https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 24 Apr 2026 15:55:11 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2346456 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 05:57:51 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2346456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mama Bird: for the initial adjustment I would want to keep the routine the same, to help your lo's sense of normalcy, but at 3.5 months out if you want to pick him up I don't see why not. I would maybe just send him half days/ pick up early and then keep him home a handful of days on top of that and see how you feel. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2346453 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 05:35:42 +0000 lamariniere 2346453@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My older LO was 3 when my younger one was born. I kept him in full time daycare, as usual. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2346302 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 21:31:23 +0000 ElbieKay 2346302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: Can you PM me with info on the school you tried? We just started T in part time preschool/daycare plus I have a friend who is looking. So I am just curious! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2346249 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 20:55:48 +0000 Grace 2346249@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mama Bird: Who's giving you such grief? Is it someone who's opinion you value? 1-2 days a week at home with you will be fine. Is LO fine on the weekend? Probably. So no reason why that would be any different any other day. And honestly, if the routine goes to crap, you can always send him back to daycare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2346114 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 20:06:19 +0000 NovBaby1112 2346114@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you should do what YOU want and who cares what others think! </p> <p>I totally thought I would want LO1 home a few days a week while I was on leave, but now that the baby is here I am SO happy I kept her in full time, I really can't imagine trying to juggle both of them all day. Plus I solo parent a lot in the evening so it really benefits all of us by her going to her daycare and preschool, to keep her occupied and to give me some energy to make it through the evening!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2345725 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 15:40:33 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 2345725@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Totally kept DD1 in daycare while I was on maternity leave. It kept her schedule the same and it was a blessing for me to (try to) get some rest with the newborn. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2345721 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 15:38:52 +0000 daniellemybelle 2345721@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mama Bird: You should do what YOU want to do! If you want to pick him up, do it. Sure, it may disrupt his routine, but your mothering skills are not "pathetic" and any time you have together is special. &lt;3 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2345624 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 15:00:37 +0000 Rockies11 2345624@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a long leave and took my toddler out. Although some days it is a grind, I love having the time with her! It's also been nice because she has time to bond with the baby too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2345623 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 15:00:34 +0000 californiadreams 2345623@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mama Bird: i definitely agree that if you want your kid home, then you should keep him home! I almost decided to keep my son home full time, but knew that i would go nuts with 2 kids all day every day and i see how much he enjoys preschool i didn't want to take that away from him.,.so part time was the perfect compromise. And when he is sick any day of the week, i will keep him home. It kills me to send him now when he has the sniffles or has been up coughing in the night.</p> <p>ETA. i will do 3 consecutive days for him and hope that keeps up the "routine" aspect for him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2345621 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 14:57:44 +0000 tinyperson 2345621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@californiadreams: I think so...I don't know the details or how to go about letting them know, but I'm pretty sure JK is optional to begin with, so you could certainly do part time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2345620 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 14:56:37 +0000 BandDmommy 2345620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mama Bird: If you want him home, keep him home. You need to do what makes you happy. There is no one right answer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2345619 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 14:55:56 +0000 californiadreams 2345619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tinyperson: that's crazy. I just looked up the ages and i see that he will be now! I thought i would have him home until he was at least 4 or 4.5. That makes me sad that i finally get to stay home again and he will be starting real school so soon :(. Is JK something kids can do part time? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2345614 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 14:53:35 +0000 tinyperson 2345614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@californiadreams: Yup, he'd start the same year as S, unless you're keeping him out of JK... :) Crazy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2345606 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 14:48:40 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2345606@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mama Bird: if you can handle both and want to spend time with both than do it! Haters be damned. Four days will still be a routine. My days with both kids are hard some times but it's so amazing seeing them together. Worth the exhaustion in my book. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2345597 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 14:46:22 +0000 californiadreams 2345597@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i am planning, like @tinyperson: , to keep DS1 full time for the first 6 weeks or so. I am due Feb. 9, so I will keep him registered full time for Feb. and March but plan for him to have shorter days and will pull him as needed. And then as of April, he will go only 3 days per week. And i need to look into when he starts JK! It might also be in September! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2345592 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 14:44:13 +0000 Mama Bird 2345592@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tinyperson: @Adira: @oliviaoblivia: @Charm54: @erinbaderin: @Cherrybee: @mrs.shinerbock: @Mamaof2: @blackbird: @Truth Bombs: @hellobeeboston: @brady80: @abmamma: @Alivoo01: @MUI831: @Anagram: @BandDmommy: @lemong: @yerpie110: @mauxie: @hilsy85: thank you all! I really appreciate hearing your experiences!</p> <p>All I want is to have DS at home one or two days a week. My boss was very generous and let me take a longer leave this time, and baby is 3.5 months already, so I'm not overwhelmed caring for her. I have a couple more months left, and then it'll be back to the grind.</p> <p>And here I am, forced to cheerfully pack the kid off to day care every morning so he has a positive attitude about being there, and then doing laps around the neighborhood with the stroller knowing that he's three blocks away and I can't pick him up because first, I'll be disrupting his routine, and second, I'll get grilled in the evening about why on earth I'd do that instead of getting some rest. And no one I know offline thinks this is not ok... because to them Routines and Naps are worth so much more than my pathetic mothering skills. I'm so sad... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2345554 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 14:15:23 +0000 Mrs D 2345554@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>K will be 2.5 when DD#2 arrives in March - we do not plan to change her 5 day a week daycare schedule. She loves it - and I want the quality time (which I had with K) with DD#2...</p> <p>Once DD#2 and I are settled into a routine I may snag K early from time to time for special things - but I generally dont plan to disrupt her routine...</p> <p>ETA: There is no price difference between 4 and 5 days, so if there was I may take K out 1 day a week - but not if I am paying for it anyways! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2345521 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 13:51:02 +0000 hilsy85 2345521@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As a SAHM with a 3 year old in part time pre school (2.5 hours, 4days a week) and a newborn, I WISH I had the option to send LO1 to school for more hours! If he was in full time day care I would 100% keep him in it--I hate feeling like I never get time with the baby, and that so much of LO1's time with me is spent picking up the house or feeding the baby. I would definitely keep your older LO in day care if you can swing it, maybe with the option of 4 days a week, or fewer hours a day? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2345512 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 13:45:56 +0000 mauxie 2345512@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I kept DD in daycare while on maternity leave (M-F), though I would pick her up earlier than usual. Also she stayed home some days just for fun. But for the most part, I tried to make her world/routine the same. We had to pay for it regardless, in order to keep her spot. Initially I was worried about her bringing home lots of daycare germs, but it was a non-issue. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2345477 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 13:30:14 +0000 yerpie110 2345477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD2 is due early December, and DD1 will almost be 3yo. She goes to school 3 hours every morning and will continue that. Our nanny will also continue working during my maternity leave, though lesser hours for a short period of time, so really, DD1's schedule will remain mostly the same. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2345473 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 13:28:30 +0000 lemong 2345473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We kept LO1 in daycare full-time when LO2 arrived. It was easier for her to maintain a schedule and she got time with her friends. It was good for us to bond with LO2 as well since LO1 can demand a lot of attention. </p> <p>If we pulled her, we would have lost her spot and have to go back on the waitlist, AND we would lose the sibling priority for the waitlist for LO2! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2345467 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 13:19:51 +0000 BandDmommy 2345467@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a WAHM.. My LO is due late March. My son is currently in full time preschool. We are getting a nanny in December and DD (11 months) will start daycare after holidays. Both will stay in daycare/preschool. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2345446 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 13:03:13 +0000 Anagram 2345446@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm officially keeping both kids home at me while I'm on leave--for a lot of reasons. Financial, and our daycare is close to my work and not close to home, so it's too far to take LO 1 when I'm not working.</p> <p>I do use my husband's "back up care" program at Bright Horizons on occasion. His company gives him 20 days per year to use at a Bright Horizons and our town now has 3 locations--all of the locations are full, but I have a standing request to get in on Wednesdays if there's an opening for LO 1. That's just so I can go to the new mom's support group here, which meets on wednesdays from 11-1.</p> <p>It's been really nice actually. Some moments are hectic, but overall I've really been loving my time home with both kiddos. My toddler has really enjoyed seeing me more, too and I think it's helped her adjust. We didn't get any tantrums or hating-the-baby instances, and I think it's because my older LO gets equal time with mommy.</p> <p>ETA: I actually tried a 2-day-a-week program for my toddler while I'm on leave, but the school ended up not being a good fit and I pulled her back out at the end of the first month. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2345442 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 12:59:05 +0000 Mommy Finger 2345442@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We kept DS1 in daycare full time for the first 2 weeks and then dropped it down to MWF for 10 weeks. I really loved this as I got to spend time with both of them. However, I think DS1 had a little bit of an issue going back to full time as he missed me. :( But I would probably still do it the same way again if I had the chance. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2345415 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 12:36:29 +0000 Alivoo01 2345415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is currently in daycare full time. I plan to continue taking him when DD arrives so that there's not disruption to his schedule. it will also give me and DD some quality one-on-one bonding time without me feeling like I'm neglecting or choosing one kid over the other. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2345401 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 12:21:16 +0000 abmamma 2345401@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We kept my 3 year old in her nanny share arrangement full time and added in PT preschool in September. I didn't want to mess with her routine too much (or lose our amazing nanny!!) and I think it has helped a lot with the transition. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2345377 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 12:02:06 +0000 brady80 2345377@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'll be on maternity leave in January and my daughter will be 2.5. We are considering dropping her down to 4 days a week. My husband or my mom will be with me for that day and then my daughter can have some QT with one of us. That's the plan for now, but who knows. I definitely can't have her home with me and a newborn full time in the middle of winter in New England! Plus, she loves daycare and her friends there and I think she would be bored at home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2345370 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 11:55:14 +0000 hellobeeboston 2345370@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm on maternity leave now with my one month old and my 3 year old is still in daycare full time. It's great. Gives me time to bond with my new baby, plus nursing at this point is a full time thing..... And my son loves school. He'd be SO bored home with me and the baby. Plus, they're not really cool with me taking a 3 month break and not paying so it works out for all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2345364 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 11:50:18 +0000 Truth Bombs 2345364@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We would lose LOs spot and would have a hard time getting it back if we didn't keep her in daycare full time. Plus, she loves going to school and would be bored at home with me and a baby all day. I will probably pick her up early and keep her home on random days (especially through the holidays) but for the most part she'll stick to her schedule and we'll still be paying for a full time spot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-and-toddler#post-2345358 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 11:46:52 +0000 blackbird 2345358@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took E full time to daycare. No way am I messing with a 2 year old's routine, LOL. And honestly....being home alone with T all day every day was like a luxurious staycation. I watched tv. I napped. I made dinner. I organized the whole entire house, I swear. It was just lovelyyyyy. And i went to a BF support group that I needed help with, plus pelvic therapy for my incontinence. So it was really nice to have *just* the baby to deal with! </p>