Now that there's a second wave, would you send your toddler to nursery if you don't really need to?

[whatdoido000]

Thanks for anyone who might have advice... I'm getting so anxious about my almost 3 year old needing more interaction with other children, but I'm pregnant and hence also extra anxious about not wanting to catch covid at this time. Nursery would involve having to take public transport too. What do others do when pregnant - avoid all covid risks, or more less carry on as normal (being sensible etc of course)?

Carry on as normal for me. Obviously taking the recommended precautions. You have to do what feels right to you though.

Define need? I don't need the childcare for my 3.6 year old but I really do need a break from him and he does need the company of other children at his age, so he does 2 days a week at preschool.

My 3 year old started preschool in September and did catch covid after her first week there.

But now she’s had it I might as well keep sending her!

Define need? I mean I don't need the childcare to be able to go to work, as still WFH and able to flexibly fit my hours around DH's hours. It would be purely for DD to have some interaction with other children.

I'm not sending my not quite 2 year old because I can't be bothered to pay ££ for him to sit at home with a snotty nose...and mean his sister is off school waiting for results of his test.

Mostly because he's a pain in the backside who always gets a temperature or a cough from a minor cold bug.

If it were free (preschool for a 3 year old getting 15 hours free) I'd be doing that, because I'd not be paying for occasional sessions over a disrupted winter.

He's getting bug exposure from his sister and I will hopefully find some form of childcare in the spring and make a serious effort towards getting a job with some hope of keeping it!

@Mippi Thanks for replying - could I ask did she then pass it to you as well? Are you also pregnant at the moment? I don't know which scenario to be more anxious about really

I would. Mine never left nursery throughout the first wave.

Hi OP, I'm a SAHM but am still sending my 3 year old in a couple of mornings a week. She absolutely loves it and she really missed other children when we were in lockdown.

I'm pregnant too but am not too worried about it. The nursery are very hygiene focused and the class size is small.

It's also our main exposure as we aren't really seeing anyone else and if we do it's very socially distanced (DH is working from home). For me, the benefits outweigh the risks.

Thank you @Teakind - it's really helpful to me to hear how others feel about this and make these kinds of decisions.

@randomsabreuse Thanks - is your thinking impacted by pregnancy at all?
It's so confusing to me that pregnancy counts as clinical risk but then again there isn't a very clear threat.

Mines still going he's 3.5 only child and needs the interaction with other children. Nursery deep clean every day. Kids are in separate rooms. No soft furnishings only wipe clean toys.

I'm a sahm and I'm sending my dd to nursery 3 days. For her, it's more important than ever as the social interaction is better there compared to the toddler classes/drop ins we used to do (no social distancing at nursery but she has to at classes). She's been attending since June and hasn't been ill once - she has a very robust immune system (and so do I) so I'm not too worried. We walk to nursery but we're using public transport most other days and it's fine.

I'm sending mine to school nursery for as long as they're open. I'm almost 15 weeks and my DH works on public transport (city centre, as security. So he's on and off 12 hours a day, getting spat and coughed at, and having to be physical with people.) and has done for the entirety of year with no PPE (until masks were made law) so my risk assessment is probably slightly different to yours

You have to do whatever you're comfortable with, but for me personally, my DS needs interaction with other kids and adults, mental stimulation and to be able to run around and play and I'll be devastated if his class gets quarentined or worse still, shut down again.

I'm sending my DD to pre school even though pregnant. They are very cautious, take temps on the way in etc. It's not our only exposure (am in second trimester) as I feel ok seeing family and friends whilst social distancing under the rules at the moment. In third trimester will be trying to limit contact but DD will still go to pre school.

How far along are you? It's believed to be more of a risk in the 3rd trimester and then there's the restrictions on your labour and birth if you were to get covid, perhaps you could compromise and have them attend until a couple of weeks before your due date?

I guess it depends on your personal circumstances. I was advised against by my doctor but I have medical condition. You might find that if your child was never in nursery before, it might catch quite a lot and have frequent fevers. In normal circumstances that is ok and builts up their immune system, however, now you have to self isolate or test. I much rather have the freedom and have daily walks than self isolate.

I do work when mine's in nursery so don't have the choice, but I think I'd still send even if not (and I'm intending to still send him when I'm on mat leave). I'm not really doing anything differently because I'm pregnant (have even been to the pub a few times!) but I am trying to be generally cautious and stick firmly to guidelines, but as I think I would if not pregnant.

I’m 32 weeks pregnant and on furlough and soon to be on maternity leave . I don’t need to send my 19 month old to nursery but I do for 3 half days a week . It’s the best thing for him ( he loves it) and it gives me a break . My mental health is important to me and nursery is so good for my DS’s social skills. My nursery is a 5 minute walk from me.

That's the thing - I can't work out what's more important - Dd's social skills and fun she has a nursery, or avoiding public transport. As we don't have a nursery so close by.

@1990shopefulftm Thank you, that's a good idea. I'm only 1st trimester at the moment. Maybe that would be a compromise.

@thedifferentlive She has been to nursery before, up until lockdown.

No. There's no need that I could justify to risk their healthy unnecessarily nor mine and a baby's.

Thank you @aToadOnTheWhole (and love your name ) that's reassuring to hear I guess that you're not worried and have been okay despite these risks.

Thank you @SoloMummy. That's how I was seeing it but I also just don't know from what age I'm hurting her more by not giving her a chance at social development. I honestly don't mind for myself what we do, I just don't know what the right thing to do is for DD. I'm just a ball of anxiousness either way really