Hello Ladies,
DH and I were NTNP last summer but decided to put that on hold while we looked for a new house. We're all set with our new house now and I really think it's time to get serious about TTC. I'm really nervous about having a baby because of childcare. I need to work and there isn't anyway around it. I have lots of student loans and we need two incomes to sustain a comfortable lifestyle. I get 6 weeks maternity leave paid using my sick/personal time. I can take another 6 weeks but it's unpaid. I'd rather not take away from our income, but I'm terrified of the thought of having to put a 6 week old infant into daycare. I know there are millions of moms that do it, but I seriously can't even think about putting a child in daycare. I have no family in the area I live in to watch the child either.
Can any moms gives me advice? Did anyone feel this way prior to TTC?
Re: Nervous to Have Kids Because of Day Care
Start researching now and i think you will feel better. Daycares can be really amazing for kids. Also, i would really consider taking more than 6 weeks off if you can, even unpaid. I went 4 weeks unpaid - we saved up before hand and it was totally worth it. I loved every second of maternity leave (also enjoyed returning to work).
Once you're pregnant, I would contact your state's dept for children/families. They should have a list of licensed daycare providers. I would start there. Also go with recommendations. Find out other daycare's from co workers between both yourself and husband. There are soooo many options out there.
DD1 born 5/24/10.
Missed M/C at 14 wks Feb 2012.
DD2 born 5/14/13.
Missed M/C at 9 wks July 2015.
Me 32 and DH 40
Fur-baby named Bella
1 MC Nov. 2013
DD born Nov. 2, 2014
Little 2 EDD Oct. 1
I was someone who was *so sure* I'd only take 6 weeks maternity leave but once I had LO there was no way in hell I could've gone back at 6 weeks, I ended up taking 12. Unpaid. We were still getting breastfeeding down at 6 weeks TBH. By 12 weeks I was much more ready to get back to work. Save everything you can right now to give yourself as long as you can. It's so important. Better to have the $ to go 12 weeks and decide to return after 6 rather than plan to go at 6 weeks and desperately wish you could have 12...
To accommodate my time off, we:
1) Saved, saved, saved! prior to conceiving and throughout the pregnancy
2) Everytime I had an extra $ in my paycheck and a coupon to use, I used it toward something we'd need for the baby while I was on maternity leave (primarily pumping supplies and diapers/wipes)
Baby is 9 months old now and I've not bought diapers since I was 8 months pregnant. All name brand diapers, averaging around $3-4/bag.
I was a video editor in advertising (freelance) working insanely long hours so put a lot of momentum into creating a flexible work-at-home lifestyle and saving before we were TTC. I figured if a family didn't happen for us, I would either do more traveling or have a business for myself. Now we have 2 kids.
Good luck!