https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 12 May 2026 13:34:46 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-help-would-be-best-during-maternity-leave#post-2375503 Wed, 02 Dec 2015 11:20:59 +0000 gingerbebe 2375503@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would keep everything the same. Normalcy is good and you should keep whatever help you have. I'm sure the sitter will be used for the new baby at some point too, so it would be good for her to get familiar with #2 and let you trade off hanging out with LO1 and LO2 and if there are things your older one wants to do that you can't manage yet, the babysitter could take over. Or if you need a Target break or a coffee run just to get some air, you have that.</p> <p>I would NOT feel guilty or awkward about having paid help while I'm at home, regardless of whether I was working or sleeping or whatever. Napping with the baby is restoring your body after trauma and you need your rest so that you can recover and be strong for both of your babies. </p> <p>I would flat out ask your sitter if she would be open to helping clean the house because you are looking into hiring a cleaning lady, but if she would be willing to do it, you'd be willing to pay her a little extra. That way the sitter isn't beholden to you for cleaning if she doesn't want to, but if she does, all the better.</p> <p>If the sitter doesn't want to clean, I would have the cleaning service come twice a month and just hole up in your room and ask them to knock lightly when its time to clean your room and then just move to another room. You don't have to see them, they don't have to see you, and I guarantee they will be quick and discrete since they know you have a newborn. I might hire that cleaning crew before our baby is born and have them do a DEEP clean of the house and that way its a matter of upkeeping that clean once the baby is home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-help-would-be-best-during-maternity-leave#post-2375482 Wed, 02 Dec 2015 11:08:18 +0000 hilsy85 2375482@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a 3 year old and a newborn, and LO is in school 4 afternoons a week. Ideally, I would have someone pick him up from school and entertain him in the afternoons until dinner time--now that it gets dark out early and it's cold, it's a lot harder to keep him occupied and happy. Even once or twice a week, to pick him up, take him to the bookstore or a playspace or something. And YES to a cleaning service!! We have an every other week cleaning lady and I wish we had her weekly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-help-would-be-best-during-maternity-leave#post-2375441 Wed, 02 Dec 2015 10:50:55 +0000 LuLu Mom 2375441@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ksnow: I agree with keeping in school and instead of a sitter I would hire a cleaning service once a week to help keep things clean. Also, havign the sitter take LO out once a week might be nice, you could send them to indoor playground (or outside depending on weather), movies, museums so she gets some interactions and doesn't get stir crazy. </p> <p>I had a 2 1/2 year old with a newborn and we kept her in daycare almost full time (I kept her home once day a week with us to play) it was necessary for her sanity! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-help-would-be-best-during-maternity-leave#post-2375420 Wed, 02 Dec 2015 10:42:24 +0000 bushelandapeck 2375420@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had a similar situation and decided to keep our nanny on with reduced hours during my 4 months of mat leave so that DS could have some consistency and also some one on one time with the nanny and with me. Once DD got a little older, I would take DS out so we could spend time just the two of us and I think it helped a ton with the transition for him. We also kept in preschool two days/week and he continued to look forward to going. It was a little awkward at first, but we quickly came up with a plan for her to take him out of the house for a few hours and that worked great. If you can swing it, I would definitely keep the sitter on for reduced hours each week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-help-would-be-best-during-maternity-leave#post-2375411 Wed, 02 Dec 2015 10:37:46 +0000 mrsjyw 2375411@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a 3yo :) fellow 11/12 babe! and a 4.5 month old.</p> <p>I would keep 3yo in preschool and hire a cleaning service! As for naps/etc. NB will def be flexible! Ds2 is so easy going and spent a lot of time being worn or in the carseat the first few months because we were always out and about! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-help-would-be-best-during-maternity-leave#post-2375387 Wed, 02 Dec 2015 10:26:01 +0000 ksnow 2375387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: that's a good idea if I just kept her babysitter to once/week with a planned outing...she hasn't left the house with her before, but we've known her long enough that I'm comfortable with it to start and she has a safer car now then she did initially. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-help-would-be-best-during-maternity-leave#post-2375381 Wed, 02 Dec 2015 10:21:29 +0000 daniellemybelle 2375381@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ksnow: Do you feel comfortable with your babysitter taking LO places? I might keep the sitter one day per week and have them go somewhere like the park, story time or a children's museum. I would pack LO a lunch so they could be gone for a few hours. That way it's not awkward to all be in the house together, you get a break, and LO gets to have some fun with a familiar friend.</p> <p>If I had the budget I would totally have a cleaning service! I think that is a HUGE help with a new baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-help-would-be-best-during-maternity-leave#post-2375370 Wed, 02 Dec 2015 10:17:25 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2375370@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have an almost three year old and an almost one year old. The newest baby will be here next month.<br /> DD1 is in preschool part time three days a week. It's worked out nicely that the (current) baby can get some one on one time and undisturbed naps.<br /> When the new baby arrives we're talking about bumping #1 up to five part time days for a month or two. I like having time with her at home but don't think I'll have enough energy to give her what she needs when I'm adapting to Irish twins.<br /> I'd keep the babysitter a few times a week so that your oldest can get out of the house and have some fun. I'd keep her in preschool too. I think at three they need a bit of stimulation and preschool is so great for that.<br /> Honestly the more help the better. We managed easily with the adjustment to two, but #2 was the easiest baby. You never know what you're going to get. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-help-would-be-best-during-maternity-leave#post-2375369 Wed, 02 Dec 2015 10:16:38 +0000 mediagirl 2375369@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ksnow: YES. This is also the reason why I can't have cleaning people. I would feel like I need to be there because I don't trust people yet if they were there, I would feel the need to clean, too so I wouldn't' look lazy! Ha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-help-would-be-best-during-maternity-leave#post-2375365 Wed, 02 Dec 2015 10:15:16 +0000 ksnow 2375365@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: I'm glad it's not just me that feels awkward...On one hand it seems like a good idea she could do crafts/story time with LO while I nap with the baby/whatever...in reality I think I'd just feel judged :meh: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-help-would-be-best-during-maternity-leave#post-2375363 Wed, 02 Dec 2015 10:13:46 +0000 Maysprout 2375363@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd keep preschool. My daughter loved going and it gave her some independent time from baby. </p> <p>I'd also have the babysitter or a mothers helper come sometime just to let you get some stuff done or run out to the store or have some time with your older daughter. Even occasionally would prob be very helpful </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-help-would-be-best-during-maternity-leave#post-2375360 Wed, 02 Dec 2015 10:12:15 +0000 mediagirl 2375360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally, I would feel awkward with someone in my house if I was sitting around with the baby. I would keep your lo in preschool because it keeps that routine normal for her. She needs some normalcy in her life after getting a sibling! As for naps, at 0-3mo, a baby is so easily moved that putting him/her into a carseat and carrying her around while you get the older child into/out of preschool should be okay. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-help-would-be-best-during-maternity-leave#post-2375352 Wed, 02 Dec 2015 10:08:15 +0000 ksnow 2375352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DD just turned 3 and due with another baby in March. I work from home currently and DD has a babysitter for 3 days, and goes to a church 'preschool' the other 2 days. </p> <p>I'm planning to take 12 weeks of maternity leave.</p> <p>Trying to figure out what kind of help will be best during those weeks. I think keeping my oldest in her preschool would be good, because she loves it and I'm thinking getting her out of the house to play with bigger kids will be a big help? Not sure how that will go yet with naps for the baby (pick ups/drop offs) but the second one is more flexible, right? We could go down to just 1 day/week or up to 3 days/week.</p> <p>Also, I could have her current sitter (if she's okay with reduced hours) come a few hours sometime during the week? My concern with this is it makes me feel kind of awkward if i'm not 'working', so I'm not sure if this would be a help or not. Also, i'm sure I could use help with picking up as a clean house is pretty important to me, but my general experience has been that the babysitters I like for the kids don't really want to help clean (which I get), so maybe I'd be better off hiring a weekly cleaning service during this time? I've never used one so not sure how helpful that would be.</p> <p>I don't want to spend a ton, but also don't feel bad spending a little since it's a paid maternity leave and I want to make the transition a little easier! </p> <p>So if you had a 3 year old and a newborn, what would have been your ideal set up? </p>