https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 20 May 2026 14:43:19 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/part-or-full-time-daycare-for-lo1-while-on-maternity-leave#post-1938916 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 10:05:10 +0000 californiadreams 1938916@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I see what people are saying about keeping the routine, since you are only off for such a short time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/part-or-full-time-daycare-for-lo1-while-on-maternity-leave#post-1938913 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 10:03:15 +0000 kodybear 1938913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I sent my daughter full time just to keep her on a routine. She loves daycare so it worked out. And it helped with getting adjusted to a newborn! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/part-or-full-time-daycare-for-lo1-while-on-maternity-leave#post-1938911 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 10:02:40 +0000 californiadreams 1938911@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would do part time so i could spend extra time with LO#1 while off work. Saving the $100 is also a bonus. But I am also in Canada and can't imagine only having 10 weeks off. In fact, whenever we do have a LO#2, i might keep LO#1 in full time day care for the first 4 -6 weeks before dropping him to part time for the rest of the year. Especially if i end up with a c section or something (but that also depends if my mom comes for a month like she did for LO#1 and how much time DH takes off, we might then do part time from the beginning). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/part-or-full-time-daycare-for-lo1-while-on-maternity-leave#post-1938889 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 09:55:31 +0000 regberadaisy 1938889@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I was on leave with #2 we took DD1 down to 2 days week to save $. I'm currently unemployed and she will stay at 2 days until I find a full time job.</p> <p>IMHO it's the best of both worlds. She still gets to go have fun at school with her friends. I get a break when she's at school. But then she's also home for bonding time with her baby sister. I was afraid of jealousy issues with why do I have to go to school but baby sister stays home with mommy.</p> <p>Even at $100/week that's on average $400/month! That to me is a lot of money.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/part-or-full-time-daycare-for-lo1-while-on-maternity-leave#post-1938826 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 09:31:49 +0000 78h2o 1938826@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have debated about this too, but right now I am planning to send DD full time. I feel guilty about it too, but I think it will make my life a lot easier and a happier mom = happier children. I also think it will be good for her to have a consistent routine and it will be good for baby #2 to have the same 1:1 attention that DD got. I will probably keep DD home occasionally if we want to do something special. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/part-or-full-time-daycare-for-lo1-while-on-maternity-leave#post-1938820 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 09:29:16 +0000 HappyBaker 1938820@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone, I think I'm sold! :happy: </p> <p>@Corduroy: Such a good point on the drop off/pick up, if we keep her full time at least my husband can help with that if the baby is napping. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/part-or-full-time-daycare-for-lo1-while-on-maternity-leave#post-1938815 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 09:28:19 +0000 wonderstruck 1938815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a SAHM, but oh man, if L was in daycare full time it would make things soooo much easier with this transition! I agree with you and PPs that it's best to keep her on her normal schedule. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/part-or-full-time-daycare-for-lo1-while-on-maternity-leave#post-1938812 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 09:27:07 +0000 SweetiePie 1938812@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I only have one 9 week old and I can't imagine having two, so my vote is full time daycare. I give so much credit to moms who take care of two LOs, one newborn is hard enough! Id take any help I could get!<br /> Plus I agree that keeping her routine makes sense. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/part-or-full-time-daycare-for-lo1-while-on-maternity-leave#post-1938807 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 09:24:41 +0000 ElbieKay 1938807@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would keep the full time slot and maybe pull her out every once in awhile for some extra family time if you wind up with an easy baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/part-or-full-time-daycare-for-lo1-while-on-maternity-leave#post-1938798 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 09:17:33 +0000 Corduroy 1938798@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I plan to send LO full time when #2 comes. We have to pay to keep her spot anyway. $100 a weeks sounds like it won't make a big difference for you. I would be worried about taking LO for half days. I think drop off/pick up might be more stressful than its worth if schedules don't match up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/part-or-full-time-daycare-for-lo1-while-on-maternity-leave#post-1938779 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 09:04:54 +0000 looch 1938779@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I guess I am against the grain here, but I would drop her back to three days a week while you have the option to do so. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/part-or-full-time-daycare-for-lo1-while-on-maternity-leave#post-1938763 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:57:53 +0000 blackbird 1938763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm going to keep sending E full time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/part-or-full-time-daycare-for-lo1-while-on-maternity-leave#post-1938756 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:42:22 +0000 Pumuckl 1938756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm gonna keep him going fulltime. Only thing I might change is that he'll be picked up earlier than the typical 5:30 pm now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/part-or-full-time-daycare-for-lo1-while-on-maternity-leave#post-1938736 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:15:05 +0000 Andrea 1938736@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We kept DD1 full time. I think that was good for everyone! :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/part-or-full-time-daycare-for-lo1-while-on-maternity-leave#post-1938735 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:11:52 +0000 lawbee11 1938735@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Full-time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/part-or-full-time-daycare-for-lo1-while-on-maternity-leave#post-1938733 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:05:38 +0000 lamariniere 1938733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Keep her on the regular schedule. That's what we did with LO1 when LO2 was born. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/part-or-full-time-daycare-for-lo1-while-on-maternity-leave#post-1938732 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:05:25 +0000 Adira 1938732@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HappyBaker: I think our family think we're weird for continuing to send Xander too, but I'm just all "He loves daycare and we have to keep paying to keep his spot anyway." I don't even know if it's true, haha, I just think it'll be easier to keep sending him! I can't imagine trying to deal with a newborn all day while having a rambunctious toddler wanting my attention!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/part-or-full-time-daycare-for-lo1-while-on-maternity-leave#post-1938730 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:03:01 +0000 HappyBaker 1938730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks guys! I was sort of hoping for that response :-). Our families just think we are crazy to spend money on daycare while I'm home, so I keep second guessing it / thinking maybe we are being selfish by sending her.</p> <p>@Adira: I just found your similar thread and that really helped! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/part-or-full-time-daycare-for-lo1-while-on-maternity-leave#post-1938729 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:00:10 +0000 Adira 1938729@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're planning on continuing to send Xander full-time when baby #2 comes. I feel like it would be easiest on him to keep his routine and it will be easiest on me because then I'll have a good amount of one-on-one time with the baby during the day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/part-or-full-time-daycare-for-lo1-while-on-maternity-leave#post-1938726 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 07:55:58 +0000 Mamaof2 1938726@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Full time - its best for her and you!</p> <p>I loved having that time to bond alone with #2 and sleep whenever I wanted. I couldn't imagine having to take care of a toddler and a newborn in those early weeks </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/part-or-full-time-daycare-for-lo1-while-on-maternity-leave#post-1938725 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 07:53:31 +0000 Smurfette 1938725@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would keep her on her regular schedule. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/part-or-full-time-daycare-for-lo1-while-on-maternity-leave#post-1938720 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 07:50:09 +0000 Mrs. Confetti 1938720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would keep her regular routine. Plus that way when baby sleeps you actually catch a real break. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/part-or-full-time-daycare-for-lo1-while-on-maternity-leave#post-1938716 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 07:41:39 +0000 HappyBaker 1938716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm due with baby #2 in January, when my daughter will be almost 2.5 years old. She's been in full time daycare at a center since she was 12 weeks old, and really does well with the whole routine of daycare. </p> <p>We were planning on just sending her full time while I'm out on maternity leave with #2, but now I'm wondering if we should send her part time instead. </p> <p>I'll be out for about 10 weeks, and basically our options are:<br /> 1. Send her full time<br /> 2. Send her 3 full days a week (saves $100 a week)<br /> 3. Send her 5 days a week from 7am - 12pm (saves $100 a week)</p> <p>Which would you have preferred / what did you do when you had #2?</p> <p>Also - I should note that we pay a lot for daycare, so that $100 doesn't seem like a huge amount of money at this point. Full time is $400 and the part time options are $300. </p>