · April 2014

SmileyGirl18 said:

When I went to school, the cut off was 12/1. My b-day is 12/18. I loved being the oldest in the class! But something else to think about is that at least in CA, all districts are going to an 8/1 cut off by 2016. So, it may be a moot point.

This. School districts are changing this all the time. When i was a kid the cutoff was age 5 by October 1. Now you have to be 5 by August 1. They have moved it all over the place over the years. By the time your LO is in kindergarten, the rules that stand now may not even apply. I really wouldn't base a due date on that.

JSS1002 · April 2014

Interesting. Never thought about this, but 9/1 is the cut off here too and we'll have a c/s around your same timing.

I'm an October birthday (10/2) and my parents debated starting me early as I showed signs of readiness and whatever person they met with to discuss advised that we NOT do that because then I'd be the youngest for everything and have to work harder, etc.

Just FWIW.

poptart109 · April 2014

Cut off here is 9/1 as well and DS was born 9/4. Looking back, he would NOT have been ready for kindergarten then. No focus. all over the place and quite shy. He is currently in pre-k as an older (and popular) student in his class and they now tell me he's not challenged enough. He came home with homework that was adding double digits. I even asked him do you know how to do this?! And now I'm confident he's ready at this point to start.

MMason12 · April 2014

I wouldn't base the whole decision around K start date. Like some PP have said they could move the date on you sometime in the next 4-5 years or your child could just flat out not be ready early. I, personally, would rather have my child be the oldest verse the youngest. Remember there is an other side to the equation = high school graduation. Do you also think they will be ready to graduate and move off to college a year early too?

lbonga1 · April 2014

I don't have experience child-wise, but when I moved from Illinois to California when I was a kid, I was put in kindergarten when I was just turning six. I already knew everything they were teaching me, so I was moved into first grade within a month.
Obviously previous poster had a completely opposite experience with her DS, so I think it's going to be different with every child.

JustCricket · April 2014

SmileyGirl18 said:

MMason12 said:

I wouldn't base the whole decision around K start date. Like some PP have said they could move the date on you sometime in the next 4-5 years or your child could just flat out not be ready early. I, personally, would rather have my child be the oldest verse the youngest. Remember there is an other side to the equation = high school graduation. Do you also think they will be ready to graduate and move off to college a year early too?

This. Also I read somewhere that some states are moving to increasing the driving age to 18. If that actually happens, your LO won't be able to drive himself/herself to college. Crazy!!!!

I get this concern.. but every kid is different. I went to college at 17 and I turned out fine... mostly :P

TheNutt · April 2014

MMason12 said:

I wouldn't base the whole decision around K start date. Like some PP have said they could move the date on you sometime in the next 4-5 years or your child could just flat out not be ready early. I, personally, would rather have my child be the oldest verse the youngest. Remember there is an other side to the equation = high school graduation. Do you also think they will be ready to graduate and move off to college a year early too?

Eek! No, I am not readyfor them to move off early!! lol It's not about determining whether to decide about kinder now, but more about having the option if we felt she was ready at the time.

emmylu30 · April 2014

I hadn't thought about school enrollment dates until seeing this. Our state date is 9/1 and I'm due 9/1 so its crazy to think about how that could be a factor with their schooling. If this LO is born before 9/1 then DS and him could only be 1 year apart in school which would be pretty cool especially if they could play sports together.

blue+skies · April 2014

The cut off dates may change so I probably wouldn't worry about it too much. But if they don't change and you decide on 9/1, you could send the child if ready/to save on child care, but hold him/her back if he/she is not ready. Plenty of people hold their children back a year.

JustCricket · April 2014

SmileyGirl18 said:

JustCricket said:

SmileyGirl18 said:

MMason12 said:

I wouldn't base the whole decision around K start date. Like some PP have said they could move the date on you sometime in the next 4-5 years or your child could just flat out not be ready early. I, personally, would rather have my child be the oldest verse the youngest. Remember there is an other side to the equation = high school graduation. Do you also think they will be ready to graduate and move off to college a year early too?

This. Also I read somewhere that some states are moving to increasing the driving age to 18. If that actually happens, your LO won't be able to drive himself/herself to college. Crazy!!!!

I get this concern.. but every kid is different. I went to college at 17 and I turned out fine... mostly :P

I agree that many people are ready at 17 (usually girls) But, I would hate having mommy drop me off at college

I didn't have a car in college... so I was still dropped off. I lived either on campus or close enough to walk. Saved a shit ton of money in gas and parking fees.

ETA- freshmen (if they lived on campus) weren't even allowed to have cars there. And yes this is a public college. not a crazy locked down private school with weird rules.

JulyMomma2U2 · April 2014

I selected a date with DS2 and will again with baby #3. The way I chose was the "latest possible date" they'd allow me to schedule. That way, I knew I was giving baby as much time as he/she needs to continue baking before evicting them. Both my boys were delivered early for pre-E at 37w, so my 39w5d scheduled c/s for DS2 didn't happen, but I at least felt better knowing I was giving him that extra time if he needed it and my body allowed for it.

As for school decisions.. this is a LONG way down the road.. I wouldn't even factor that in (and don't plan to when selecting our c/s date). As PPs mentioned, there are so many other things to consider! Good luck

rlyttle · April 2014

I personally do not want my kids to be the youngest in their class. Both of my LOs will have September birthdays so they will be the older kids in their classes. In my state the cut off is late July. No matter when their birthday is, you are the parent and you can send your kid when you want. If they are not ready, hold them another year. It's nothing you have to decide now.

deviousmuse · April 2014

Ceridwen21 said:

Do you know the sex of your baby? I have a lot of kindergarten and elementary school teacher friends, and the general consensus is that (on average) it's better to have a boy be the oldest in the class, whereas girls do just fine being the youngest.

I just spoke with a friend about this, who taught kindergarten previously, now third grade. She concurs that girls generally do better if they're younger, as they mature emotionally more quickly than boys.

whataboutscience · April 2014

My due date is 9/1 and that is the cut off for my whole state as well. I believe it has been the same date for many years. Based on me and DH in school, baby is likely to be very tall and very smart. I'm thinking he or she might fit in better if born early and being the class baby. However, we don't like the school district we live in right now and having baby late gives an extra year to save for a new house. I'm kind of hoping for later and just praying the kid deals well with being a little awkward/standing out.

trebekastan · April 2014

mamakate12345 said:

We actually planned this baby so that he/she would miss the kindergarten cut-off. Many of my friends even keep their summer birthday babies back a year. I'd rather baby be oldest in the class but if you do send, 2 times in kindergarten might make sense if you want to save the money and have the older kid advantage

So you have a large vagina and a magical one that spits out kids on command? I'm learning so much about you these past two days!

purplestarz · April 2014

My only two cents is I have an October bday and I loved being older than most of my class. Although, this may come from being able to drive first and being able to write my own doctors notes at age 18 to get out of class

CplusJ=S · April 2014

As a former preschool teacher, I'm a fan of waiting the extra year to send a child to Kindergarten. That year makes such a huge difference socially, academically, and in regard to self control. Waiting the extra year will not harm them, but sending them too soon can be detrimental. Of course it depends on the child, but there is no way of knowing at this point.

JSS1002 · April 2014

TheNutt said:

MMason12 said:

I wouldn't base the whole decision around K start date. Like some PP have said they could move the date on you sometime in the next 4-5 years or your child could just flat out not be ready early. I, personally, would rather have my child be the oldest verse the youngest. Remember there is an other side to the equation = high school graduation. Do you also think they will be ready to graduate and move off to college a year early too?

Eek! No, I am not readyfor them to move off early!! lol It's not about determining whether to decide about kinder now, but more about having the option if we felt she was ready at the time.

You'd probably still have the option, if the child is ready.

ang2016 · April 2014

9/1 is labor day... I know hospitals are open on holidays but would they schedule a surgery for that day?

ang2016 · April 2014

Also our district just changed the cut off from Sept to Aug so it's possible it could change before your LO even starts school.

Kateysomething · April 2014

My friend's son was a preemie, due in early October, but born the end of August. Here, cut off is August 31 to start school. He was just eligible, but she decided to have him start the following year instead. She figured if he'd been born remotely close to his due date, he wouldn't have made it, so she wanted to give him the extra time.

That story is barely relevant, but I figured I'd share it anyway.

I am looking forward to finding out when we can schedule my cs. My main hope is minimizing the time DH has to take off work that I'll also be in the hospital.

camichael84 · April 2014

With an Aug 24th birthday, I was the youngest in my class and I always hated it. Last one to turn 13, last one to get my license, and I was never old enough to sign myself out. The cutoff for IN is Aug 1 now, and with a mid-Septmeber due date, this won't be an issue for us. However, I'm glad she'll be one of the oldest in her class and that I'll have her home with me for an extra year.

debikae · April 2014

Our cut off is 9/1. I'm thrilled that our baby will be a late September birthday as I won't have to make a decision based on my child's readiness...and he/she won't be held back after starting school for immaturity. As a principal, I see this several times each year and feel that my child will greatly benefit by being the oldest in the class rather than the youngest.

On the other hand, I was an August baby and I was quite ready and being the youngest never bothered me.

MMason12 · April 2014

whataboutscience said:

My due date is 9/1 and that is the cut off for my whole state as well. I believe it has been the same date for many years. Based on me and DH in school, baby is likely to be very tall and very smart. I'm thinking he or she might fit in better if born early and being the class baby. However, we don't like the school district we live in right now and having baby late gives an extra year to save for a new house. I'm kind of hoping for later and just praying the kid deals well with being a little awkward/standing out.

Talk about putting the cart before the horse! :-/

rlyttle · April 2014

MMason12 said:

whataboutscience said:

My due date is 9/1 and that is the cut off for my whole state as well. I believe it has been the same date for many years. Based on me and DH in school, baby is likely to be very tall and very smart. I'm thinking he or she might fit in better if born early and being the class baby. However, we don't like the school district we live in right now and having baby late gives an extra year to save for a new house. I'm kind of hoping for later and just praying the kid deals well with being a little awkward/standing out.

Talk about putting the cart before the horse! :-/

If our kids are anything like DH & I they will be tall, giant feet, athletic, and make poor choices as teenagers.... Holding them back a year!

jod3+2 · April 2014

Im in same boat with having a third CS. But we dont really get to pick a date. They do planned cs on mondays so with my last one we were so confused on my actual due date i think he came at 40 weeks. Typically i would aim for 39 weeks. Thats when my first was born.

Wouldnt worry about school til you hit pre k age but if you can have baby on 9/1 then you give yourself options

Want a personalized experience?

Picking a delivery date?

Re: Picking a delivery date?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards