https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 06 Aug 2026 14:22:26 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-1-in-daycare-after-2-arrives#post-1263483 Thu, 05 Dec 2013 17:28:28 +0000 mrsmate 1263483@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD1 goes 2 days/wk, and we're planning to keep her there at least a month after DD2 arrives. Even though DH will be home for that month we still think it will be a good idea for a place for DD1 to go to get away from the baby.</p> <p>We were talking about pulling her after that 1st month and getting a babysitter or a mother's helper so that I could still get some time to myself but DH may have a really intense semester coming up at school (he works f/t and goes to school p/t), so we may keep DD1 where she is. Even though I won't get solo time per se, infants sleep so much in the early months it may not be that bad to just have DD2 a few days/wk.</p> <p>We're going to stay flexible and make it up as we go along, LOL. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-1-in-daycare-after-2-arrives#post-1263441 Thu, 05 Dec 2013 17:17:50 +0000 LuLu Mom 1263441@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not there yet, but we plan on keeping DD in daycare after #2 arrives for ac ouple reason. She loves daycare and interaction with her friends, those first few weeks I need to be able to sleep when new baby does without a toddler keeping me awake, &amp; I will be recovering from a c-section. Not easy to do when chasing a toddler. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-1-in-daycare-after-2-arrives#post-1263421 Thu, 05 Dec 2013 17:09:58 +0000 sera_87 1263421@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I will most likely leave #1 (who will be 24 months) in daycare while on mat leave with #2 (which is a year). But my province heavily subsidizes the daycare cost to begin with; otherwise I wouldn't be able to afford it. </p> <p>Not sure who will do pickups/drop offs yet. I suspect we'll split it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-1-in-daycare-after-2-arrives#post-1263311 Thu, 05 Dec 2013 16:32:57 +0000 Cchoi4 1263311@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <br /> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-1-in-daycare-after-2-arrives#post-1249893 Fri, 29 Nov 2013 10:19:05 +0000 Andrea 1249893@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rubies: but you did it! It'll get better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-1-in-daycare-after-2-arrives#post-1249887 Fri, 29 Nov 2013 10:16:14 +0000 Rubies 1249887@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, last night I had to lug DD2 to daycare to pick up DD1. It was tough because she in the carseat is so heavy! Luckily she slept but once we were home, she woke up and doing dinner/bedtime with a toddler while baby is up and fussy is crazy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-1-in-daycare-after-2-arrives#post-1249816 Fri, 29 Nov 2013 09:29:49 +0000 Beebug 1249816@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cchoi4: I didn't think about the differing nap schedules, we don't have a huge house, but I guess we can only hope for a baby that does learn to sleep through noise even when past newborn/sleep anywhere days when DD is home. Thankfully we will get to start this when the weather is nice and can get her outside and utilize the baby monitor!</p> <p>@TurtleDoves: Agree. I have zero idea how one would care for newborn newborn and another LO. I know people do it, and huuuuuge kudos to them, but none of that seems exciting to me. DD would do better at daycare, and Momma would benefit, too -no sense making those days harder then they already are!</p> <p>@Andrea: Good call about not just the care, but her brain needing school too!</p> <p>@Mamaof2: That would be tough balancing that! I am thinking I can get my Mom to stop by to grab DD to drop her at daycare (our house is on her way to work and daycare is essentially at work location) rather than DH take her an hour early then she currently goes and then who knows on pick ups, DH probably no problem. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-1-in-daycare-after-2-arrives#post-1249781 Fri, 29 Nov 2013 08:59:31 +0000 Mamaof2 1249781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes we kept #1 in school after I had my 2nd - he was 2.5 at that time . My DH or my Mom was there for the first 3 weeks so I would leave DD home while I took DS to school - after that I had to take DD with me - boy was that challenging! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-1-in-daycare-after-2-arrives#post-1249695 Fri, 29 Nov 2013 05:45:57 +0000 Andrea 1249695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Beebug: DD1 was almost 3 when the baby arrived and in preschool. I do all the drop offs and pick ups. It's not always easy and I have to compromise the baby's schedule, but it's manageable, of course. </p> <p>I can't imagine DD1 not being in school at this age. She learns so much and can read already. She's old enough that it's not just about child care for me. Her brain needs school! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-1-in-daycare-after-2-arrives#post-1249610 Thu, 28 Nov 2013 23:15:20 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 1249610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Beebug: My LO isn't in daycare at all, but our plan for when we do have LO #2 is for LO #1 to stay with my mom everyday for th first 2 weeks or so. He will sleep at home but then (because my mom is a teacher with summers off), my mom will pick him up in the AM and spend the day with him, having fun and doing stuff. 1- so he isn't ignored at home while I take care of a newborn and 2- so I don't go insane. For us: DH would pick up/drop off or my mom would.</p> <p>I think your idea of leaving LO in daycare for first 6w is perfect. If not for yourself, do it for her. I would HATE for her to feel jealous or neglected as you are taking care of the many needs of a newborn :/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-1-in-daycare-after-2-arrives#post-1249605 Thu, 28 Nov 2013 23:08:39 +0000 Cchoi4 1249605@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS was 26 months (almost 2.5 years) when we started him in daycare/preschool (at his age, they start calling it preschool). We decided to start him about a month before my due date with DS2 so that he wouldn't equate having to go to school with the arrival of the new baby. We did 3 full days a week (MWF). Now (4 months later) we are adding an additional day to help me out.</p> <p>It was a good decision. Its tough to have both kids at home! Finding activities to do with your toddler while caring for a newborn wasn't too tough in the beginning when DS2 slept everywhere, but now that we are past the newborn sleepy phase, its hard to try to put DS2 down for naps and tend to his needs while also tending to a toddler's more active needs, especially his need to be out and about.</p> <p>I feel like preschool is helping my son experience things that I can't necessarily show him myself or show him on a consistent basis - music class, crafty art projects, lessons on manners everyday, social skills, etc.</p> <p>I do drop offs and most pick ups. It can be difficult lugging the baby around but it is manageable. We are lucky in that DS1's school allows me to leave DS2 in their main office with a staff member while I hike up the stairs with DS1 and get him settled into class. Hours for drop off and pick up are flexible so that if DS2 is napping, I can always choose to pick DS1 up a little later or have my husband pick him up.</p> <p>We don't plan on removing DS1 from preschool until he enters a real school at age 4 or 5. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-1-in-daycare-after-2-arrives#post-1249253 Thu, 28 Nov 2013 14:25:33 +0000 Beebug 1249253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@autumnlove: @Rubies: @matador84: thank-you!</p> <p>@Rubies: Thank-you a little more for your response, selfishly I sort of forgot everyone doesn't have mat leave like we do :) Hope pick up goes well today! Our tentative plan is to leave her in daycare as-is May &amp; June, DH off with us all for summer so yank her end of June and then have her stay home in September onward with me and #2. I am debating taking a month or two extra off on the end so that gets me off work through the end of the next June, DH off for that summer through to Sept 2015 (wow, sounds so far!) without having #1 go back in daycare until then/#2 wouldn't go for the 1st time until then! If she was older I might debate keeping her in pt, but I think we will be okay? haha, I hope. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-1-in-daycare-after-2-arrives#post-1249213 Thu, 28 Nov 2013 13:13:15 +0000 matador84 1249213@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS will be 17 months when LO2 is here. He'll still go to daycare full time so I can spend some time with our newborn. I don't even think they would allow me to pull him out without losing his spot. I'll be out of work for 8 weeks, and then when I go back I'll work for about 5 more (newborn will go to daycare at 8 weeks old) and then when I'm done working after 5 weeks I'll stay home with newborn for the summer and DS will go PT to daycare--3 days a week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-1-in-daycare-after-2-arrives#post-1249201 Thu, 28 Nov 2013 12:58:02 +0000 Rubies 1249201@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD#1 was 26 months when DD#2 arrived and DD1 remained in daycare full time.</p> <p>My husband just finished a 6week pat leave and during that time DD1 still went to daycare. Our plan is to keep her in daycare full time and we have no plans to reduce it to part time. Our reasons: DD1 thrives in daycare and absolutely loves it - I don't think I can teach her half as much at home.</p> <p>The past 3 days solidified our decision: DH went back to work on Monday just when DD1 had to stay home from daycare for three whole days due cold and I tell ya, taking care of a sick toddler AND a newborn is tough. I cried a million times a day. Granted, DD1 was sick but man, it was tough.</p> <p>In the mornings, I get up and help DD1 eat her breakfast and get dressed while DH gets ready for work. He drops her off at daycare.</p> <p>I'm having to do the pick-up, which will be tough since I'll have to lug DD2 in her carseat into the building, get DD1 dressed and get both kids back outside to the car. Today will be my first day at it so I'll let you know how it goes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-1-in-daycare-after-2-arrives#post-1249143 Thu, 28 Nov 2013 11:50:16 +0000 autumnlove 1249143@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ya, baby 1 went to daycare FT for 2 months after the baby was born. We switched to PT when the baby was around 2 months old. DH did most of the pick up and drops during his paternity leave which was 6 weeks. I did the pick ups and drop off after that...June-early Sept when I went back to work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-1-in-daycare-after-2-arrives#post-1249100 Thu, 28 Nov 2013 11:24:31 +0000 Beebug 1249100@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Did anyone do this? </p> <p>For how long after #2 arrived? How old was #1 when #2 arrived? Did you feel like you had enough time before bringing #1 back home full time as opposed to daycare full time? Did DH do drop off/pick up or did you drop #1 with #2?</p> <p>Anything else you'd like to add, I'd love to hear.</p> <p>We are thinking about leaving #1 in daycare for 6w or so (fulltime as she is now) after #2 arrives. </p>