Taking DD out of CM whilst I'm on Maternity leave?

[smackapacka]

Couldn't think how to word this title but basically I'm mulling over my options and would appreciate thoughts.

I'm due another baby Dec 09. My DD will be 22 months. She goes to CM twice a week at the moment, for the rest of the week she's here with me or DH.

I'm planning on taking 6 months maternity leave, and on return to work the plan is that my MIL will have both children for one day, and ideally my CM will have them both on the other day.

So - whilst I'm on mat leave should I aim to keep DD in for at lest one session per week? She was previously at a nursery and has never had any sepearation issues, and seems a really happy confident little girl. Once I'm on mat leave money will be even tighter so I'm inclined just to take her out completely and hope for the best in April 2010 when they both go back.

Any experiences or thoughts please?

My two were 19 months apart.

DS1 was with a cm for 1.5 days before mat leave this is pretty much what I did:

first 6 weeks:
My lovely cm would pick him up for about 2 hours a day and drop him off (I slept)

next 9 months:
He went for 2 half days

then when I went back he went back to 1.5 days.

The bonus of keeping him in:

1. He remained close with CM
2. He had fun time on his own
3. I got to sleep
4. DS2 got some attention all on his own

the only downside was the money!

It might be pot luck getting another CM or the same one when you need care again, other consideration is that CM may not be able to guarantee the places you need so far into the future, most would charge a retainer, especially as would be reduced to 1 day, and I am presuming your DD would be possibly starting nursery sessions shortly after resuming care, theres the continuity issue as well for your DD, I can appreciate the dilema though I would suggest that if your DD is happy with current CM, and if CM is willing to reduce current day to two 1/2 day sessions so gap isn't too big between sessions, gives you some rest / quality time with new baby and will give DD her own independant time.

Those are really helpful points. I'm really reluctant to lose my CM as I think she's excellent, but on the other hand the nursery I used was equally sucessful. I only took DD out becuase my job changed location. So there's a part of me that thinks that she can cope with the risk of a new childminder/nursery after mat leave.

I love the benefits of keeping her in whilst on mat leave but money would be SO short after 8 weeks of full pay that it would make it so difficult.

MMMM tricky!