https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 09 May 2026 08:39:51 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-reopening#post-2915716 Thu, 21 May 2020 16:26:27 +0000 periwinklebee 2915716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee: yeah, :heart: uncertainty is really rough...And I think unfortunately the fact that we don't know everything does make many people question science in general, even the things that we definitely do know.... </p> <p>We've been agonizing over when and if to have a babysitter come this summer. It will probably be the safest time to have childcare until there's a vaccine (hoping, hoping that comes sometime by early next year...), as they can spend tons of time outside. I wouldn't be surprised if things go into lockdown again for an extended period in the fall, and having childcare in the summer could help us get into a better place at work to handle that. But by far the worst thing would be if one of us got seriously sick - and I cringe as the baby is at an age where *everything* goes straight into her mouth... </p> <p>Anyways, I know we're super lucky compared to so many people, I hope you guys are hanging in there okay :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-reopening#post-2915667 Wed, 20 May 2020 22:57:36 +0000 bhbee 2915667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: I think this is one of the hardest things ... people (myself included) want there to be an ANSWER versus the reality of how much we don’t know. I would just love to have enough info to make decisions about even July (let alone school starting in August) but I feel like it’s just not there on many fronts. So we’ve all just got to do the best we can :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-reopening#post-2915663 Wed, 20 May 2020 20:32:18 +0000 periwinklebee 2915663@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The problem I have with Emily's blogpost is that the risk to kids *that we know about now* is low, but it is a brand new disease and we have no idea what effects we might learn about in another month or two or three or longer from now. I think this is why Fauci said in his testimony before Congress that we have to be really humble in acknowledging what we don't know about how the disease affects children... it is not uncommon for viral illnesses (the nastiest of which have almost entirely been eradicated through vaccines) to have effects that only become apparent later on... </p> <p>If you think back to HIV - the last time there was a global pandemic with a new virus - people initially thought that you could recover or be asymptomatic because after an initial spike, viral loads fall dramatically. But the virus is still there, hiding in immune cells and ultimately deadly without a therapeutic. Measles can suppress your immune system for years after you appear recovered (and this is standard, not a rare side effect), raising risks of numerous other illness. There are lots of examples like this.</p> <p>I think this is the main reason why fall could be different than now - if we understand more about what cells the virus attacks, exactly how it spreads, etc (and there could also be therapeutics faster than a vaccine), that could change how we weigh the risks. Granted I know most don't have that luxury, so we just have to hope for the best. We have a babysitter lined up for July and August - definitely not zero risk but I don't know how we could continue the two jobs - no childcare indefinitely. We do have daycare slots in the fall, so we'll have to figure out then what makes sense... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-reopening#post-2915645 Wed, 20 May 2020 10:46:17 +0000 macintosh 2915645@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@codeitall: Thanks for that article, it was a really helpful way to frame the choices.</p> <p>Our daycare is opening on June 8th and I'm excited but nervous. From what they've said so far it sounds like we will have a spot. They are making a lot of changes and I really trust the staff and administration of the school, or I think I'd have a harder time with it. They will open with the following restrictions:</p> <p>Masks required for all adults (not for the kids)<br /> No parents in the center - staff will pick up from your car<br /> Smaller classes - 9 students and 1 teacher in the pre-K room<br /> Shortened hours - presumably to eliminate the need for a 2nd shift<br /> Playground/gym cleaned after each group<br /> No combining of classrooms</p> <p>I feel like all of these changes will work for us because DS is older (5), he loves the teacher and knows the staff well, and he's been there long enough to have met the kids from other classes if they were to be re-assigned.</p> <p>There have been many downsides to having my DS at home, including the inability to focus on my work, lack of help during the days, his bickering with his disabled father, and the recurrence of potty accidents and constipation issues. I was awoken last night because he wet the bed, which is crazy because he's been night trained since he was 3 at least.</p> <p>Also, we haven't exactly been completely isolated, but we've been careful. My mom has been working out of the house, I have gone into work occasionally when needed.<br /> We've had DH's caregiver in, the house cleaner, my brother to babysit. We've been avoiding grocery stores by getting delivery, wearing masks, etc. I think the benefit is worth the risk and I'm ready for a change. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-reopening#post-2915636 Tue, 19 May 2020 19:10:50 +0000 lady baltimore 2915636@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We haven't heard anything yet about preschool reopening (as far as I know, childcare statewide is still only open for essential workers - I technically qualify, but DH's work is shut down, so we are able to keep DD with us while I work from home). Whenever they do open, I would love to send DD back for the socialization, but I am a teacher and will be mostly off for the summer. If her school has to open at limited capacity, I would feel like I should leave her spot open for one of her classmates whose parents have to work this summer.</p> <p>If schools are still heavily restricted in the fall, then that could mean that DH's industry is still shut down, so I don't know what we will do. From a social skills and emotional health perspective, I would hate for DD to miss out on pre-K, but with Dada and grandparent care, we could make it work. We'll just have to see how many spots are available . . . </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-reopening#post-2915630 Tue, 19 May 2020 17:01:35 +0000 Fawn 2915630@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our daycare is opening June 1 though we are planning to keep our 1 year old home through the summer. My husband and I are working from home and plan to continue doing so over the summer, so it feels safer, especially with this new sickness now affecting children that's possibly linked with covid.</p> <p>We live just outside of NYC and both of us work in the city, so not sure when our offices will be back to normal.</p> <p>I dont really think our daycare should be reopening yet due to the amount of covid cases in our area, but basically if they dont open now they will have to close permanently. We offered to pay our full tuition for June, but I'm hoping to get a discount for July and August. We dont want them to close and want to keep our spot, but also seems like a lot to pay full tuition when we arent sending our daughter. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-reopening#post-2915599 Tue, 19 May 2020 12:39:38 +0000 PinkElephant 2915599@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't utilize daycare, but two of my three daughters are eligible for summer Extended School Year programs (the 3.5 year old because she receives speech &amp; PT in our public school's preschool program, and the 8 year old because she receives extra pull-out writing help at school). It isn't mandatory, and will begin virtually but may go "live" again after June 30th. My logic follows yours - I figure these will be smaller groups than typical school classes, and who knows if they'll even get a chance to return to school in the fall? I'd love for them to get some out of the home instruction and socialization while they can.</p> <p>ETA: It's for me as much as it is for them. I think we could all use a little space from each other! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-reopening#post-2915598 Tue, 19 May 2020 12:25:25 +0000 karenbme 2915598@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our daycare reopens June 1, and we aren't sending DD (6mo) back right away. Both DH and I are working from home, we have a routine, and have been signaled that we will both likely be WFH long term--nothing official from either, but his company sent out an email today saying at this point people should come get their desk chairs and any other large office equipment they need to bring home, and mine sent out an email saying given everything else on HR's plate (they're in the middle of an ERP migration that won't be final until August) no plans for on site work had been discussed as of May 8.</p> <p>We're discussing unenrolling her from our current center entirely and getting on waiting lists for a one year old spot with a target enroll date in the winter/spring. The director at our current center retired in December, and the assistant director was promoted, but she has no managerial experience and has been TERRIBLE at communicating through this whole thing. For example, I know they're opening in a week and a half because I found time to jump on DD's caterpillar class zoom call with her teachers last week, but there has been no official communication about reopening, what safety measures they're putting in place or what the protocol would be if someone associated with the daycare gets sick. Unenrolling would also mean we wouldn't have a daycare payment while we keep her home, which would not be the case otherwise. </p> <p>DH doesn't want to unenroll because it can be really hard to get a slot around here, and a lot of home daycares have permanently closed during the crisis, meaning it's probably even harder now. But I don't think I'd trust to send DD back to the center she's in now unless things change dramatically or there's a vaccine, and sending thousands of dollars to a place I don't want my daughter going seems wrong to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-reopening#post-2915596 Tue, 19 May 2020 11:44:12 +0000 Dahlia 2915596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We sent ours back. Its a very small in-home daycare and right now things are calm here. We watch the numbers daily and will pull her if they start to go up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-reopening#post-2915594 Tue, 19 May 2020 11:27:53 +0000 Tionn3 2915594@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The infant and 18mo-2.5 year classes opened at our preschool at the end of April. We sent my 2 year old and it has been fine. There are only 3 other kids with him. It is safer in the summer months as the warm weather slows the coronavirus, but I expect a second wave in October. I have him enrolled in a summer program through the school but it is unclear if it will happen or not (the preschool closes June 10th for summer break). I am also scared they will not open fully in the fall, and I haven't been able to find alternative child care for that scenario. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-reopening#post-2915591 Tue, 19 May 2020 09:20:50 +0000 Bluemasonjar 2915591@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@codeitall: I read that same article this morning and appreciated the structure.</p> <p>Our daycare opened last week. DH is furloughed so it is hard to think about spending money on daycare at the moment but I honestly think our boys would benefit from attending at least a few days a week. We are thinking of sending at least our 4 year old DS in June to help give him time to adjust before transitioning to a new classroom and/or another shut down in the fall. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-reopening#post-2915581 Tue, 19 May 2020 03:20:38 +0000 Ms. RV 2915581@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>All three of my LOs (six months, 23 months, and 5-in-August) went back today. I am not that worried. Daycare updated a bunch of their policies and I am comfortable with it as a result. </p> <p>DH and I both have to be at work physically multiple times per week, so I could be a little biased... we really didn't have much of a choice but to send kids back since our sitter works at daycare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-reopening#post-2915579 Mon, 18 May 2020 23:09:18 +0000 Grace 2915579@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Your rationale about it being safer to send them now than later is the same as mine. We decided that we can go week by week and if things get bad again, we will pull them out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-reopening#post-2915571 Mon, 18 May 2020 21:06:37 +0000 bhbee 2915571@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@codeitall: thank you for the link! That framing is helpful. It makes me think (semi off topic) that I should cancel (if it opens) my younger two going to a 3 day camp in July. Specifically because I want to fly to see grandparents in July, and taking larger infection chances right before that isn’t a great idea, in terms of what we could bring them or what we could bring to others during travel. But it actually makes me feel better about schools in general. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-reopening#post-2915546 Mon, 18 May 2020 16:28:44 +0000 castilrm 2915546@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@codeitall: the kindergarten shock factor is definitely one reason I’m considering for sending my older one back at least since I’d hate for her to start at a whole new school with nothing to ease her in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-reopening#post-2915543 Mon, 18 May 2020 16:21:47 +0000 codeitall 2915543@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a baby coming in July, but my son is supposed to start kindergarten in August. He's definitely turned into a little homebody and doesn't want to go be social or make friends apparently... I'm hoping to find a small in home daycare to send him and his 3yo sister to a couple hours a day so school isn't quite such a shock and to just give me some sanity.</p> <p>Yes, there's a risk, but I really like this article's way of framing it: <a href="https://emilyoster.substack.com/p/grandparents-and-day-care" rel="nofollow">https://emilyoster.substack.com/p/grandparents-and-day-care</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-reopening#post-2915542 Mon, 18 May 2020 16:14:34 +0000 castilrm 2915542@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our preschool is making plans to reopen at the start of June, assuming all shelter in place orders are lifted at that time. If they do reopen, we have to make the decision as to whether to send back our two kids (ages almost 5 and 2.5). I’m stumped on what the right decision is....while part of me wants to keep them home and not risk exposure, delaying a return to preschool or school seems useless unless we’re going to make a decision to keep them home indefinitely until a vaccine or treatment is available, and that’s not practical. If anything, it’s probably safer to return now than it will be in a month if cases climb after the state reopens....very likely things will shut down again in the fall (if they ever fully reopen before then), so perhaps sending them now is best so they can get some playtime and instruction before numbers increase and we’re back in shutdown mode. What are others planning on doing? </p>