Two different childcare providers confuse LO?

By JoJoGirl Mar 17, 2014

Right now, I work 4 days a week and LO is at a daycare we ABSOLUTELY LOVE.

Our financial situation is about to change drastically, and I may be forced to go back the 5th day.

We don't want to pull LO out of her daycare (which is only open 4 days/week, which is the main reason that's how much I work). So we are shopping around for other daycares that will let us bring her only one day/week. Having a nanny one day doesn't make financial sense because they are so expensive, the margin of what I'd bring home after taxes would be tiny.

Would it totally throw LO to have one daycare Mondays, a different daycare T-F, and be home with us on the weekends? I know kids need structure and routine so I'm concerned about this. She's 10.5 months, and in the midst of major stranger anxiety. I'm very concerned about moving her to a new place altogether right now.

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poll: 4 days at one place/1 day at another a bad idea?
Yes - LO needs consistency so find somewhere new at 5 days/week : (10 votes)

31 %

No - LO knows her old daycare already so it'll be an easier adjustment : (20 votes)

63 %

Other : (2 votes)

6 %

32 votes

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16 comments

Greentea
pomelo / 5678 posts

Mar 17, 2014

I voted other. I don't think kids needs structure and routine as a blanket rule. I think it might just be tough on her at first if she is having stranger anxiety- a tough transition but probably fine after that if she likes it. I would just decide if it is necessary or worth it/that possibly tricky transition. Bummers that hers is only four days...
blackbird
wonderful grape / 20453 posts

Mar 17, 2014

We do this. E sees T Mon-Thurs and J on Fri. She seems unphased. T is definitely her favorite but she does fine on Fridays.

I find that, for us, stranger anxiety is worse when we are there. Babysitters, family, etc, always rave about how great she is once DH and I are "out of sight, out of mind".

Anyways. We love our Mon-Thurs daycare situation too much to go to a 5x/week one, so she just has a different Friday sitter. Maybe it helps her get used to a variety of people watching her? *shrug*
lamariniere
pineapple / 12566 posts

Mar 17, 2014

I was thinking about posting the same thing recently. In our case, I would possibly have two different babysitters each week, but they would be in our home while I WAH.
T.H.O.U.
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts

Mar 17, 2014

Another thing to consider is how closely do the two daycare options follow the same schedule. Most often I would think centers have the same type schedule for age groups but if there is a drastically different schedule, you may look for a single place 5 days a week.
MamaMoose
GOLD / squash / 13464 posts

Mar 17, 2014

I think it's going to be a tough transition for her to go to the new place no matter if it's one day a week or five, so why not just move her to the new place full time for the sake of consistency and convenience down the road. Also, I think it's going to be darn near impossible to find a center that would let you come one day a week... I assume you're looking at in home providers?
looch
wonderful pear / 26210 posts

Mar 17, 2014

It would be a problem for my son, but that's his personality. He always has a really rough time on Monday transitioning to the weekday routine.
JoJoGirl
cantaloupe / 6206 posts

Mar 17, 2014

@MamaMoose: Yes, our current place is in-home and we like that better than big centers (and we just can't afford the big centers....). I found a place today that seems great and will take her 1 day/week, so now that it seems like it's even an option, I'm wondering if it's a good idea!
Raindrop
grapefruit / 4731 posts

Mar 17, 2014

Maybe you can find someone near by that has a nanny? and do a nanny share with them?

Maybe see if a relative can watch for a day? One of my coworkers has retired parents... though they don't want to watch their grandkids 5 days a week they don't mind watching for one day a week.
JoJoGirl
cantaloupe / 6206 posts

Mar 17, 2014

@Raindrop: Ah i wish. We have no family within driving distance of us - everyone is a flight away
Raindrop
grapefruit / 4731 posts

Mar 17, 2014

@JoJoGirl: Bummers!!
Cole
grapefruit / 4649 posts

Mar 17, 2014

I am a nanny and I split a full time+ job with another nanny. It helps that we keep the routine pretty similar but I assure you it is a non issue. There may be an adjustment period and it may take a smidge longer than if it were a situation where every day was the same but I think as long as that one day a week provider is good it will be fine.

You could look at it in the same way as having day care and then hiring a sitter if that mentality makes it easier to wrap your mind around.

I would encourage you to look into a less traditional nanny situation. That might be a great situation for a sahm looking to earn a bit of side income. I would even consider having the person come to your house for part of the day and their own house for part or something like that.

Good Luck!
winniebee
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts

Mar 17, 2014

When I worked 4 days my son went to daycare 3 days and was with grandma another. Grandma watched him at my house which was great. So I say it's ok. The only thing I'm thinking might be hard is for you - different care providers to get used to and different rules etc.
Mrs. Pen
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts

Mar 17, 2014

I think it would be okay. J has a slew of childcare with my crazy work and school schedule. He usually does great with all of them.
Revel
pear / 1563 posts

Mar 17, 2014

I voted other because I think one day a week care might be hard to find, but I would try to just pick up care for just the one day a week. That seems like a less drastic transition for baby during the stranger anxiety phase.

I do think LO will adapt to whatever you decide. We use a combination of daycare, two different grandma's and then her days with us, and other than poor naps on the daycare days, she transitions through it all well.
Cherrybee
papaya / 10570 posts

Mar 17, 2014

E goes to her grandparents' house Mon-Weds then she's in nursery Thurs-Fri. She does just fine!
jetsa
grapefruit / 4663 posts

Mar 17, 2014

I work 4 days, DS stays with grama one and goes to daycare for 3 he's fine. He's done it since early on with no problems.

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Two different childcare providers confuse LO?

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