Feeling guilty about using nursery on may leave

[Ohtheaudacity]

I’m on mat leave with DS2 who is 8 months old. I also have DS1 who is 4.3yrs. He asked me last night if he could stay at home more and play with us before he has to go to school in September and it’s made me feel so guilty about continuing to send him to nursery preschool while I’m on mat leave. He attends 3 days a week 9-3 and he loves it but he’s a real homebody who would be happy pottering around at home all day if we let him. Not sure why I’m posting, maybe for reassurance? I can’t shake this guilt.

I think it would be a mistake to change his routine at this point. He will soon need to cope with five days a week .
Maybe try to fit in some fun activities after nursery to make up to him?

Is it a private nursery or a school one?

If you're paying for it and take him out you risk them not having space to have him back when you need it again.

Children who've attended nursery settle much better into school. Ask any Reception teacher.

I'm sure he loves nursery once he gets there. Have you asked the staff if he's happy there?

It’s a private nursery. It’s really lovely and I know he has a nice time when he’s there. We do lots of fun things on the days he’s at home, we always go to the park one day and swimming the other. I don’t know why I’m suddenly feeling guilty when he’s been doing this ever since DS2 was born!

Hi op, I work in a private nursery. I echo what a PP said, I wouldn't take him out completely, especially if he enjoys it. Would dropping to 2 days a week be an option?

My older child went to private daycare/nursery when I went back to work at five months. When his sibling came along I had stopped working but he still went three days a week (all day). Then I sent the second for two days a week even though I wasn't working.
It gave me quality time with my second (and a break when both were at daycare), and it made the transition to school easy.
Your son has plenty of time with you. So I'd leave him in the nursery, but I would make sure you are spending quality time with him, possibly when your baby is napping, so he feels he has your sole attention.

Ha ha, nursery days were my favourite days on mat leave! Bye son! Me and the baby are off to watch Netflix and sit on the sofa.

It wouldn't even cross my mind to take my 4yo out, he gets time to learn, develop and make friends, I get time with my youngest who never gets a look in otherwise.

My DS is 8 months and we have recently started to use a registered childminder one day a week. Sometimes I feel guilty about sending him while on mat leave but this is literally one day I get to myself and to relax. Our childcare within family is non existant at the minute due to family illnesses and one GP having other GDC living with her. We've literally had one night away from DS and this was our wedding night!
If I was you I would continue to send him and have the quality time with your other DC.

DC1 says this to me too at times but really enjoys nursery days and we fill days off with fun things. I think it's the fear of missing out more than actually missing me. Its good for DC2 to get some focused attention and uninterrupted naps. It's also the time I get to clean, exercise, prep meals etc. I feel the mum guilt at times but when DC1 has extra days off ends up frustrated and with more tantrums even when we do trips out so I've left it at 3 days.

I kept DD at nursery while on maternity leave with DS.
She liked nursery and was in a good routine and I felt it was keeping her in the right routine for starting school (she started while I was still on maternity leave).
She did have the occasional jealous moments knowing that DS was home with me but responded quite well to me telling her that when she was a baby she had me all to herself.