Having a toddler and a newborn at home

[pegasus02]

I'm expecting my second this summer, and am wondering whether to continue having DD (who will be just over 2) go to nursery 4 days a week, or move her up to 5 days. For context, she's lovely but also a strong-willed and needy little person and a terrible sleeper, so I'm usually knackered after my day off with her each week. Finance is not an issue - it's more feeling guilty about moving her up to 5 days when I'm home.

What have other parents done? In particular, those with high-needs toddlers? I'll need to let the nursery know ASAP if I want to move DD to 5 days, so unfortunately don't have the luxury of waiting and see.

Thanks all.

5 mornings a week once your baby was 4 months old and your older child had reached the age for pre school isn’t really the same as 5 full days at nursery for a 2 year old.

@BenScalesIsAGod the difference is I wasn't on maternity leave. I didn't work, didn't need to put my child in any child care situation. I chose to for 1 full day when he was 18 months old, before that he was in 3 full days because I worked part time.

I increased it to 2 days to give me a break from dealing with 2 children.

The thing is, you can't win. My sons are almost 17 and almost 14. I have been on MN for 14 years. No matter what choice you make someone will be saying something negative about it. Why can't we all just say, well that isn't for me but that is not my life.

Lots of babies/children are in full time childcare. My sister worked full time from when her son was 10 weeks old, had to, her job doesn't pay maternity pay. My Mum looked after my nephew for 2 weeks until a nursery would take him. I don't judge her for that. Or the teachers whose babies are in full time nursery when they return to work.

Do what is right for you, for your family. Why do we have to tear each other down?

That’s still a lot less than 5 full days!

I work and my DS is in nursery (part time). I wouldn’t increase his hours to 9 hours a day, 5 days a week if I was working less than normal and he had a new sibling.

The OP has clearly decided she’s increasing the hours anyway. It’s no one else’s business but she did ask for opinions!