Keeping child off school to meet new baby

[Dp857]

Hi,

I'm due to have a scheduled c-section in a couple of months. DD is 5 and currently attending primary school. Due to Covid restrictions when new baby arrives she won't be allowed to visit us in hospital as only my husband is allowed in during reduced visiting times.

My husband and I have already agreed that during the day of my csection and the following days I'll be in hospital that DD should carry on going to school as normal with the help of family picking up/dropping off. We are thinking about keeping her home from school for a couple of days after I return home with the baby so she's meets the baby properly and isn't just sent off to school out the way during this big family change.

Has anyone else done this and do you think the school will be okay with this? Obviously these aren't 'normal' circumstances because if it wasn't for the new restrictions DD would be meeting the new baby in hospital and hopefully feeling involved from the beginning.

Just wanted some other opinions really :) thanks

Agree with pp keep her routine going. It won't be much fun for her at home and the new baby deserves as much sole focus as you are able to give them, which would be hard to do while entertaining your older child and making sure they didn't feel left out. Good luck with everything and congratulations :)

I would stick with her normal routine, school is only 6 hours so she'll have plenty of time to meet and get used to the baby whilst keeping some normality and not making everything all about the new arrival. Also you'll be knackered, sore and focused on your new baby with feeding etc so your older one might feel a bit put out that she's got a special day home with mummy but mummy can't do anything fun.

Thanks everyone! I totally agree and think that she'll be fed up being off school unnecessarily especially after this past year! Just wondered how other people had managed having baby number 2 with the logistics of a school aged child as we've not experienced it yet! Think it's pretty unanimous by the looks of it haha

I brought my son out of school once I got into the ward so he could have a cuddle.

We knew dd was likely to go to nicu a few hours after birth for a week so he got his cuddle.

He went back to school as normal the next day.

I'd consider collecting your DD on the way home from hospital but back to school as normal the next day.

I've got a 5 year old and a 4 month old and honestly, 5 year old loves baby, and is still as excited by her as on day 1. So it's not a given yours will be bored of her baby sibling. Saying that, I agree to keep her routine going so it all stays normal for her. So defo keep her in school. Get her involved as much as possible, in a fun way, ours loves bringing nappies, helping w bathtime etc.

Another vote for school as normal. It comforting for children to be kept in the same routine, the less changes the better. You’ll also likely be very grateful to only have to focus on the newborn during school hours. Nursery days were a godsend when our second baby came along.

I’ve one in nursery school & one in reception & will be keeping them at school in normal routine.
I’m overdue with DC3!

Send to school for all the reasons people have suggested.

I agree with most.
I think everything was said in the first reply, really.

Just not needed.
Let her go to school - you'll be glad you did.

I had ds2 when ds1 was in reception
He just carried on with normal school routine