In sending DD to nursery when I am off anyway?

[Nurseryorno]

I could actually do with advice here as I’m a bit conflicted. DD is 19 months, and for context, we have no one to have her like grandparents or aunts. DH is pretty good but he does work until 7 when he’s in the office. Other days he WFH (this is relevant!)

I am a teacher. I was full time when I first went back after maternity leave as staffing was unstable but I managed to persuade them to let me drop a couple of days from September. So DD will do three days at nursery. Really pleased about this.

DD can attend half the time in school holidays, so two and a half days until September 1. We haven’t massively taken advantage of this before. We were on holiday October half term and Christmas, had a wedding in feb half term and then a holiday at Easter. She did go for a couple of days at May half term.

So I’m not sure now whether I should be sending her. I do feel like her behaviour deteriorates a bit at nursery. The staff are great but there’s just a lot going on. I’m also conscious she’s in one room most of the day. We have moved house and now have a big garden and I don’t have the stress of her disturbing DH as much as he’s in the office sometimes and also he has a separate office to work in (was in dining room before.)

However it is nice to get a break. And I’m worried if I don’t send her now until September it will be hard for her to go back.

Any thoughts on what’s best?

I always sent mine if I was off because I was paying for it, and I enjoyed some me time.

I would. Get some stuff done, keep up the consistency for her. Reduce the time if she's a bit worse behaviour wise but otherwise yes i would. You can be more flexible in the hols but 6 weeks is a long time, she'd have to settle back in otherwise.

When I worked as a TA I'd send DS through summer. It's good for them to keep up with their little friendships and the majority of kids parents don't work TTO so lots of kids in nursery all year round

Teacher here also. I still send mine, mainly as I'm paying anyway and it keeps the consistency and routine up. Mine would also be so bored. We do 8-1 at nursery, lunch at home and then a look out in the afternoon.

I didn't send mine. I only sent them when I had to and still felt guilty. I think it's probably a good idea to maintain some routine though, ready for September.

Teacher too. I'm sending mine apart from the weeks we're all away on holiday. I actually sent them some of the time in the other holidays too. It was really nice to have some time to myself (and some time to work so I could have evenings free). I plan to take advantage of it this year, before DC1 goes to school and is with me all holidays.

There are 100s of threads about this and the consensus is generally if you're paying for it, you might as well use it.

I send my DD in when I am on days off (shift worker) as I use the time to do housework/food shopping and generally rest. I've paid for it, she enjoys it and it means that time with her is spent with her not with me running around trying to do housework. ^^