To put DC3 in nursery 1 extra day to clean/save money ?

[specialk9]

DC3 (almost 3) is about to receive his 30 hours funding after Easter. This will save us £845 a month. He goes 3 days a week whilst we work. This money will go in to savings.

We pay a cleaner £60 a week / 3 hours. It takes 4 hours to clean our house.

On the 2 days I look after DC3 we go to a club, see family/friends and I do whatever cleaner doesn't finish, change the 4x beds and any other 'family' admin etc

Due to the funding we have the opportunity to put him in another day. We could cancel the cleaner and save approx £260 a month. I would then spend day 4 doing all the cleaning/changing beds etc. This money would go in to family pot for days out/treats etc.

We don't have the time / nor do we want to clean at the weekends. Saturdays are spent doing something together or with friends/family. Sundays DC1 (15) and DC2 (7) have sporting commitments.

Positives
All cleaning/beds done in one day
Save an extra £260 per month
I think I actually clean better 😆

Negatives
Lose 1 day a week with DC3 before he starts school (Sept 2025)

WWYD? Just feels a bit bad to put him in nursery another day to essentially clean !

Also just to clarify, I wouldn’t cancel the cleaner. You can afford it and are already saving £845 a month. I would keep the cleaner and enjoy the day with the toddler. It’s the ‘saving money’ bit that’s detracted from it. It’s saving fun money you don’t desperately need, to do the cleaning yourself and loose a day you enjoy with DC, I can’t see the appeal.

@TeaKitten are you honestly saying your view is the only one on here that counts, you’ve answered, threads over? Or do you think the OP was getting a consensus and wanting to listen to different viewpoints and perspectives?

Its only a 9-3pm session as well 🤷‍♀️

Lots of younger babies and toddlers are left for much longer, 8-6.30pm etc

OP I think it would be mad not to, it’s free hours available to you, it will make your life easier. I also don’t agree with others that child ‘having a lazy day’ at home without mums fulls attention is ‘good’ for them, can’t really see any benefits.

go for it

The extra 15 is for working people
I would probably increase from sept so a whole year pre school.

But think 4 hours cleaning in a day sounds excessive. Beds would take bout 30 min to make
Or as pp said get the older kid helping

OP, you do not need to justify to anyone else why you are using childcare or how much you use it! If your child enjoys being at nursery and the nursery has the space for them to do an extra day then I really do not see the problem!

I would do it. Means your ds has your full attention when you are there and nursery provides so much for them.

Your cleaner is £20/h? So expensive!

I would. My DS went to a termtime 9-3 nursery 4 times a week and he loved it!! Made him so socialable ready for school.

I would just keep it as it is if you can afford it. Have a cleaner and the time with ds. Sounds perfect!

You're arguing every post saying don't do it so hopefully this has helped make up your mind.

I became a sahm after originally being part time so Ds was used to being in nursery 3 days a week. When I stopped working we kept him in for one day at nursery for several reasons including that day to blitz the house and shop without a toddler needing any of my attention.

I think what you are proposing is a great idea. Although I might be tempted to keep the cleaner but cut the hours in half.

I think you want to do it but feel guilty.

Personally I’d rather have more time with my 3 year old and do some cleaning with them around and then try and fit in cleaning elsewhere/lower your standards but it’s your choice.

Will he be home in the school holidays or at childcare once he starts school? I think it’s great you don’t want him just watching tv whilst you clean but on the other hand it’s good for him to learn you have to do jobs and he can keep himself occupied with toys whilst you do short bursts.

Sorry. I'm not arguing? Just answering questions/stating facts.

4 days = 24 hours, he only does 9am - 3pm

Yes my cleaner is £20, we live just outside London.

Yes, it takes 4 hours to clean my house. 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, kitchen, downstairs toilet, play room + large dining/living area over 3 floors. Then 3x double beds + 1x super king.

Yes, my 15yo could definitely do more! She has a lot of extra curricular commitments so the time she has is homework/chill/seeing friends. But yes she should be cleaning her room / changing sheets. She does keep it very tidy.

He still goes to nursery in the holidays if we're in the country .I've omitted this in my figures so we'd still have to pay for that, but it would probably only be 4 weeks a year.

I think what a PP said about changing from September is a better idea.

I 100% do not want to clean with my toddler here. The small amount I do at the moment on those 2 days makes me feel guilty as he often follows me around wanting my attention. Or hindering my progress 🤭

He absolutely loves nursery so I have no concerns for him in that respect. Also my poor DC1 went 5 days a week, 8am - 6pm from 10m as we weren't in the same financial position. So he's been lucky in comparison!

Sounds like you’re decided then?

I wouldn’t. Wouldn’t you rather chill with your toddler - go for coffee or play group than clean your whole house? It’s not even that big a saving in the grand scheme

Also - kindly, I think you’re being a bit ott about needing to clean the whole house every week. Sure it’s nice to have a cleaner but it’s not strictly necessary.

I do it, but just for my own sanity. I have a very stressful job which I was going to walk away from if we hadn't put DS in nursery an extra day.

I don't think I would. If it takes 4 hours for one person to clean the whole house and there is your DH and 15yo (surely the 15yo at least changes their own bed?) you could just spend 1.5 hours cleaning on each day off and 15yo and DH the extra hour between them and you're done. The extra day at nursery would probably cost you something as you only get 30 hours free so wouldn't probably save you that much.

But you'd only have to 'ignore him' (most parents don't do this, they get DC joining in or just chat to them etc. while cleaning) for an hour and a half per day then have the rest of the day to spend with him or he could be in nursery all day and you'll get no time with him.

I don’t do a big clean all in one go like this - just as and when needed tbh each day a little bit usually around the kids when they’re playing etc. I wouldn’t put mine into nursery just to clean all day as I’d rather spend the extra day with him if he is at nursery three other days. But it’s not wrong if that’s what you wanted to do. Just time goes so fast and it won’t be long before he’s at school the five days.

Unless I've missed something, your basic question is whether you are BU to send your toddler to nursery for an extra day so you can spend it cleaning instead?

Depends how much you like cleaning, I suppose.

I would stick with your current arrangement and spent 20 minutes on Saturday with everyone pitching in to do the housework the cleaner doesn't and changing the beds. The toddler can surely be channelled into being helpful/thinking it's a game for 20 minutes? Then you can spend your days off with toddler.

I wouldn’t put him in nursery for an extra day. It’s difficult but just try to clean round him or keep ur cleaner if u can afford it or just lower ur standards a bit for a short while just do what u can. U will never ever get the time back with him being this little.

They are short days so YANBU to send your 3yo to nursery from 9am to 3pm 4 days a week. That's 24 hours a week and it's funded so it's not costing you other than meals and snacks.

YWBU to ditch your cleaner. Working (even if only part-time) and raising young children is hard work. There is always plenty to do around the house even when you have a cleaner - the meal planning, cooking, washing up / dishwasher, tidying, laundry, etc. Then there's life admin, errands, etc. My 3yo has recently started an extra day at preschool (9-3) while I'm not working, and so far I've filled those days with all sorts of things that are much easier to do without a child or two in tow. On occasion I even go for a swim and don't feel guilty. We have to look after ourselves too.

So (TL:DR) go for 4 short days in nursery and keep the cleaner!

PS I used to have a cleaner and she retired for health reasons, she was lovely and I miss her and having a clean house 😭 I need to find a new one but it's tricky!

I would do it. I have 2 young kids (and the same number of rooms to clean) and totally get what you're saying about not giving them your full attention. Plus it's impossible to get the job even half finished with constant breaks for drinks/snacks/bum wiping/tantrums etc...
Do what works for you, no need to justify yourself!