To have older child in nursery when on maternity leave?

104 replies

Darkmoons · 12/11/2022 14:16

My son will be just over two and a half when his sibling arrives, and I am a bit worried about how to manage both their needs. He currently attends nursery for three days a week - is it reasonable to keep this up, or reduce, take out altogether … interested to hear what most people do?

OP posts:

libraryday · 13/11/2022 17:18

Beees · 12/11/2022 14:17

Definitely keep him in and feel no guilt about it if you can afford it! It's so much better if be keeps his routine and it gives you much needed time with baby.

Agree wholeheartedly with this. It's good to keep consistency.
I might reduce to 2 days if it was me.

luxxlisbon · 13/11/2022 17:27

Abracadabra12345 · 13/11/2022 16:55

Your eldest is in nursery FULLTIME when you’re at home with the baby? 😮 You must tell yourself they love nursery very, very much, much more than spending an extra day with you..

OP, I think I’d be tempted by the 3 days at nursery, it’s a good balance and you can always do early pick ups which apparently is the hardest part of the nursery day. Be aware of changes in the older ones’ behaviour because baby is at home with Mummy.

Im kind of open mouthed at all these posts really. I was a childminder and had 2 weeks‘ maternity leave with my second child before taking back the ft 2 year old I was looking after, so 3 under fives. Who was probably ADHD.. Zero family support. So this seems the height of luxury, but if you can afford it and know your child is happy, plus needing to keep their place, then why not? Especially as you are finally having the maternity leave you were robbed of first time round. I totally get it and hope you enjoy every minute of it

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No idea why you are taking such personal issue with my post?

First of all I have to continue to pay for full time nursery anyway, the option is not there to reduce it. There will be early pick ups, the odd day here and there when we have a lazy day at home or go and do something but DC1 got alone time with me during their first year, why shouldn’t the second get the same luxury?
Her full time day of when I’m working is only about 8:30 to 4:30 3 days and then 2 shorter days anyway.
A day at nursery is much more stimulating for a toddler than having to be constantly mindful of the noise while the baby naps or stuck to the sofa BFing 100 times a day and not actually being able to give DC1 proper attention.

Original poster

Darkmoons · 13/11/2022 17:30

I get that @Hugasauras but equally I don’t want to be out of the house all day every day in all weathers, to be honest.

OP posts:

mn29 · 13/11/2022 19:03

Bintymcbintface · 13/11/2022 16:20

It kinda saddens me that this is done. "Let's have another kid, but dump the other one off because we can get someone to watch them for free"

I've already said it but, why have more than one child if you only want one around at any one time? It seems really harsh and mean

How ridiculous. OP and most other posters said they kept them in PART TIME. Means that the older child can keep their routine, baby gets some undivided attention and IME older child gets better interaction with mother when they’ve had a little break and aren’t doing it 24/7. Sounds like a win for everyone involved to me.

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