Have you stopped childcare for DC 1 before DC 2 is due?

[littlemonkey17]

Would love to hear from any working mums on mat leave or SAHM who have 2+ DC under 3 at home FT, and how you manage/amuse the older children whilst caring for a new baby.

DC 2 is due in the spring and DC 1 currently attends nursery 3days a week when I'm at work. I plan on finishing work at 35weeks and for financial reasons I feel I should take my DC 1 out of nursery then. DD loves nursery and I am worried she will be bored with me whilst I attend to the new baby.

If you can keep your child in nursery, I absolutely would!

But if it really isnt possible financially, I would say get yourself down for a few toddler groups each week, so that your older child can play and let off steam and you can sit and feed and have a cuppa with other mums. Was a a God send for me when I had a 3 yr old and newborn.

I kept dc1 in nursery three ams a week while on mat leave to keep up with familiarity amd as dc1 enjoys nursery.

I have just finished work (early as I've not been well) and DS is staying in nursery 3 days until the baby is a couple of months old, he will then drop down to 2 days. We decided this for several reasons. Being heavily pregnant with a toddler will be hard to to have some less intensive days will be nice when baby arrives nursery will give a bit of normality for DS (and he loves it there), also, we will need child care when I go back and if we take DS out totally we will lose his place and my not get it back, we love the nursery and I'd hate for him to have to go somewhere different. From a financial pov we get Childcare vouchers which will continue throughout mat leave and which will cover nursery

DD will be 2 when DD2 is born. I work full time and DD is in nursery full time. I plan to keep her in nursery 3 days a week at first, hopefully reducing this to 2 days when (!) the baby becomes easier.

I feel very happy with this. I am looking forward to more time with DD1, but need some time alone with DD2 to bond and get to grips with feeding and napping etc. DD1 loves nursery and the consistency and routine will help her with changes at home.

I'm keeping DD in full time nursery until a week after my c section. I may take her out some days, but I think I will benefit from some time to rest and prepare for the baby. Also, last time I was in and out of hospital for check ups in the final weeks, and I don't want to risk having to take a toddler to those.

Yes, you might lose your place if you take her out, plus the break will give you time to bond with the new baby very important imo.

I have recently had DC2. We decided to reduce DC1's days in nursery from 3 to 2 whilst I am off to save a bit of money. As I am returning to work in 6 months I wanted to keep DC1's routine and place at nursery and give me some 1:1 time with the new baby for things like baby clinic.

DC1 was off nursery for 5 weeks immediately after DC2 was born as nursery is near DH's work and he was off for that time. DC has been more clingy returning to nursery after being really happy before. Can't imagine how hard it would be of we had to settle DC2 and resettle DC1 when I go back to work.

We kept dc1 at the CMs for 2 days when I had dc2 - meant his routine wasn't too badly adjusted, meant he got out and to the park every day. Meant I had time 1:1 with dc2. It was tight financially, but absolutely the right decision for us.