soon to have 3under4..to use addtional childcare during pre school hols or to just get on with it???

[steph1512]

just wondered if anyone has any opnions experience thoughts??

come the easter hols (my daughters being 3wks) i will have a newborn just turned2yr old and 3yr9mth.

i dont work other than sum mobile hairdressing that i fit in as and when with my partners shifts

my current week as far as childcare goes is dd1 5funded ams
dd2 1 or2 3hr am session
bump due in 8wk.

my dd2 currentl attends a private nursery set within the ground of a stately home/gym memebership which is really nice and as part of memebership you get 6hr childcare to use whenever you feel..its actually my MIL membership so doesnt cost us anything at the mo but has been a godsend but due for renual in april when our 3rd baby is due.

MIL doesnt wish to continue membership so i need to decide whether to take it on therefore having the option of flexible childcare/mummy job/restbite time (luxury i know)which wud obviouly be particularly valuble during the easter and summer hols with a newborn/young baby aswell as two young active dds at home.

so my question is..should i continue with this luxury if just bite the bullet and get on with it over the hols, i do ont get any other family help other than when my husband is around but he can work alot so worried i wont manage get anything done or enjoy all of them without any sort of break or plans to look forward to over hols.

usually weeks are pretty full with playgroups pre school etc which me and girls are used to so could be a big shock to go from that to nothing along with new baby??

any thoughts experiences opnions more than welcomed

thanks

Paying for nursery to give you a break is a reasonable idea. however paying for gym membership to get it seems an odd/expensive way round (unless you will get lots of use of the gym).
I think I'd be more inclined to look at an informal childminder/babysitter type option (informal as in not set hours!). You might also want to enquire about HomeStart (think that's what it's called?)

It's also worth bearing in mind (based on experience of close friend who's just had a baby) that your DDs may become very clingy and loathe to leave you after you've had the baby and you might find that (despite your intentions) it is easier to have them at home.

If you can afford it at all you should do it

well because my MIL has already paid the v.exspensive joining fee when originally joining 2yrs ago then transfered the membership over to us the monthly cost work out to the same amount as paying for the same amount of hours at a nursery so the gym/swimming etc is more of a bonus if used!

the diff to a normal nursery is that it is a particularly nice setting and i also no the lady running it so am happy with them going there...i spent a short time working in a couple of nurseries before having my own children n afterwards swore i wouldnt put my children into one enless i knew for sure it was good as to say the least wasnt impressed by alot of what i saw and the tranformation when a parent or someone came to view the nursery compared to what it was like day to day..

i am wondering if it may just be easier in some ways to have them home but also worried bout how ill keep them all entertained and happy with no extra stimulation other than me esp if not getting out as much as usual

suppose i really need to decide if the positives of spending the same amount of money for my second dd to go to pre school with my first dd for a term and dropping off collecting at same times etc outweighs the going alone without any childcare/mummy restbite over the hols..idealyy wish i could see how easter break went n decide from there but unfortunately membership is up for renewal before then! juniors arrival timing is so inconsiderate hehe