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Original poster

Nursery drop off with newborn and toddler?

54 replies

ShirleyPhallus · 26/05/2022 20:27

I’m expecting our second child soon and starting to think panic about logistical stuff. One of those questions is how to do the nursery drop off for the older one.

There is a proper enclosed car park at nursery but I am wondering what you do with the little one while dropping the big one off? It seems a bit silly to take them out of the car seat and inside for what is a 2 minute job but then I don’t feel comfortable leaving the baby and am not sure it’s legally on anyway.

What do people do? We have a car seat that you can remove from the car but it’s a cybex one that is really heavy and I’ll have had a c section so don’t feel like that’s a great option. Is the only option really to take the baby in with you and deal with the fallout?

OP posts:
MyHusbandIsVeryStupid · 26/05/2022 20:51

10m? I’d get the staff to meet you at the door and just nip the toddler there and leave baby in the car.

NerrSnerr · 26/05/2022 20:53

When we did this we just carried the baby. If the baby was asleep we took him in the car seat, if awake we just took him in. It only takes seconds to clip a newborn into a car seat so wasn't a big deal.

Caspianberg · 26/05/2022 20:54

I don’t know about yours, but our nursery wouldn’t let a pram inside as it’s a no shoes zone. So shoes or dirty pram wheels wouldn’t be allowed. And I you have to go inside and drop something off/ sign something it’s probably easier just sling or baby in arms

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Original poster
ShirleyPhallus · 26/05/2022 20:54

tryingtosettle · 26/05/2022 20:50

You've said the parking spaces are 10 metres from the front door, and I'm assuming its not a labyrinth of tunnels inside the nursery itself, so yes, seems like you're making a mountain out of a molehill. Pick baby up out of car seat and pop in a sling, or use the pushchair, or just carry the baby. Really seems like a non issue.

Show quote history

Grin It’s like four posts on a chat forum filled with equally banal and inconsequential issues so thank you for your helpful feedback but you might wanna scroll on by, some of the responses have actually been helpful

OP posts:
Original poster
ShirleyPhallus · 26/05/2022 20:56

SatinHeart · 26/05/2022 20:50

I think if you can't carry the car seat then pram is the best option - can you fold it with the adaptors on? Also could nursery staff meet you at the front door so you don't have to try and get in with the pram?
If not, I think a sling is probably the way forward. I had to do it with DC2 when taking DC1 to nursery. It was a total arse, and i hadn't had a c section to deal with as well

It was a total arse

Isnt it! It’s like the conundrum of when to fill up petrol / other such stuff when the baby is asleep and you don’t wanna lug them out of their car seat across the forecourt

I think a sling is the best way forward with husband doing the early weeks, thanks for all the advice!

OP posts:
Namechangedforspooky · 26/05/2022 20:58

I had a section second time round. Poor dd2 was lugged around over my shoulder for weeks until I was able to carry the car seat.
You can’t leave her in the car while you drop off. Our nursery would take a very dim view of that

its frustrating though but part and parcel of being a second child. You get used to waking the younger one mid nap to put them in the car for swimming lessons etc. it’s that or the older one misses out…

Caspianberg · 26/05/2022 20:58

Ps for petrol, I always go to self service places. Just pay at the pump. No need to move baby/ toddler then

MouldBuster · 26/05/2022 20:58

ShirleyPhallus · 26/05/2022 20:45

Fucksticks yes I totally forgot that, I suppose this actually won’t be an issue as I won’t be able to drive anyway! An issue for the DH then ;)

Show quote history

Excellent, he can work out the logistics and then let you know. My husband drove my older one while I couldn't and I stayed home with the baby. By the time I could drive I was then ok with the seat but was very careful with lifting it in and out the car.

Good luck with your c section!

TrashPanda · 26/05/2022 20:59

I left baby in the car for nursery drop off. I could see the car from the door, older child went in with no fuss so it probably took about 90 seconds between me getting out of the car and back in again plus it's a private enclosed car park for nursery only. School I wouldn't be able to see the car and from where I was going, it took probably 5 minutes plus and parking was on road so I had a stretchy wrap I put on before I left home, I'd grab them out of the seat and chuck them in the wrap. Once bigger they'd go in the buggy or just be carried depending on weather. There's currently a twin mum at nursery who carries her two babies in car seats each morning and to do this she leaves both the gates undone to make it easier for her but that obviously makes it very unsafe for the kids who could get out into the car park. It also takes her hugely longer as she's carrying two heavy bulky items, she'd be much quicker and safer all round to leave them in the car.

NoNameIdeas · 26/05/2022 20:59

If you're having a c section you won't be able to drive straight away anyway, once you can drive you'll be able to carry the car seat, especially if it is so close by

TrashPanda · 26/05/2022 21:01

I'd also leave baby in the car to pay for petrol, safer than walking them across the forecourt, my card doesn't work with pay at pump.

Lou98 · 26/05/2022 21:05

Do you know any of the other parents that drop off at the same time as you? You could ask them to either take your toddler in from the car park or to watch baby in the car while you quickly drop them off.

My second baby is due in 7 weeks but my Son's only just turned 1 and isn't walking yet so I still have to carry him in so I'm planning on putting baby in a sling as I wouldn't be able to carry him and the car seat and similarly to you I think the pram is a faff when it's just 2 seconds away but equally I wouldn't leave my baby in the car when I can't see them 100% of the time

BananaPie · 26/05/2022 21:05

I used to carry the car seat with me or just bring the baby if he was awake. Second children quickly get used to being dragged round the place / fitting in with routines / being moved halfway through naps / being completely abandoned in their cot while you deal with the older one. They generally turn out to be slightly more chilled out because of it. You are probably over thinking it.

ReadtheFT · 26/05/2022 21:06

Can't you just hold the baby in your arms? A bit silly to mess about with carseat and pushchair for the sake of 10 m.

DuggeeHugPlease · 26/05/2022 21:09

Do you have to go inside the nursery or just drop at the door?
Ours is still dropping at the door since covid so if that's the case and you are in sight of the car I'd leave the baby inside. I did that when dropping/collecting my older one when the baby was tiny. I'd carry her in my arms occasionally if she was awake and fussing/crying but usually she'd be asleep so I left her.
Nursery was on private grounds and the door was right next to the parking spaces.

Original poster
ShirleyPhallus · 26/05/2022 21:18

MouldBuster · 26/05/2022 20:58

Excellent, he can work out the logistics and then let you know. My husband drove my older one while I couldn't and I stayed home with the baby. By the time I could drive I was then ok with the seat but was very careful with lifting it in and out the car.

Good luck with your c section!

Show quote history

Thank you Flowers

OP posts:
Remmy123 · 26/05/2022 21:20

Baby in arms.

you will manage and wonder why you worried about it

scrivette · 26/05/2022 21:20

Once I could drive after c section I would leave the baby in the car park at school and drop off the elder ones. I could see the car at all times and was only out of the car a minute or so.

Readtheroom · 26/05/2022 21:22

maybe you could park a bit away from the nursery and and then walk the rest of the way

FreeButtonBee · 26/05/2022 21:23

I had twin toddlers and a newborn. That said I didn’t most stuff on foot so most of the nutters are strapped in

but when I did eg classes I put baby in sling (loosely) to car, kept the sling on in the car and then popped baby back in the sling at the car park before getting the toddlers out of the car.

BobbinHood · 26/05/2022 21:26

If you can’t carry a car seat 10m you can’t drive.

WalkerWalking · 26/05/2022 21:26

If the toddler is a proper dump and run job, like less than 2 minutes all in, then I'd leave the baby in the car. I might not admit to it on MN though 😉

Alternatively, if I knew I was gonna be v quick, then I might ask another parent if they minded standing by the car and keeping an eye on the baby while I dashed the toddler inside. But heads up- some people very much will mind.

(in practice, all mine HATED the car with a vengeance, so I'd be snatching them out the car seat the minute I got out the car, just to stop the screaming!)

mindutopia · 26/05/2022 21:30

I would just take toddler to the door and leave baby in the car in the secure car park you can see from the door. I have never taken one child out to drop the other one at nursery. The door was literally 30 feet from the car. I have occasionally not taken the younger one out to walk older one to school either. Car is literally 20 feet from the school gate. It’s as safe as parking in the drive and bringing a bag of shopping in for 10 seconds. It’s as safe or safer surely than bringing them with you, as you could trip and fall or get hit by a car walking across the car park.

Salome61 · 26/05/2022 21:30

I went to collect my daughter from nursery in Twickenham many moons ago, nice safe side road to park in. I was really tired and very tempted to leave my son in the car, but did take him in with me. When I got back to the car, a thief had broken the passenger front window and taken my handbag - stupidly I'd left it in the front well of the car. Glass everywhere, the seat belt was full of it. Never risk leaving your baby in the car.

SecondhandTable · 26/05/2022 21:36

Can't your DH just do drop offs and collections until it is easier for you when baby is a bit bigger or you return to work even? My DH has done every drop off since DC2 was born (before then we split it, I used to do 2/3 and him 1/3). He does almost all the collections too (he always did).

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