Starting ML, how should I change the hours DS is with his CM?

[2jamsandwiches]

Starting ML after Easter, I'll be 37+ weeks with no. 2.
DS currently goes 3 days/week (about 27 hours) to a CM who he loves.
The plan is to reduce the number of hours he goes to about 16 once DC2 comes along (too expensive).
However I'm dithering about when to make that change.

• Do I do it immediately I start on leave, and have more time with him on his own at home before DC2 comes along?
• Do I give myself a bit of breathing space and enjoy my last bit of child-free time for a while, but still make the change before DC2 comes?
• Do I keep him going 3 days until DC2 is a couple of weeks old, and I've recovered a bit from the birth (DH will be on paternity leave then)?

What would you/did you do?

ds1 went to cm 4 days a week whihI kept up till ds2 was born then I dropped it to 2 days week to 'retain' the place for when I went back to work (she then quit minding 2 wks before I went back to work so was a complete waste of money as when ds was about 4 months I ould have quite easily had them at home and it was a luxury - plus could have done with saving money as nursery way more expensive... but thats another stoy!)

I think it boils down to affordability, if you can afford it I'd put ds in 3 days till at least baby arrives, get the rest you need and everything ready, I found that having the break from ds , knowing he was with someone who had way more energy than me and giving me a chance to do all 'jobs' without him meant the time we had together was quality time, just playing not doing the weekly food shop for example

after that I personally found the 2 days ok, just enough time to rest - he should be ok with change too as its only one day you are dropping, I think its more of a change to go from say 5 to 2 days

hth x

oh, that would have REALLY bugged me too, incywincy, and what bad timing...

So you reckon stick with 3 days for this month and then drop down to 2? At the same time as the baby comes, or a bit later? We can afford it, for a few extra weeks...

if you can afford it then wait till after baby is here, don't feel guilty about it, its fantastic bonding time with new baby

yes the whole childcare thing was a nightmare, she gave me 5 wks notice but it was 2 weeks before I went back to work and 3 weeks before Christmas so I had 2 weeks to find a nursery for 2 children under 3 to start in the Jan with no settling in as I had no holiday entitlement and they were closed over Christmas break, needless to say its taken the boys till now to settle and I still feel cross that she let me sign contracts and pay for settling in sessions for ds2 when she already had another job and the other job is as a care assistant so she had to be CRB checked as well so she'd known for a few weeks. I'm extremely lucky the nursery is so good and the boys do seem very happy there now - I guess everything happens for a reason!

good luck with everything x

oh that does sound completely nightmarish, and very unkind of her - she must have realised you were relying on her!

thanks for the advice; I think we've decided to do pretty much what you suggested - rather shorter hours (it's always a bit of a scramble to get him ready to go at 8.30, so we'll start later and finish earlier), but stick with 3 days for the time being. Then cut back to 2 later.

Glad the nursery has worked out well.