To send DD to nursery on Christmas Eve?

[Iwantquavers]

DD was a year old end of November and she goes to nursery FT. I’m a teacher and because of us being away on holiday for half term and for the first week of January, we haven’t actually had any time where she’s been in nursery and I’m off work - in other words, I’ve either been at work or had DD with me since starting in September.

This year we finish on the 23rd December. We get paid on the 25th, this year that’s a Saturday and Christmas Day anyway, so will be paid on the 24th. I really need to do some last minute shopping and it would be much faster and less stressful to do it without DD. I’m also genuinely wondering if she might prefer to be in nursery than in her pushchair going round the shops.

But I’m worried she’ll be the only baby there and the staff might prefer to be with their own families. Any thoughts?

@Youdoyoutoday I can't get the quote to work...

These particular parents were not working but since they had paid for the day, they left their children all day. If memory serves, one was a teacher and one was on Mat leave. This is why we now close at 2 and don't charge anyone for the afternoon. We did give working parents a chance to ask for childcare if they were really struggling for the afternoon but no one has needed it.

@Tillsforthrills

To be clear there’s no issue with sending them in at all especially as in the case of OP.

The issue is people saying their DC would prefer it. That part is not right.

All children are different, why do you think that by default children would always rather be at home or with a parent?

If they are open and it's her usual day to go and assuming you've paid for it then I'd send her. Your baby has no idea what day it is. I'm sure there will be others in! It's a normal working day for a lot of people!

I don't think I ever took a day off work and put my son in nursery - but he was really easy to look after, and low maintenance, so it was no problem doing stuff with him around. However, you do whatever suits you! My stepdaughter has a very high maintenance son and she offloads him whenever she can for a break/to get things done (as would I!).

If the nursery is open I would assume they want the income. I would send her in. Maybe pick her up a bit earlier than normal but I would not feel bad about it

I wouldn't but then I'm at the other end of the spectrum and not sending DS2 on the 23rd either as DS1 will be finished school so at home anyway. Depends on the child though, he's not a huge fan of nursery so is buzzing to be having extra "mummy days"!

Please don't feel guilty. She won't be the only one and hit the shops early and pick her up early.

Another year you can do the Christmas things she will remember - bake stuff, get stockings ready etc.

Last December pre lock down (2020) I took a day of work, kept my son in nursery and wandered slowly round shops enjoying peace to do so and even had lunch out.

If you have 3 weeks getting the quality time needed, then please don't feel guilty about sending her in for a half day.
It'll be more fun for her at nursery then rushing around the shops and the mayhem that will be.

@Itsnearlyxmas I'm another whose DD has never gone to bed before 8:30pm - if I let her she'd stay up later. DH & I work til at least 6pm so her dinner doesn't start til 6:45pm. 6pm bedtime seems very early to me!

What time do your children get up that go to bed at 8.30pm? Bathtime and story at 6pm DGD is asleep by 7pm and up again at 6am. 8.30pm seems quite late to me for little ones.
If you all had a little more evening to yourself to get things done you might not need to use nurseries on Xmas Eve.

Children learn from all sorts of experiences. Seeing Christmas lights and decorations would be really fun for her. If you haven't a penny until Xmas Eve though, then honestly the present spending sounds like a terrible idea. Use the money as a base for savings so you have a little put by when needed. Your DD doesn't know to expect presents, focus instead on the Christmas food, decorations and fun.

Itsnearlyxmas
I also wouldn’t see DD on work days . She wakes up at 6-6:30am. Always has done. No matter what time she goes to sleep, which is never earlier than 8pm no matter what we’ve done in the day or what time the bed time routine starts. She’s never needed 12 hours, is happy, developing well, and has found her own sleep pattern.

Why is your way right and ours not? As someone who works in childcare surely you’re aware that all children and families are different. 6pm suits your grandchild but would be ridiculously early to us.

I think sending a child to bed at 6pm on Christmas Eve seems a bit sad as I love spending the evening with her, but I wouldn’t judge someone else for whom that works. And I have no desire to be peeling spuds and driving round delivering presents late on Christmas Eve thank you very much. I want to be sat cozy on the sofa eating nice food, chatting with my DD while she’s still up and relaxing with DH while she’s not. Previously we did it in the morning while she had fun with her friends and nursery staff that were happy to have her there. Now she’s at school we’d split it and one of us would take her out (expect PIL are hosting so we can do whatever we like instead).

I really don’t understand the difference between wanting a few peaceful hours to get things done in the morning and putting your child to bed earlier so you can have a few extra hours in the evening. except that one option works for us and one doesn’t

You’ve made it quite clear you wouldn’t send a child to nursery on Christmas Eve. That’s fine, the OP asked. Others have said the same but that they don’t see an issue with someone else doing it. I’m not sure why you keep telling the rest of us we are wrong though. We know our children and you won’t convince us to do things your way. No need to feel sorry for our very loved children who are going to have a lovely Christmas.

Send her in if it's open and you've already paid for it! We always did - need to make the most of child-free time (we had zero family support so our only opportunity to have childfree time was when we were on leave/nursery open).

It was invaluable for getting things done much quicker, therefore making the most of the time you are with them. Plus, make some you time - you've been working and got a young child, that's double hard work. Two years ago (DD's last year in nursery) I went on a half day at the spa two days before Xmas as my work was closed and nursery open - 3 months later when we were plunged into the hell of lockdown and nursery closed I was so glad I'd made the most of that opportunity to recharge.

@Itsnearlyxmas

What time do your children get up that go to bed at 8.30pm? Bathtime and story at 6pm DGD is asleep by 7pm and up again at 6am. 8.30pm seems quite late to me for little ones. If you all had a little more evening to yourself to get things done you might not need to use nurseries on Xmas Eve.

Almost like all children are different, absolute shocker.

When we put her in on Xmas Eve but weren't working we'd pick up at 2pm (nursery open until 6.30pm) to take her to the crib service.

Nursery usually asked in advance whether people wanted a space that day and what time they planned to pick up for staff and food planning purposes - bear in mind that nursery staff tend to be hourly paid rather than salaried so they'll be sent home as soon as numbers allow so won't earn as much for that day as a 'normal' day.

Toastmost you said it much more succinctly than me

I’m looking forward to the mythical 7pm bedtime. Has not happened yet. Or if it does she wakes constantly!

We have money in our joint account and DDs presents are paid for. I just want to get a few bits for DH and his parents - and for the nursery staff! But it actually looks like we get paid a bit earlier this year - hurrah.

I work in a nursery that is open until 1pm on Christmas Eve. I’m looking forward to seeing their excited wee faces that day. I think it’ll be good fun . We are expecting a third of our normal children in approx 10 children rather than 30 on a normal Friday, most parents have said they will have a last minute dash to shops to get organised that day.

@Itsnearlyxmas

What time do your children get up that go to bed at 8.30pm? Bathtime and story at 6pm DGD is asleep by 7pm and up again at 6am. 8.30pm seems quite late to me for little ones. If you all had a little more evening to yourself to get things done you might not need to use nurseries on Xmas Eve.

@Itsnearlyxmas My DD goes to bed at 8:30pm then up at 7:30am. 11hrs sleep is normal for her age. I'm quite happy to spend my evenings with DD - I work till 6pm so if she went to bed then I wouldn't see her. I have to work on Christmas Eve which is why she will go to nursery that day. Not sure how useful evening time is for Christmas shopping - you can't leave a child in bed & head out...

At her age, she won’t know the difference! Send her in by all means!

If your nutsery is open, then send her!
Lucky you they do not close early for Christmas! I never had any cover for this season with mine!
If she is the only one, better! So staff in the nursery can chill, chat, have a mince pie and sing carols with your little one.
I think you are overthinking it.
And you must go and get yourself a coffee.

Mine also had far more fun at nursery than she'd have had at home. I remember the week before Christmas as a kid with my mum getting more and more martyrish about Xmas prep and me feeling more and more miserable and anxious about it. Whereas I refuse to go overboard on Xmas prep and DD went to nursery each year and had a wonderful time.

She's now Y1 and DH is a SAHD but we've booked her into holiday club for 3 days next week as she needs something fun to do and he needs a break. The school holiday is 18 days long which is plenty of time for her to be at home with us (I'll be working for some of that).

I always used to send ds. Usually I had to work, but once when I didn't. It was a service that was offered and I had paid for so I didn't think twice about it. And where ds went it was usually half full so I doubt your dc will be the only one, and even if she is then so what? Lots of one on one time is no bad thing.

Send her in. Enjoy the time & get your jobs done. She won't be on her own and will have a fine time.

@Iwantquavers

I’m looking forward to the mythical 7pm bedtime. Has not happened yet. Or if it does she wakes constantly!

We have money in our joint account and DDs presents are paid for. I just want to get a few bits for DH and his parents - and for the nursery staff! But it actually looks like we get paid a bit earlier this year - hurrah.

Still waiting here and DC1 is 5 😆 They both only ever sleep 11 hours. Plus I don’t want to get up before 6.30am either!

PP would have a heart attack in Spain, last time I went there was a kids party still going on the beach at 11pm…