https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 12 May 2026 17:25:22 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again/page/2#post-2332235 Fri, 23 Oct 2015 20:53:48 +0000 pinkcupcake 2332235@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@twodoghouse: I was really worried about this, too, but my daughter adjusted beautifully :) She stayed home with me 24/7 until she turned 2.5, then we started preschool (2 mornings a week for 2.5 hours, so total of 5 hours away from me each week). It did wonders for her socialization and even though I was so worried about how she would adjust, she did very well! So don't worry too much :) </p> <p>I wouldn't have changed a single thing about our childcare ...'one aspect of my life I'm very happy with :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again/page/2#post-2332227 Fri, 23 Oct 2015 20:46:28 +0000 loveisstrange 2332227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would have gone back to work sooner. I was a miserable bitch as a SAHM for 18 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again#post-2331110 Fri, 23 Oct 2015 03:35:10 +0000 Pumuckl 2331110@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd change nothing. We have a year of parental leave here and I've started working PT (16h a week) with both kids at 3 months/4 months respectively (after maternity leave plus vacation days) while WAH or being in the office for 1 day a week (whatever was necessary). Then they go to daycare starting at around 9.5 months. This gives us enough time to really ease into the daycare setting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again#post-2331060 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 23:43:04 +0000 ChiCalGoBee 2331060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm honestly happy with how we've done it. I guess the only thing I might have changed was not going back to school last year when my son was 12 weeks old. I had a terrible situation to return to and wish I'd skipped it. However, having a part-time nanny for my work-from-home hours was wonderful. We liked who we had, and we have someone else now (our first nanny just had a baby) and she's even more wonderful! I feel lucky to be in the position I'm in (working part-time), and love having my son at home during these early years. I think we'll look into a part-time Montessori next year when he turns 2. For now, though, I think this is the best possible situation for our baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again#post-2330768 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 18:49:54 +0000 Silva 2330768@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started her at a small, in home daycare when she was 16 months. She will start preschool at 3.5. I wish I'd stayed at home full time until she was two, but a job opportunity came along. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again#post-2330640 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 16:11:12 +0000 BandDmommy 2330640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: that worries me about nannies. I hear such hit and miss stories on nannies </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again#post-2330616 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 15:52:03 +0000 Andrea 2330616@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We wasted a bunch of money trying out different nannies so I would not bother with that again. We prefer daycare/school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again#post-2330614 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 15:51:12 +0000 littlejoy 2330614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, I loved what we did. We had a nanny until LO was a year old, then enrolled her in a Montessori/RIE school. </p> <p>I do wish I would have known I'd want to switch to a school at a year ... It was a pretty quick decision, and I feel like I totally blindsided our nanny. Next time, we will hire a nanny for the first year, but ensure she knows we're planning on switching to a school around a year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again#post-2330584 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 15:22:19 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2330584@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We would have started daycare sooner. She was 20 months old when she started. I should have enrolled her in at 1 year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again#post-2330576 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 15:12:05 +0000 sunny 2330576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would have loved a longer mat leave or to be able to work part time. If that was an option, I wouldn't have quit my job and I probably would have hired a nanny. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again#post-2330574 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 15:11:36 +0000 Chillybear 2330574@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would have taken a longer leave (I had 14 weeks, in a dream world I would have taken 5-6 months off) also would have like to limit the amount of hours per day in daycare. Drop off at 8-8:30 pick up at 3:30-4. </p> <p>Since the daycare is near my office (45 min from home) I often wonder how my LO would do if we had a 2nd child at this point. I'd either need to keep her home with me and baby 2.0 or find another school to keep her active. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again#post-2330547 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 14:56:26 +0000 beloved 2330547@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we went with an in-home daycare at first and it didn't work out at all. LO started when he was 8 months old and we pulled him two months later. After that, my mom became his primary with MDO 2x a week which has worked well for us. I'm so thankful my mom is able to keep him! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again#post-2330506 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 14:24:15 +0000 Freckles 2330506@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Probably gotten a nanny instead of daycare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again#post-2330470 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 13:57:56 +0000 snowjewelz 2330470@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not sure if we would change anything! She went to daycare part time at 10 months. We are not sure when we'll switch her to full time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again#post-2330235 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 11:00:59 +0000 rosegold 2330235@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: nothing! waited til lo was 1.5yo so I never sweated sids and honestly her provider was someone dh went to high school with so I felt comfortable that she was a family friend. will most likely do the same with #2 if he's ever in any kind of daycare setting. 🐻 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again#post-2330189 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 10:34:26 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2330189@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, nothing at all. I was very comfortable with my maternity leave (16 weeks), and I knew early on I wasn't going to hack it as a SAHM, so daycare was always in the cards. We made a choice to go with a home daycare first, rather than a center - the cost difference was astronomical and not worth it for us, when kiddo just needed basic care. We had a wonderful home daycare provider until LO was 2, and then we found a spot at a great center daycare that we love and she's doing great there now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again#post-2330184 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 10:30:03 +0000 rachiecakes 2330184@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've been pretty lucky. Though I went back to work at 7 weeks, DH was home with J until he was laid off from his WAH job just after J's first birthday. He was in a home daycare with a very good and trusted friend of ours and when he turned 2.9 we put him in preschool that was excellent care-wise and very affordable.<br /> I think it's going to be more challenging when he's in school and we have to figure out after-school programs and schedules. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again#post-2330160 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 10:11:33 +0000 dagret 2330160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't have settled for L's first daycare. The new one participates in a state program with incentives for quality and the difference is immense. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again#post-2330055 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 09:01:02 +0000 mrs. wagon 2330055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I needed to experience being a SAHM to determine it wasn't for me, so I'm glad it happened the way it did. But knowing what I know now, this would have been my ideal plan for both kids:</p> <p>0-8 weeks: Maternity leave<br /> 2 months - walking (for my kids, between 14-15 months): home with either a nanny or grandma<br /> Then full time daycare </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again#post-2329983 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 08:35:16 +0000 Mamasig 2329983@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: He started a year ago right after he turned two. I was worried because my mom has babied him in so many ways. He cried a lot the first few days and he got sick within 2 weeks (the pediatrician told us he'd get sick right away). It hurt my heart leaving him. But it got better. He cried at drop off for almost 3 months, but he stopped crying during the day after a few weeks. So I knew he was fine. He is a sensitive little guy (much like me), so it just took a little time to adjust. Now he loves it and is so happy to go. He has grown and blossomed over the second half of the year that he's been there. They teach him so much that I don't. I was worried about his napping and eating there. But actually he eats better there and easily goes down for naps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again#post-2329974 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 08:33:28 +0000 twodoghouse 2329974@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: I worry about this too. I know I'd like them to go to preschool (probably when they are 3?) but how the heck can I just drop them off at some strange place when they've spent every moment of their lives with me up till that point? At least my LOs will go with each other, but I don't know if that will really make a difference. At 2 I can enroll them in some activities at the park district, so I'm hoping to ease them into being away from me like that??</p> <p>To answer the original question, I wish I'd found some way to let others try putting them down for naps or nighttime so they aren't so reliant on me for these things. It's my own fault, though, because I've never trusted anyone else to try it and I can't handle the thought of my LOs being at home in any degree of discomfort while I'm out doing something else. I'm going to a baby shower this weekend, though, so DH is going to try getting them down for their afternoon nap. I know he will do fine, but I'm also nervous for all 3 of them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again#post-2329960 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 08:26:43 +0000 Alivoo01 2329960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No changes. We don't have family nearby, but I really enjoyed watching him learn and grow while going to daycare (Montessori). I wish I didn't have to send him so early at 12 weeks though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again#post-2329930 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 08:14:27 +0000 Mrs. Bee 2329930@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would have put the kids in daycare sooner. They went in at 22 months and 16 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again#post-2329926 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 08:13:49 +0000 BandDmommy 2329926@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Only thing I would have changed was possibly quitting work earlier and becoming a WAHM with B. B really struggled in daycare and as a result I really struggled as a WOHM. I have enjoyed having D home with me for a year, but now that she is almost 1, she needs social interaction that daycare provides. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again#post-2329921 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 08:12:05 +0000 LuLu Mom 2329921@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love our in home daycare provider, however there are some things that I'm not in love with that she does, however because of the personal friendship I had with her prior to sending DD1 I feel like it's tougher to address issues, she's very sensitive to confrontation (and I loathe it.) So I let more slide than I would if she were with someone else or at a center. However both of my girls are thriving so I can't complain too much! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again#post-2329911 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 08:07:28 +0000 pwnstar 2329911@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wish I would have started LO in daycare sooner, say around 6-9 months or so. LO didn't start until after she turned 1, and it was a tough transition. Daycare has been such a positive experience for our family; I wish I hadn't let my fear of the unknown get the better of me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again#post-2329910 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 08:06:40 +0000 JoJoGirl 2329910@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, nothing. If I lived in a different country, I'd have loved to take 6 months maternity leave instead of 4, but putting LO in daycare full-time at that age was not as traumatic as I was expecting. It ended up being good for her and I was much happier back at work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again#post-2329904 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 08:04:48 +0000 blackbird 2329904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nothing that I can think of. I wish T worked Fridays, but that isn't up to me. This year, particularly, I'm really happy with how all the things are falling into place. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again#post-2329831 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 07:10:37 +0000 looch 2329831@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The only thing I would have done differently is to have pulled my son out of the program he was in the day we got the notice letter that they were closing at the end of June. I would have pulled him out in March. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-could-do-it-all-over-again#post-2329826 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 07:02:28 +0000 FaithFertility 2329826@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would be a SAHM with a side job, tutoring or something!<br /> But.....I am blessed to have our sitter, if we didn't have her I wouldn't be working </p>