https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 21:17:15 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-re-childcare-in-this-situation#post-2652438 Mon, 14 Nov 2016 23:58:01 +0000 ElbieKay 2652438@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted for the cheaper preschool for the 2yo. The 4yo is (a) older so probably the quality of the activities, etc., makes a bigger difference and (b) has special needs. If neither of those apply to the 2yo, I think it's reasonable to justify the cheaper school assuming you can make drop off work.</p> <p>I have one child, a 2.5yo. I think if he was staring down the barrel of infant twins in the house, it might be good for him to go to school and get a break from the chaos. This is not to say that it's bad that you're having twins, but it's going to rock his little world in a big way. Having his own place to go sometimes, assuming he has time to adjust before his siblings show up, might actually be a good outlet for him.</p> <p>I know the nanny option got the most votes, but I personally think that is a lot to ask of one person. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-re-childcare-in-this-situation#post-2652431 Mon, 14 Nov 2016 22:35:26 +0000 Mrs. Pen 2652431@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LML: who knows, she may surprise you ;) good luck and I hope it all works out well!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-re-childcare-in-this-situation#post-2652429 Mon, 14 Nov 2016 22:21:58 +0000 LML 2652429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so glad I posted this question, because the answers were very eye-opening. I expected everyone to say it was crazy to expect a nanny to watch two infants and a toddler, but it looks like that is the option that most people like best. That is also my husband's vote, so maybe he was right after all.</p> <p>@PawPrints: My husband could conceivably drop off the 2-year-old at school in the mornings, but I would still have to do pick-up because it would be in the middle of the day (2pm or so). And taking a double stroller with the twins into two different preschools for pick-up every afternoon sounds....rough. </p> <p>@Trailmix: I thought about that - and I really would only need them both part-time - but the cost of two nannies would probably be similar to sending the 2-year-old to my daughter's preschool, so I'd still be stretching the childcare budget a bit more than I should.</p> <p>@skipra: There is a sibling discount, but it's not big enough to make a significant difference, unfortunately.</p> <p>Thanks so much for all of the insights. I'm definitely leaning toward the nanny option now. I'm not sure if our current nanny would be interested in that hectic of a job, but I'm going to ask her about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-re-childcare-in-this-situation#post-2652417 Mon, 14 Nov 2016 21:52:58 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2652417@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a part time nanny that works for another family when she's not with us. They have a seven month old and twin 25 month olds.<br /> She manages my three ring circus (10mo, 22mo, 3.5yo) easily.<br /> I'd see if you could find an awesome nanny. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-re-childcare-in-this-situation#post-2652410 Mon, 14 Nov 2016 21:25:10 +0000 skipra 2652410@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Would the expensive preschool give you a discount for sending two kids? Maybe that could help make it more affordable? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-re-childcare-in-this-situation#post-2652383 Mon, 14 Nov 2016 20:29:49 +0000 Trailmix 2652383@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about two nannies? A full-time one for the twins and a part-time one for your 2-year-old? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-re-childcare-in-this-situation#post-2652382 Mon, 14 Nov 2016 20:28:18 +0000 winniebee 2652382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would try to find a nanny capable of caring for the toddler and babies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-re-childcare-in-this-situation#post-2652379 Mon, 14 Nov 2016 20:24:43 +0000 MrsSRS 2652379@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I was a nanny I could totally have done it. Is there an option to have your 2yo do preschool 2 or 3 days a week? Maybe that tuition would be more manageable? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-re-childcare-in-this-situation#post-2652370 Mon, 14 Nov 2016 20:03:13 +0000 Mrs. Pen 2652370@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would definitely try and make the nanny situation work. You might be surprised at how much a capable nanny can handle! </p> <p>I was a nanny when I was 19-20 for a family with four children under four as well. Sure, the days were crazy, but I absolutely loved it and didn't feel my care for any of the children was compromised by how busy it was. I had a lot of experience with kids, but I know many other nannies could handle the job! </p> <p>First, assess whether you feel confident enough in your current nanny's ability to handle it. And then ask her if it's something she'd even be interested in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-re-childcare-in-this-situation#post-2652365 Mon, 14 Nov 2016 19:56:42 +0000 Cole 2652365@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One thing that jumps out at me is that your 4 year old will presumably be moving on from this awesome preschool at some point so what comes after that for everyone? I'd hope to come up with a plan that potentially covers my bases until the twins are older. If this is your 4 year old's last year there anyway I'd probably look for a place that the 2 year old could stay over the next few years instead and that you could eventually send the twins to (heaven knows a million things could make a long term plan like this fall apart but it would be where I'd start.) </p> <p>Could your nanny potentially help with either pick up or drop off? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-re-childcare-in-this-situation#post-2652360 Mon, 14 Nov 2016 19:48:42 +0000 lemondrop 2652360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My four year old goes to a special needs preschool as well. My two year old will start preschool next fall at 3 years old. I'm running into a similar dilemma as to where to send him. We will probably go with an option that is a combination of less expensive and that fits him well, maybe something a little more Montessori oriented since I think it would fit his inquisitive personality. We mainly are just sending him for the social aspect a few days a week, so I feel much less pressure about sending him to the tip top school out there. Every kid is different and has different needs. My oldest wouldn't have done well in a Montessori situation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-re-childcare-in-this-situation#post-2652341 Mon, 14 Nov 2016 18:21:06 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 2652341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I definitely would not be able to handle 2 infants and a toddler alone, so would feel like it was unfair to expect a nanny to do it. Of course, you can always see if theres a nanny who would do it.</p> <p>If sending the 2 year old to the same preschool is too much of a financial hit, I would send him/her to a cheaper school and try to get help with the drop off/pick ups. I would try to look at it as a temporary thing. But, of the financial stress gets too much it can cause bigger troubles down the line, so even if it's a less stellar school I would be OK with it as long as the school was still pretty good.</p> <p>ETA: I know that parents want to provide for their children equally, but most times it's not possible and maybe even not necessary. If you're 4 year old needs the expensive preschool and your 2 year old can thrive in a different setting, don't feel guilty for doing what is best for your family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-re-childcare-in-this-situation#post-2652330 Mon, 14 Nov 2016 17:53:59 +0000 PawPrints 2652330@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you put the 2-year-old in a cheaper preschool could your husband do that pickup/dropoff? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-re-childcare-in-this-situation#post-2652328 Mon, 14 Nov 2016 17:47:14 +0000 codeitall 2652328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd try to get a nanny situation to work. To make up for the 2 year old, I'd try to enroll him in some classes if the nanny was willing/able to take care of the dropoff/pickup. There are definitely stellar nannies out there who are capable of caring for twin infants and a 2 year old for part of the day.</p> <p>Having 3 different childcare situations would just be too much for me to juggle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-re-childcare-in-this-situation#post-2652327 Mon, 14 Nov 2016 17:40:03 +0000 LML 2652327@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am at a loss about what to do for childcare after my maternity leave. I currently have a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old. My 4-year-old goes to a fairly expensive preschool that incorporates therapies into the day for kids with special needs. She needs the therapies and is definitely staying at this school next year. It is by far the best preschool I've found in our city, for kids with or without special needs. But it also costs quite a bit.</p> <p>I'm currently pregnant with twins, and my current plan is to hire a nanny (or keep our current one if she is interested in staying on) for the babies. </p> <p>My dilemma is what to do about my 2-year-old. He has a nanny right now, but I don't see how it could work to have a nanny take care of two babies and a spirited 2-year-old. My preference would be to send him to my daughter's amazing school, but it will be a big financial stretch to pay for tuition for two kids there. </p> <p>So the 3rd option would be to put him in a cheaper preschool, probably a part-time church preschool or similar. I work part-time from home, so I only need part-time care. The big problem with that is the logistics of drop off and pick-up at 2 different preschools, which will cut into my work time. Plus I feel guilty that my daughter will get the Cadillac of preschools, while my son is getting a cheaper (and most likely less amazing) preschool setting.</p> <p>What would you guys do in this situation? Suck it up and pay for 2 tuitions at the expensive place? Send the older kids to different schools? Or try to make a 1-nanny 3-kid situation work? </p>