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Xander continued going to daycare full-time for the 12 weeks I was on leave. It was just easier for everyone around. Xander continued to maintain his regular schedule, and I was able to bond with the baby during the day. Plus we couldn't have pulled him out and kept his spot without paying anyway, so it made no sense to be paying for daycare and not use it!

I dropped her down to 3x a week at daycare. I love the days I get to spend with DD2 alone, but I also treasure the extra 2 days I have with DD1 now so it's a great arrangement for us. I'm in Canada so I have a year long mat leave. If I had a short leave I would have just left her in daycare full time. They are full days but I drop her off later than usual (9) and pick her up at 4

I asked this a little while back so it might be my post you're remembering.

http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-the-ideal-maternity-leave-plan-with-2-if-childcare-is-an-option#post-2299150

I think we are going to keep her routine the same initially and then see how I feel down the line. Id like to spend a little more time with her while I have the chance but I'm concerned about disrupting her routine, only to go back to work FT and leave her again.

DS stayed in FT DCP while I was on maternity leave.

It was the best for him and me. Plus I enjoyed bonding with #2 alone like I did with #1

We would lose LOs spot and would have a hard time getting it back if we didn't keep her in daycare full time. Plus, she loves going to school and would be bored at home with me and a baby all day. I will probably pick her up early and keep her home on random days (especially through the holidays) but for the most part she'll stick to her schedule and we'll still be paying for a full time spot.

I'll be on maternity leave in January and my daughter will be 2.5. We are considering dropping her down to 4 days a week. My husband or my mom will be with me for that day and then my daughter can have some QT with one of us. That's the plan for now, but who knows. I definitely can't have her home with me and a newborn full time in the middle of winter in New England! Plus, she loves daycare and her friends there and I think she would be bored at home.

DS is currently in daycare full time. I plan to continue taking him when DD arrives so that there's not disruption to his schedule. it will also give me and DD some quality one-on-one bonding time without me feeling like I'm neglecting or choosing one kid over the other.

I'm officially keeping both kids home at me while I'm on leave--for a lot of reasons. Financial, and our daycare is close to my work and not close to home, so it's too far to take LO 1 when I'm not working.

I do use my husband's "back up care" program at Bright Horizons on occasion. His company gives him 20 days per year to use at a Bright Horizons and our town now has 3 locations--all of the locations are full, but I have a standing request to get in on Wednesdays if there's an opening for LO 1. That's just so I can go to the new mom's support group here, which meets on wednesdays from 11-1.

It's been really nice actually. Some moments are hectic, but overall I've really been loving my time home with both kiddos. My toddler has really enjoyed seeing me more, too and I think it's helped her adjust. We didn't get any tantrums or hating-the-baby instances, and I think it's because my older LO gets equal time with mommy.

ETA: I actually tried a 2-day-a-week program for my toddler while I'm on leave, but the school ended up not being a good fit and I pulled her back out at the end of the first month.

We kept LO1 in daycare full-time when LO2 arrived. It was easier for her to maintain a schedule and she got time with her friends. It was good for us to bond with LO2 as well since LO1 can demand a lot of attention.

If we pulled her, we would have lost her spot and have to go back on the waitlist, AND we would lose the sibling priority for the waitlist for LO2!

I kept DD in daycare while on maternity leave (M-F), though I would pick her up earlier than usual. Also she stayed home some days just for fun. But for the most part, I tried to make her world/routine the same. We had to pay for it regardless, in order to keep her spot. Initially I was worried about her bringing home lots of daycare germs, but it was a non-issue.

K will be 2.5 when DD#2 arrives in March - we do not plan to change her 5 day a week daycare schedule. She loves it - and I want the quality time (which I had with K) with DD#2...

Once DD#2 and I are settled into a routine I may snag K early from time to time for special things - but I generally dont plan to disrupt her routine...

ETA: There is no price difference between 4 and 5 days, so if there was I may take K out 1 day a week - but not if I am paying for it anyways!

i am planning, like @tinyperson: , to keep DS1 full time for the first 6 weeks or so. I am due Feb. 9, so I will keep him registered full time for Feb. and March but plan for him to have shorter days and will pull him as needed. And then as of April, he will go only 3 days per week. And i need to look into when he starts JK! It might also be in September!

@californiadreams: Yup, he'd start the same year as S, unless you're keeping him out of JK... Crazy!

@Mama Bird: If you want him home, keep him home. You need to do what makes you happy. There is no one right answer.

@Mama Bird: i definitely agree that if you want your kid home, then you should keep him home! I almost decided to keep my son home full time, but knew that i would go nuts with 2 kids all day every day and i see how much he enjoys preschool i didn't want to take that away from him.,.so part time was the perfect compromise. And when he is sick any day of the week, i will keep him home. It kills me to send him now when he has the sniffles or has been up coughing in the night.

ETA. i will do 3 consecutive days for him and hope that keeps up the "routine" aspect for him.

@Mama Bird: You should do what YOU want to do! If you want to pick him up, do it. Sure, it may disrupt his routine, but your mothering skills are not "pathetic" and any time you have together is special.

I think you should do what YOU want and who cares what others think!

I totally thought I would want LO1 home a few days a week while I was on leave, but now that the baby is here I am SO happy I kept her in full time, I really can't imagine trying to juggle both of them all day. Plus I solo parent a lot in the evening so it really benefits all of us by her going to her daycare and preschool, to keep her occupied and to give me some energy to make it through the evening!!

@Anagram: Can you PM me with info on the school you tried? We just started T in part time preschool/daycare plus I have a friend who is looking. So I am just curious!

@Mama Bird: for the initial adjustment I would want to keep the routine the same, to help your lo's sense of normalcy, but at 3.5 months out if you want to pick him up I don't see why not. I would maybe just send him half days/ pick up early and then keep him home a handful of days on top of that and see how you feel.