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Ya, baby 1 went to daycare FT for 2 months after the baby was born. We switched to PT when the baby was around 2 months old. DH did most of the pick up and drops during his paternity leave which was 6 weeks. I did the pick ups and drop off after that...June-early Sept when I went back to work.

DS will be 17 months when LO2 is here. He'll still go to daycare full time so I can spend some time with our newborn. I don't even think they would allow me to pull him out without losing his spot. I'll be out of work for 8 weeks, and then when I go back I'll work for about 5 more (newborn will go to daycare at 8 weeks old) and then when I'm done working after 5 weeks I'll stay home with newborn for the summer and DS will go PT to daycare--3 days a week.

DS was 26 months (almost 2.5 years) when we started him in daycare/preschool (at his age, they start calling it preschool). We decided to start him about a month before my due date with DS2 so that he wouldn't equate having to go to school with the arrival of the new baby. We did 3 full days a week (MWF). Now (4 months later) we are adding an additional day to help me out.

It was a good decision. Its tough to have both kids at home! Finding activities to do with your toddler while caring for a newborn wasn't too tough in the beginning when DS2 slept everywhere, but now that we are past the newborn sleepy phase, its hard to try to put DS2 down for naps and tend to his needs while also tending to a toddler's more active needs, especially his need to be out and about.

I feel like preschool is helping my son experience things that I can't necessarily show him myself or show him on a consistent basis - music class, crafty art projects, lessons on manners everyday, social skills, etc.

I do drop offs and most pick ups. It can be difficult lugging the baby around but it is manageable. We are lucky in that DS1's school allows me to leave DS2 in their main office with a staff member while I hike up the stairs with DS1 and get him settled into class. Hours for drop off and pick up are flexible so that if DS2 is napping, I can always choose to pick DS1 up a little later or have my husband pick him up.

We don't plan on removing DS1 from preschool until he enters a real school at age 4 or 5.

@Beebug: DD1 was almost 3 when the baby arrived and in preschool. I do all the drop offs and pick ups. It's not always easy and I have to compromise the baby's schedule, but it's manageable, of course.

I can't imagine DD1 not being in school at this age. She learns so much and can read already. She's old enough that it's not just about child care for me. Her brain needs school!

@Rubies: but you did it! It'll get better!

I will most likely leave #1 (who will be 24 months) in daycare while on mat leave with #2 (which is a year). But my province heavily subsidizes the daycare cost to begin with; otherwise I wouldn't be able to afford it.

Not sure who will do pickups/drop offs yet. I suspect we'll split it.

DD1 goes 2 days/wk, and we're planning to keep her there at least a month after DD2 arrives. Even though DH will be home for that month we still think it will be a good idea for a place for DD1 to go to get away from the baby.

We were talking about pulling her after that 1st month and getting a babysitter or a mother's helper so that I could still get some time to myself but DH may have a really intense semester coming up at school (he works f/t and goes to school p/t), so we may keep DD1 where she is. Even though I won't get solo time per se, infants sleep so much in the early months it may not be that bad to just have DD2 a few days/wk.

We're going to stay flexible and make it up as we go along, LOL.