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Original poster

Thick question but what do you do with DC1 childcare when baby number 2 comes along

22 replies

Jellybabie3 · 20/10/2018 20:18

Way ahead of myself here as I am only just about to rtw after baby number 1. But. Knowing I will want another at some point and thinking finances...

What do you do with DC1 when DC2 arrives...stop childcare and you take care of both on mat leave? Or leave DC1 in childcare and just look after baby 121?

Just interested to hear what people have done

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welshweasel · 20/10/2018 20:22

DS1 will be turning 3 as DS2 arrives. I’m only having 5 months mat leave so planning on keeping him in full time nursery. He loves going, it gives me the same opportunity for one on one time as with DS1 and means we
don’t lose his place!

EMS23 · 20/10/2018 20:23

If you can afford it, keep DC1 in childcare but maybe reduced days. It's nice for you to have time with DC2 and it's also nice for DC1 to keep some of its old routine going and have some time away from DC2.

TulipsInBloom1 · 20/10/2018 20:24

I dropped from ft childcare to 2 days a week on maternity leave and kept it that way after the baby arrived. Childminder was happy to oblige,and I just had to hope that when I returned to work she could accomodate both kids ft again.

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angelopal · 20/10/2018 20:29

Left DC1 in childcare 4 days a week. Partly so I could have 121 with dc2 and to keep telling space for when I went back to work. Don't regret it.

schooltripwoes · 20/10/2018 20:34

It depends on circumstances really. Would you lose the place if you took DC1 out if childcare? Can you afford to pay childcare when you don't need it?^^ Would you want to maximise your time with both DC or prefer to benefit from 121 time with the baby? Does the baby sleep well - if not, you may be glad to not have to run round with a toddler all day. Is the childcare near home, or a long drive to the town of your workplace (which you wouldn't be travelling to when on mat leave)?
In an ideal world, I'd reduce DC1's childcare to 'preschool' hours (depending on age - perhaps a few mornings a week with a full day if they're close to school age). That way, they still have a routine, you get time with just the baby (I found most 'baby' classes take place in the morning and lots - such as swimbabies / baby massage / baby sensory - don't work with toddler siblings in tow), and then DC1 gets your attention in the afternoons with you when (typically) the baby will be napping.

Original poster

Jellybabie3 · 20/10/2018 20:41

Ah OK thats interesting. I am going back to work 3 days a week tues-thurs so maybe if I kept it like that for childcare - or atleast planned that financially - then I would have 2x days with both DC and 3 days 121 with dc2.

Thank you! Really helpful. I saved for a long time before ds so want to make sure that I have enough money banked up to spend an equal ish amount of time the second time round if possible. Fx it would be less upfront as we would use most of dc1s stuff (cot pram etc)

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Caterina99 · 20/10/2018 21:04

DS was 2yr 3m when DD was born. I previously worked a few days a week on a project, but became a sahm when I was about 6m pregnant with DD. DS did 2 mornings a week at nursery and honestly it saved my sanity. Yes I didn’t NEED it, but he enjoys it and it’s totally worth the money.

I have a lot of friends with a similar age gap and the majority have kept the toddler in nursery or childminder, just reduced their hours to save money. Or if they were part time then they still do the same hours. I’d say 2-3 days a week is the norm

GrumpySausage · 20/10/2018 21:08

I'm currently on maternity leave with dc2 (DD) Dc1 (DS) is 3 and I have kept him in Nursery two days a week.

I wanted to keep him in some sort of routine and also give me some time with DD. But I was lucky that he qualified for his 30 free hours just as I went on maternity therefore reducing costs massively. Otherwise I may not have done so.

mindutopia · 20/10/2018 21:10

I intentionally waited until my first started school to not have this problem as I didn’t want to interrupt her routine and the friendships she had made (but we couldn’t have afforded to continue paying nursery). But during school holidays, yes, she’s home with me and we do fun things and are making the most of mat leave.

8DaysAWeek · 20/10/2018 21:10

DS turns 3 in July and we will get our funded 15 hours (Scotland) then. He's currently in 2 days a week, so will drop down to 1.5 days when I go on mat leave. Will have to pay for a few months while I'm on mat leave as I stop work in April but luckily MIL and FIL have kindly offered to pay for this, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to afford it and I would have looked after both. It's the best option as I am sure I will really need some 121 time with DC2. Also, DS loves nursery and as it took him a while to settle it would be a shame to take him out.

3boysandabump · 20/10/2018 21:29

If you can afford to I'd keep dc1 in childcare even if you reduce the hours. It's good to keep them in a bit of a routine, you don't loose the place and you get a bit of quality time with dc2

buffysummers4 · 21/10/2018 08:08

I waited until older one got the 3 year old funding before having the second one as I knew I would feel bad spending money on childcare while on maternity leave - no way could I have coped with two at home full time so this was my solution. If you can afford it and want a smaller age gap then I wouldn't blame anyone for paying for childcare - your sanity is worth it!!

Original poster

Jellybabie3 · 21/10/2018 08:29

Yeah it never even occurred to me that childcare vouchers would stop. Of course it does!! But I do like the idea of having some time alone with dc2. I need to start saving but prob by the time we can 'afford it' and start trying dc1 will prob be 3 by the time dc2 is born. I wanted a smaller age gap ideally but such is life. I have no idea we will be lucky enough to have a second so we will just have to wait and see!

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Original poster

Jellybabie3 · 21/10/2018 08:31

I assume you can you start buying childcare vouchers when you return from mat leave....and can claim 30 free hours whilst on it?

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SpottingTheZebras · 21/10/2018 08:34

You can claim your 30 free hours whilst you are getting maternity pay, so it might be just the first nine months or if you have an enhanced package the entire year.

Fundays12 · 21/10/2018 08:38

Ds1 was 4 when his brother was born so was in pre school nursery which was ideal as I got one to one time with his little brother. It wouldn’t have occurred to me to pay for childcare though on maternity leave but i didn’t have to consider care for ds1 to much when I finished maternity leave as he started school the week I went back to work. If I have anymore I would try time it that way again.

Littlebelina · 21/10/2018 09:32

Be careful about stopping buying vouchers as the scheme is closed to new entrants. Check what your employer does with regards to paying them when you are employed. It used to be that employers had to pay for them as a non cash benefit but there was a ruling that changed that. Some employers ( mine fortunately) still pay for them when I drop to SMP. Def worth a chat with your HR department before you stop incase you can't restart.

Original poster

Jellybabie3 · 21/10/2018 10:19

Ah OK. But presumably if you get to the 3 months no salary part of mat leave the vouchers would stop? I get 3 months full salary then 6 months SMP then 3 months nothing.

Thank you

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Littlebelina · 21/10/2018 11:31

My employer pays for the vouchers during those 3 months but no longer has to (there was a legal ruling on whether childcare vouchers counted as a non cash or cash benefit a few years ok, non cash have to continue). I would chat to hr or payroll about it. If they do stop they might be able to suspend your scheme membership rather than stop it but I don't know and found it difficult to get straight answers myself

Original poster

Jellybabie3 · 21/10/2018 11:44

Ah OK thank you thats really helpful

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Roomba · 21/10/2018 12:04

I kept DS1 in his usual childcare routine. He loved it and was benefitting from it enormously, plus it was much more fun than staying in at home with a frazzled Mummy and a baby who screamed non stop (thanks, reflux). DS never once asked to stay at home with us instead, he was happy that I was at home for him a lot more than before anyway (often had to work late when not on mat leave) but probably relieved to get out and have fun with his friends and keyworker!

Mwnci123 · 21/10/2018 12:26

We dropped dc1, who was two, down to 2 days of childcare when I started mat leave (from 4 days when I was at work). I appreciate the quieter days with dc2, and she seems very happy to go to nursery- keeps her settled there, and she has little friends.

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