Would you send your child to nursery if you didn't have to?

[idontknow54789]

I'm currently on mat leave with DS2 and DS1 (3) goes to nursery. Cases are very very high in our area. Would you send DS1 to nursery next week if you didn't have to? I have no underlining health conditions and neither does DP but I'd obviously really rather not get covid with two young children and would rather not have to isolate if there's a case at his nursery. Plus it'll be quite unsettling for him to go back for a few days and it then be closed again. But I'd really like some time with DS2, my partner is back at work next week and we pay a lot of money for nursery for him not to go. Plus the obvious benefits of him seeing other children etc. What would you do??

I work in a nursery, we are in an area where schools are closed but we are open. We have 48 children on roll and so far we have 25 children not being sent in for the next 2 wks

I could write this exact post - dd is 3 and I have a five week old. In an area with high numbers. If nursery is open next week I'll definitely send her - no doubt!!

We have a three year old at nursery and a 1 year old at home. My three year old will not be going to nursery. Not so much as a risk to us but to help protect staff and reduce spread. I feel everyone makes a difference with the current hospital situation. I will re evaluate in February.

It's so miserable here (weather wise) - it's hard keeping her entertained without too much tv - she really needs some different activities

No chance.

I could have written this post. However we are not in a high number area (at the moment, I'm sure things will change) and our cases don't seem to be going up in our local hospital.
So yes I'm sending her in. But I'm petrified and I don't want her to go in for a week and then end up off for 2.
Lockdown 1 was awful for us, she ended up petrified of other people, she still won't share and hates playing with other children but she thrives at nursery, so while our cases are low, I think the best thing for her is to go in.
But if cases were high I don't think I'd be sending her in.

Ive got a 2yr old and 3yr old that should be going to preschool, ive told preschool not to expect them for at least 2 weeks. No way am i sending them when the numbers are so high. I will be homeschooling their 5yr old brother so may as well keep everyone home and do our part in stopping community spread and help the NHS, our local hospital is at capacity and sending covid patients to hospitals 100's of miles away.

I think it's unfair to send them in unnecessarily. The nurseries need more space for people that need to be there.

I like to think I have a balanced attitude to risk. I know nobody in my house is vulnerable and I’m not worried about contracting Covid necessarily.

But if I wasn’t working and I didn’t have to send DS in then I wouldn’t.

We aren’t in tier 4 currently so are keeping our 3 year old at nursery even though we don’t need it for childcare. I’ve had COVID so it’s possible our child has also had it. We are still trying to decide at what point we would stop sending nursery. It’s really tough because the benefits of nursery for 3-4 year olds with no siblings to play with are pretty huge in a lockdown but it’s also really important to try and reduce risk for staff.

I probably wouldn’t send him in but totally get why you’re in a dilemma. It’s such a tricky decision especially the one you make about potentially going back for a week and then being sent home. On the other hand, a week with your new baby alone would be lovely if you have 2+ weeks with both kids on the horizon.

My baby was born in lockdown 1.0 and we had all
Our kids home for the first 6 weeks- I did send my second youngest back when Early years setting were opened back up but the difference then was that the numbers were super low at that point.

No I would not. Why add extra unnecessary risk? and as pp said you will be helping staff.

Yes. I have a three (4in March) and a 15month old. The 3yr old needs to go to "mix"with other children and play and learn and not be squabbling with brother. The littlest needs the time alone with me to explore and play without being told no mine and to play how he wants and not told he's doing it wrong.

My 6 year old is off school my husband working and me working too so I have to send in my 2 year old ... it is not physically possible to do everything and I nearly crashed last time ..... my husband is working with the public each day so fully expect to get it too we are in a area where cases are out of control

I work in a nursery and think children should only be there if absolutely essential, ie you need to work

Our son is starting nursery 1 day a week at the end of jan. I’m working from home full time at the moment, and DH works shifts outside of the home, but DS is really missing social interaction. He’s 18 months old and we live in a tier 4 area, but we have decided that he has missed out for long enough.

@WobbliHead3000

Our son is starting nursery 1 day a week at the end of jan. I’m working from home full time at the moment, and DH works shifts outside of the home, but DS is really missing social interaction. He’s 18 months old and we live in a tier 4 area, but we have decided that he has missed out for long enough.

I don't believe children 'need' interaction until they're at least 3. They get all they need from their parents at that age. Only my opinion.

Yes I'm keeping my 4 year old in preschool despite being at home. It was a weigh up of the situation as a whole for us

I have more sympathy with a 4yr old going in

Hard one. Depends on how stressful it is for you having both at home full time. If you will all cope OK then probably not but if too difficult then I would.

For anyone thinking of not sending and not paying though, bear in mind that lack of income could lead to closure of your nursery. I am involved in a not for profit pre-school and it is currently looking quite likely that we will have to close permanently before end of this year as forecasting a large loss due to drastic fall in numbers due to Covid.

I'm sure all children are missing social interaction, but surely in these times, health of your family and nursery staff trumps that?

Yes I will send mine as long as they will accept him. I not working as on ML but I am studying and the only time I get to study is my baby’s nap times when my eldest is at nursery - is that acceptable? Where is the line between genuine need and selfish arsehole? I’m not sure

I don't think it's that hard. If you're not working and able to cope and manage your children at home for an extra few weeks and then keep them off. We all should be doing our part to reduce transmission. in Scotland nurseries are now closed to families unless both parents are key workers until the 18th. Cases per 100,000 are around 200 at the moment. So high but nowhere near tier4 England. I'll juggle the next 2 weeks with my partner the same as I did from March to July (both work full time). It's really hard. Really hard. but the only way we get through this is by reducing the numbers of cases per day (by staying away from each other as much as possible) and getting vaccinated when it's available to us.

Yes I would. Actually we need to send him as WFH with him here is almost impossible but would in any event.

@RooMama

I don't think it's that hard. If you're not working and able to cope and manage your children at home for an extra few weeks and then keep them off. We all should be doing our part to reduce transmission. in Scotland nurseries are now closed to families unless both parents are key workers until the 18th. Cases per 100,000 are around 200 at the moment. So high but nowhere near tier4 England. I'll juggle the next 2 weeks with my partner the same as I did from March to July (both work full time). It's really hard. Really hard. but the only way we get through this is by reducing the numbers of cases per day (by staying away from each other as much as possible) and getting vaccinated when it's available to us.

Sorry let me rephrase I don't think the op's decision is that hard.

Keeping kids at home with no socialisation is a total bastard and we all deserve medals for dealing with this crap on and off for months but will go away sooner if we do our part now.