To send DS to nursery on a day I am not working?

[pontipinemum]

Would it be really bad to send my son to nursery on one of the days I'm not working?

I normally work 3 days a week but since around Feb I had a project so I was doing 4. Luckily nursery could accommodate this. The project is due to end in early June. But the nursery is still booked for 4 days.

I'm due baby 2 in mid August (although prob July with health). I am thinking of still sending DS1 to nursery for 4 days and having a day either to myself, or cleaning, getting baby clothes ready/ batch cooking.

I feel a bit bad though. But DS is 1.5yr old I won't get much anything done if he stays. Which is fine I love spending our days together doing things he likes.

EDIT to add I don't get much done on the weekends either DH is a farmer and is super busy this time of year so most childcare is on me until things quite down again

YABU - Don't send him to nursery if you are not working
YANBU - Take the day off, it doesn't make you a bad mother

I know Mumsnet is obsessed with the idea that children don't have friends until they are 3/4 but that's 100% not my experience.

My older one definitely had a friend at 18 months, his key worker commented on it and it was obvious from their interactions. Not just parallel play either, they played all sorts of little games together.

I think the people who say that they only have friends later don't have children in nursery and are just going on playgroups where children only see each other once a week for a couple of hours and of course it takes longer to develop a connection

I'm a teacher and our nursery didn't do term time only. So I used to put DC1 and then DC2 in in the holidays same time as usual (3 days a week) on the grounds I was paying for it anyway.

Often I would pick them up early afternoon when they'd just had lunch and we'd go off and do something. Meanwhile, I'd zipped round the house in the morning, done a wash, got dinner organised and maybe even had a sit down for an hour with a book and a cup of tea!

Sometimes I left them there for the full day and met a friend for lunch, went round the art gallery, etc. As a result, I also felt I'd had a bit of a break too when I went back to work (and the house had been pulled back from the brink ready for another term of neglect!).

In your situation OP I'd take the full day every week if you have the chance and make the most of it, whatever you decide to do with it. I did an extra day a week at work for a while when pregnant with DC2 and it really took it out of me.

Well, what was the outcome of this tattletaling? What did MN say? What was the verdict? Guilty of sockpuppetry or not?

Don't question yourself. I don't know about everyone but I know how much I benefit from a few hours a week where I'm not immediately responsible for my LO. I don't feel guilty admitting I often schedule after school club for my day off. I need that 7? Hours a week where I'm not either solo parenting, or working in a high pressure job where I'm not infrequently called due to my son's SEN.

If you can afford to continue nursery 4 days a week, stick with it. It will only be weeks before you're in a whole different chapter of your life as a family of 4 and alone time will be far less easy to find. I think it's important to make sure we have time for ourselves when we can, even as a parent who hasn't spent a night sway from their 6yo!

I work in a nursery and I’ve seen a few parents do this. If he is enjoying it and it gives you a bit of a break then I don’t see why not

Yes I was noticing @Chirawehaha had gone quiet, too.

Mind blowing arrogance to think two people can't possibly both think you're wrong.

We meet up with his little bestie over the Easter holidays. TBF it was mostly me trying to make a mum friend! But he got so so excited to see her. Ran over, hugged her and held hands. Then off they went to play. He absolutely knew who she was

Thanks, she's going to have a very long road ahead and I'm an only child. It looks like she will be coming to stay with me I'm not sure how long once she is released from hospital. She rents at an exorbitant amount so if she can't work she can't rent. So I'm pretty stressed currently!! Also doesn't help that I have an anterior placenta can't feel this baby properly at all. I get a little jolt once a day if I'm lucky.

OP, I had an anterior placenta for my first so I know how annoying that can be!

If ever you are worried, I always used to get a glass of orange juice or Lucozade, drink it, lie on my side for 20 mins and usually I could feel some small movements - but i would have to really be quiet and concentrate to notice them!

Hope that helps. All the best!

@Mullercornerbliss I have gestational diabetes so no sugar. But I do have really cold drinks and try rub my stomach to make him move. It sometime works. I def had an elbow or foot sticking out last night.

Wishing you all the best @pontipinemum!

I wish I had worried less and enjoyed my two pregnancies more. Easier said than done I know!

And definitely send your little one to nursery for that extra day