https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 08 May 2026 22:53:21 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-toddlers-and-preschool#post-2259300 Sun, 09 Aug 2015 19:59:14 +0000 erinpye 2259300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: well, I wasn't ok at first, because I had pretty severe PPD, and LO1 was really jealous. But, then I got much better and it's been so fun to have them both with me! I'm actually pretty sad LO1 will be away from us a bit this year, though it will be fun to have some one on one time with LO2.</p> <p>If I were to do it again, I'd still keep them both home with me, though a bit more grandparent help, like a day or night they could take my toddler while I had the new baby, would have been nice! I think you'll be fine, if you decide to keep both home with you, and if you decide to send your oldest to preschool, that's cool too, and you'll love the bonding time with your newbie: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-toddlers-and-preschool#post-2259296 Sun, 09 Aug 2015 19:55:09 +0000 Foodnerd81 2259296@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinpye: and you were more or less OK being home all the time with both? Your older LO didn't go crazy? I'm worried especially since I'm due in December and we have long snowy winters. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-toddlers-and-preschool#post-2259294 Sun, 09 Aug 2015 19:53:58 +0000 erinpye 2259294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO1 was 22 months old when LO2 was born. I did not put her in any kind of preschool or daycare. She's now 3, and will start 6 hours of preschool a week in the Fall. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-toddlers-and-preschool#post-2258992 Sun, 09 Aug 2015 08:49:36 +0000 rosegold 2258992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Finfan: whoa! flexible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-toddlers-and-preschool#post-2258963 Sun, 09 Aug 2015 07:58:02 +0000 Finfan 2258963@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh, I forgot to mention this. I don't SAH but DH does. We managed to find a daycare that will let us put our LO in for as little as one half day per week (for $20). We usually put her in for 1-2 days per week ($32/each). I just have to let them know by the end of Wednesday what I am planning for next week. It helps him get a break and LO has thrived with the socialization. Baby #2 will be here in November when DD is almost 3.5 so she will start preschool next month and we are pulling her out of daycare at the end of this month. We plan to put our second child in around 6-9 months at the same daycare if they have openings. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-toddlers-and-preschool#post-2258955 Sun, 09 Aug 2015 07:52:29 +0000 Finfan 2258955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rosegold: Our pre-k lets you pick how many and which days to send your kid from a menu of 5-6 options (so all the kids in her class will be the same). You have the option of 2, 3, or 4 days per week and then can pick from a few combinations from there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-toddlers-and-preschool#post-2258929 Sun, 09 Aug 2015 06:50:12 +0000 Foodnerd81 2258929@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rosegold: there is one preschool here that lets you choose your days and they are quite flexible. Am that's the one I am thinking for after she turns three. I'll have to get specifics from them but many moms have mentioned their flexibility. And it happens to be super close to my house! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-toddlers-and-preschool#post-2258897 Sun, 09 Aug 2015 02:23:44 +0000 illumina 2258897@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not expecting another baby yet but for the reasons you've said S goes to nursery now 2 mornings a week. She goes from 8am-12am and she loves it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-toddlers-and-preschool#post-2258885 Sun, 09 Aug 2015 00:05:14 +0000 rosegold 2258885@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: i never heard of pre-k letting you choose how many days they go? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-toddlers-and-preschool#post-2258868 Sat, 08 Aug 2015 23:03:19 +0000 mrskc 2258868@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If we could afford a preschool, I would totally put my older son in something 1-2 days a week. I'm looking into a co-op preschool but I wouldn't do it until next year when he's turning 4. Or my girlfriend and I have talked about doing kind of our own preschool. Where we would take turns dropping our kid off at eachothers houses for 1-2 hours of learning. </p> <p>I wouldn't feel bad! Being a SAHM is tough and any little break you can get is great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-toddlers-and-preschool#post-2258840 Sat, 08 Aug 2015 21:38:41 +0000 Jess1483 2258840@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: don't feel guilty. A SAHM is a 24-hour job, and it's ok to take a break. DH said to me the other day that if I didn't get some "me time," I'd certainly be in violation of some labor laws. I love seeing all the things LO learns at preschool, and I'd really feel like I was missing out on LO2's earliest days if I didn't get some alone time with him during the week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-toddlers-and-preschool#post-2258829 Sat, 08 Aug 2015 20:55:47 +0000 hilsy85 2258829@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Lo will be starting a 4 day 2.5 hour program this sept, and Lo2 is coming in October. I really wanted to have him in a program to give him some structure and give myself a time where I would have a break. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-toddlers-and-preschool#post-2258826 Sat, 08 Aug 2015 20:51:57 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2258826@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I want to do a mom's day out program but it makes me nervous. She's only ever been left at church or with family and I'm scared she would flip out. I really think she would flourish going to a structured environment a fee times a week but I just can't pull the trigger. She'll be 2 next month </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-toddlers-and-preschool#post-2258807 Sat, 08 Aug 2015 19:59:05 +0000 Foodnerd81 2258807@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaBehr: I want to drop her off so I get some time to myself and then time with just the baby. We do a once a week "class" together that she likes, but it's not terribly active. We tried MY Gym trial classes but didn't totally love it, but mostly it's in a really inconvenient location. </p> <p>I guess I'm feeling guilty wanting some alone time when this is my job, but I do really feel like it would be good for her. Too bad I only know one possible option so far. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-toddlers-and-preschool#post-2258805 Sat, 08 Aug 2015 19:49:40 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2258805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I stay at home and my son is going to a toddler program at a preschool starting this fall. He is going Tuesday mornings from 9-1130. The age is 18 months to 2.5. He will be 18 months. Next fall we might do two days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-toddlers-and-preschool#post-2258797 Sat, 08 Aug 2015 19:20:11 +0000 MamaBehr 2258797@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you want to drop her off and leave or just give her something stimulating to do? We were doing My Gym classes before we moved and they were awesome. I didn't have a baby at the time, but I have friends who would wear the baby while they participated with the big kid. I think you could find a mommy and me gymnastics class that would allow for the same thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-toddlers-and-preschool#post-2258794 Sat, 08 Aug 2015 19:14:09 +0000 KayKay 2258794@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did 3-day preschool for LO1 this past fall. She started at 2.5 and LO2 came about 6 weeks later. It was great for both her (stimulation, fun, and something that was her own thing that stayed consistent after the baby arrived) and for me to have the couple days a week with just LO2.</p> <p>I had worked FT when LO1 was little though so I knew she was used to daycare and that I wouldn't be able to keep her as entertained as she was used to, esp with a new baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-toddlers-and-preschool#post-2258791 Sat, 08 Aug 2015 19:00:58 +0000 Mrs.KMM 2258791@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I only have one LO and I still intend to find her a mother's day out type program despite the fact that I SAH. Not only does it give me a break but it also gives DD a chance to play with other kids, learn to share, etc. So I totally don't think it would be a waste for you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-toddlers-and-preschool#post-2258784 Sat, 08 Aug 2015 18:37:54 +0000 Tidybee 2258784@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD1 will be starting in a 2 1/2 yr program, 2 days a week. I now have a 4 week old and i think it will be great for DD1 to have a structured activity and her own thing now that the baby is here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-toddlers-and-preschool#post-2258764 Sat, 08 Aug 2015 16:57:50 +0000 Foodnerd81 2258764@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jess1483: @Tanjowen: yes, having a few hours to get things done, go to my doctors appts without her, clean up without her undoing everything... Would be really nice at the end of pregnancy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-toddlers-and-preschool#post-2258763 Sat, 08 Aug 2015 16:53:02 +0000 Tanjowen 2258763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: They advertised their huge consignment sale and I went last year and they gave out flyers about their program. We met with the director this spring and got to visit the classrooms and meet everyone and immediately fell in love with the place. The main churches in our area that run them are Presbyterian or Methodist. LO is attending the Methodist one!</p> <p>It's just enough time for me to grocery shop or do errands. Which is soooo much fun with a toddler haha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-toddlers-and-preschool#post-2258761 Sat, 08 Aug 2015 16:50:34 +0000 Jess1483 2258761@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started preschool at 2 (technically it's a daycare so they can have before- and after- care, but they run it as a preschool). Not only has it been great for him, it gave me time to get things done or relax while pregnant, and gives me good baby bonding time now that LO is here.<br /> (I do technically work part-time, but rarely use preschool time to work.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-toddlers-and-preschool#post-2258759 Sat, 08 Aug 2015 16:45:20 +0000 Foodnerd81 2258759@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Tanjowen: how did you find the moms morning out thing? That would be great and I'm happy with it being church based. The preschool she will probably go to at 3 is loosely catholic. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-toddlers-and-preschool#post-2258758 Sat, 08 Aug 2015 16:42:12 +0000 Tanjowen 2258758@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not preschool, but "baby school " and mom's morning out programs are big in my area. My LO is starting next month, and it's $125 a month for 2 days a week from 8:15-1:15 am. I will say that they are all usually church based programs. </p> <p>I'll see how it goes since be starts next month! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-toddlers-and-preschool#post-2258757 Sat, 08 Aug 2015 16:31:46 +0000 Foodnerd81 2258757@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you SAH and have two LOs, did you have your older LO in any kind of programs when the new baby was born? Classes, drop off programs, camps, babysitters? </p> <p>C is 2, will be almost 2.5 when the new baby is born this winter. I've been thinking that she could use some more structured activity where she can run around a little more- we go to the playground every day but I think she is starting to get a little bored lately. Especially in the winter, with a new baby, I think she will get really antsy at home all the time, plus I'm thinking a couple hours for me to be home with just the baby would be nice. But then it seems like an unnecessary expense of I'm a Sahm... Curious what others have done and liked or not liked. </p> <p>And the preschools around here all start at 2 years 9 months, so I plan to start her in that next fall right after she turns 3, for a couple of days a week. I'm just thinking of one or two mornings a week this winter. </p>