Let children stay off school when baby born?

[hebri]

Did you let your kids have a day off school once baby was born?

I’m having a baby next Friday. I have an 8 & 5 year old. They will likely have half of Saturday and then Sunday at home with the baby.

I think eldest will want to go to school on the Monday, but 5 year old will definitely want to stay at home with the baby.

Would you let your kids have a day off school to bond and whatnot?

This is also true. Kids are always surprised by how boring babies actually are!

DD was born on a Friday, DS went to nursery on the Monday (he was 4). It was more exciting for him to come home to the baby rather than be with her all day. He wanted to peer into the Moses basket all day long if he was home. At 3 days old she’d be feeding or asleep most of the time!

Ok so what happens on Tuesday? Or next Sunday when she doesn’t want to leave baby? Don’t make school a choice!

No, I had a 3 year old who still went to nursery as normal. The new baby slotted into our existing lives.

No mine didn’t. Well DS1 age 14 had to come home when I was in labour to babysit DS2 age 3 as we had no family to do it. That was a Friday afternoon and I was home Friday evening, so both boys went back to school and nursery on the Monday.

It didn’t even cross my mind to keep my 5 year old home when her sister was born. Baby born on the Friday, home from hospital sat evening, 5yo was at grandparents and came home Sunday afternoon and met the baby. Went to school on Monday.

i had a planned c section and struggled with doing anything except sitting on sofa breastfeeding and partner was providing me everything I needed so it would have been boring for a 5yo.

Nope mine have always gone to school the next day.

Wanting to help non stop can be cute to begin with but wears thin fast trust me .

Sure, if a family member needs you thats more important than anything. If my MIL needed a lift to hospital I'd take a day off work.

But not just for extra sibling cuddles, that's bonkers. And certainly not taking a day off to "help" with the baby. No way. That baby doesn't need his sister to take a day off school for him.

Where does it end, should they take a day off for their siblings' birthdays? Take a day off to watch each others' nativity plays? Which sibling milestones do they need to take days off school for?

My youngest was born Sunday afternoon. The older 2 came to hospital Sunday evening for a couple of hours and went to school Monday. They had no time off after I got out of hospital Monday evening.

No, they will be home after school.

You don’t actually know when you will you have your dc.
I was booked in for the 2nd and thought I’d be have them and be straight home, but I waited and waited on the ward and the doctor finally came to get me on the 4th and then waited around a bit more and dc was finally here on the 5th.

I’d completely forgotten about this - when I was six, my youngest sister was born. My dad came to the school railings at lunchtime and told me she was home! I went to the teacher who said I wasn’t allowed to leave so I squeezed through the railings when nobody was looking. Was early 1970s though.

Absolutely not. Especially if having a c section. I was in 5 nights and then 2 nights after mine too.

I'd say do it, as long as you arent too tired, op xx

I had mine second at home in January (by paramedic) but my 5yo was next door with the neighbours who are also her best friend. About an hour after he was born about 8:25 we fetched her home to meet the baby before she went to school and gave her the option of staying home, going in late, or just going to school. She chose going to school and some how despite the chaos of the morning was on time telling anyone who would listen how she had a new baby brother, (although we forgot to comb her hair!) We got a day home with take away and 6 hours to adjust before she came home to practice her big sister skills.

play it ear, but if it’s over the weekend I wouldn’t keep them off on Monday

Definitely not

They will have seen the baby on Saturday and Sunday, though?

I had my son on the first day of new school year. I was in hospital for the first few days, my daughter was 5 and in y1. The day I came home I arranged for grandparents to pick our daughter up from school and take her to her swimming lesson so we could get back into the house, unpack have a cuppa and breathe after a difficult 6 weeks at the end of the pregnancy. So that when she got back from swimming we had the energy and headspace to be there for our daughter too.
My daughter was thrilled to see baby but was so excited to tell everyone at school about her baby brother. She's not missed a minute of school but has enjoyed many cuddles before and after school. Our weekends are a similar pattern to be fair. Cuddles and interest in baby in the morning for an hour. Goes off to play because baby doesn't do a lot comes back for another half hour of cuddles, goes to play and repeat. All day doting on baby doesn't happen and having school and activities to build the day around and natural breaks from the baby has been beneficial for her keeping a person in her own right and not just "big sister"

Absolutely not. My eldest went to school/preschool as normal whenever a younger sibling was born. Their routines were kept as normal as possible.

The message that school is in any way optional isn't one that should be given out. They will have the weekend to see you and the new baby, and you will also need as much rest as is possible.

No they need their routine and you need to build a routine for you and baby. Enjoy the time they are at school with your baby

Agree! It’s a slippery slope for sure. Give them the day off and they’ll end up under a bridge smoking a crack pipe.

You have been warned.

No, they need normal routine and shouldn’t miss school unless essential. This isn’t essential, they can see the baby when they come home, and you’ll need space and time to bond with your baby.

Absolutely no way on earth. Rest and enjoy your baby without others demanding your attention.