What nursery pattern 3.5 yr old when new baby arrives?

[mummyagainin2016]

I'm expecting #2, due in May. My son will be just over 3.5 by then. He currently goes to private nursery 3 days a week while I work. He will start a school nursery place (mornings) in September this year and reception class in September 2017.
I'm considering nursery options for when the new baby arrives.
Options are:

• Mon-Fri AM only (830 or 9 until 1130 or noon)
  
• Mon-Fri PM only (1230 until 3 or 4)
  

We could also add one or two full days ie 830-4 or 9-530

All nurseries are a 10 min drive from home.

Trying to remember what it was like with a newborn last time.... and anticipate what will work best for the very early days and a few months in, in terms of newborn naps, playgroups, classes and activities for the older child, fitting in lunch etc.....

Thanks!

[PennyHasNoSurname]

My dd started preschool a month after ds arrived and we chose afternoons. 12.30-3.30 (though everyone xan collect from 3.15). It worked well as I could then have an afternoon nap with the baby.

If your DS is still having an afternoon sleep though Id go for mornings and you can still have a snooze.

[SerenityReynolds]

We have kept DD doing the same days as she did when I was at work to minimise disruption as much as possible for her. It means we can also do the classes we always have done on my days off. Might be worth looking into what days and times the baby/toddler groups you might want to do are on as well?

If I was to do half days, I would probably do afternoons as that's when any baby related tiredness hits me and looking after a toddler is hard work! Plus, you don't have to rush to get everyone ready in the mornings.

[mummyagainin2016]

Good point about afternoon tiredness Serenity! Thanks.

[mummyagainin2016]

Anyone else pls?

[Marzipants]

What time do most of the baby groups run? If you commit to afternoons you might find that most groups are in the mornings, and having a 3.5/4yo with you will limit what you can attend.

[resipsa]

I had my second in July and kept the older one in the same schedule as before (3 days a week) to minimise disruption all round. It also meant she didn't lose out on her usual activities on other days. I found that keeping the older one happy was harder work than the newborn

[GingerNutRiskIt]

We chose afternoons, as I was uncertain about getting the two of them ready on time for mornings. It worked perfectly for us, DS1 would nap as soon as he got home at 3:30 for an hour or so and DS2 would normally fall asleep on the way home too. And on days where DS2 would still be sleeping in the mornings, DS1 would jump into bed with me and watch CBeebies while I snoozed for a bit longer.

[ThatsNotMyHouseItIsTooClean]

I'd leave yourself one day without nursery so that you can have days out with your DC without worrying about rushing. I'd also have one day when your DD spends the whole day at nursery as then, once you've dropped her off, you've got six hours in which to do nothing other than look after the baby.

[mummyagainin2016]

Thanks Thatsnotmyhouse. Another good point.
Others have said definitely get one full day with just baby and a friend also enjoys having one full day with both her baby and older one so I'll do both I think.

I'm leaning towards having him do 3 x mornings which would be 8:30-12, one full day which would be 8:30-4 and the final day off with me and the baby.

Might switch mornings to afternoons but would then leave less time to do activities before nursery?

[whatsoever]

I'm in a similar position. DS is 3, DD is due imminently. He currently does 4 full days (as pre mat leave I worked 4 days; DH works FT). We're thinking DS will go down to 2 full days and I'm going to try and make it days there are groups I could only take DD to and the days I have him at home are days there are nice toddler groups/sessions we could go to all 3 of us."

Difference I guess is that DS isn't moving to a school nursery as it would be wholly impractical when I go back to work & the hours kind of feel like as soon as drop off has been done, it's pick up time again?

[Fugghetaboutit]

I've got a newborn and a 3 year old.

Currently he goes in 3 mornings 8-1pm a week but I've upped it from February to 1 full day and 2 mornings and 1 afternoon as I can't stimulate him much right now with new baby and he gets so much out of nursery. Plus when he gets home at 1pm he's still full of beans

[mummyagainin2016]

Thanks fugghet and whatsoever.
We're in a real dilemma re: options here and absolutely have to decide today but am thinking we'll keep DS where he is for now and leave school nursery (and the associated wrapround) til September. The current setting works out a bit cheaper too and as I only get stat mat pay this time that helps.
So, he'll do 2 x AM or PM and 1 x full day (8:30-4) and hopefully one further AM or PM when a slot becomes available.

[AvocadoOnToast]

You're in exactly the same position as I was a year ago - DD2 was born last May and we moved DD1 from private nursery to school pre-school in September. She does 3 full days (9-3). We found that it worked really well to keep her in a familiar environment for the first few months after DD2 was born. The days there were longer too which was good for me getting to grips with a newborn again.

I would definitely recommend at least one full day - it's good to have that time with the baby, and also the sessions seem so short that no sooner have you taken them in then you're off to pick them up again!