How much nursery did you use for DC1 when DC2 came along?

[louise987]

My DD will turn 3 a few weeks before I am due to give birth. She's currently in nursery three full days a week and loves it.

I'm torn between keeping her in for 3 days for the benefit of the consistency which nursery will give her, as well as the chance for me to have time to catch up on sleep/be lazy when DC2 comes along. But I'm very tempted to drop her hours (maybe to half days?) so she gets more time with DC2 to adjust and doesn't feel pushed out. I'll be at home so it feels a bit excessive for her to be away so much!

What have people done in these circumstances, how did you find it and if you were doing it again would you do it differently?

DD1 was 2.5 when DD2 arrived and had been at nursery 4 days a week. She continued doing 4 days for the first 6 weeks after DD2 arrived and then dropped down to 3 days. I think the consistency to her routine was important and her nursery days gave me some time alone with the new baby. It also allows me to go to classes with just the new baby. DD1 loves nursery and it is a massive help for her development. I knew she'd also have more fun there then at home with a frazzled mother

I'm expecting my second any time
now and have a two year old who is going to nursery twice a week, having been in for three days while I was at work. She used to go to grandparents another day, and now we visit them together instead. I'm a bit worried about how it's going to be having a toddler and a new baby, and I'm hoping grandparents will take toddler out a bit on the day they used to do. Most of the people I've asked about this seem to have kept their older child in childcare for three days a week. So, basically, I'm in a similar situation and I don't know either!

I used to work two full days and two mornings. We stopped the morning sessions and dd1 just did 2 full days. Was good, I did some baby classes but still had plenty of time left for days out with them both or lazy TV days as well.
I felt that having that 1pm pickup deadline would just ruin the benefit of the toddler free time, that's why we stuck to full days. Also the afternoons would be wasted as she'd be too tired to do much.

I kept older DC on exactly the same schedule. I though continuity for them was important, and making them make fuss if a baby did not seem to further that. I preferred them to continue with their lives, and for me to share it on much the same timetable. If you can get the baby to nap when DC are at large and used to having attention, then you really have got it cracked!!!!

My son did three days pw when my second arrived- I thought about dropping it but I'm glad I didn't. It's hard work transitioning to life with two kids... give yourself a break and chance to bond with no.2.

DC1 went from 3 days to 1 while I was on ML with DC2. Staying at 3 days is fine too, if U can afford it.

DD was 3.5 when DS came along and had always done 3 full days per week at nursery. We kept it the same and were fortunate that with the 30 hours funding her fees were only £140 per month. It was perfect and would do exactly the same again. 2 days a week with them both is hard work and she loves nursery so would have been put out to have it reduced.

They do a lot at nursery aged 3-4 to prepare for school and it's been really valuable in the run up to Reception.

Good luck with the baby!

I'd hold off dropping hours until the baby is past the new born stage and you are definitely well enough to look after 2, it can be very hard going at first!
I'd definitely keep one full day rather than half a day - it means you can get more done. Beyond that, how much will it cost you? How many hours is it a day she'd go for? We went down to 1 full day at nursery (year round) plus 3 hours one morning at the local preschool. The full day was good, the 3 hours there's a lot of getting ready to go out time for not much time of them away.

I’ll be in the same position all being well, I have a 3 year old that does 3 full days and I have no way plans to change this. We get 30 hours free in September which will be a massive help financially.

We stuck to the same 3 days - worked brilliantly for us and ds/dd

Dc1 had berm giubg to nursery 3 full days a week from being 1 to when dc2 was born, when dc1 was 3. Dc1 continued going to nursery the same days/hours as before dc2 was born. This was funded by dc1’s 15 hrs kicking in, and my childcare voucher from work, which they continued to pay.

Thanks for all the responses! I'm definitely convinced that full days make more sense now, I won't be having to worry to be back (or out of bed?!) for the 1pm pick ups.

Unsure how the 30hours free childcare will work in reality and if I keep to three full days will still have to pay to top up, but like people said at age 3-4 they do so much at nursery in preparing them for school I'd like her to stay in as much as possible!

I was worried that 3 days at nursery wouldn't give DD enough time to bond with the baby or it might make her feel pushed out, but on reflection that's probably just my hormonal brain making me feel guilty for any decision I make...

My eldest did 3 days, stayed doing this initially for about 3 months, then dropped to 2 mornings and 1 whole day. We needed to reduce due to finances, she was only just 2 so no funded hours. Having 3 mornings meant I could do things with new born that I did with eldest.

Also meant the habit of going 3 days was still there when I went back to work.

They have definitely bonded with no issues.