Sending 3.5 yr old to two pre-school nurseries? What do you think?

[Dragonball]

hi there
My DS is due to go to pre-school nursery in sept (he was 3 in feb) so is entitled to his 15 hours free eduction. However, in Muswell Hill, where I live, it seems nursery places are few and far between and although I put his name down on lists over a year and a half ago, I'm not convinced I'm going to get what I want (which is preferably 5 mornings a week). He has definitely got a place at one setting but that only offers 4 mornings, totalling to 10 hours - and the lady there suggested that he take up two/three of those mornings and then do the other half of his 15 hours elsewhere. I have actually also been offered three afternoons somewhere else - which would work in terms of getting all the hours. But I am also due to have my second baby in September - so would it be just too much to expect him to settle into two nurseries and cope with a new baby? And how important are the 15 hours? I guess I was just keen to make the most of it!! he is a very sociable child - particularly with other children, but is it too much to ask of him or would he just see it as two places to play in. He spends two days a week with a childminder and is fine.
Also, what do you think in terms of afternoons of mornings at nursery? My ideal would be mornings I guess, as then we are free in the afternoon to play with his other friends/ go to the park etc. But is it going to be extra hard getting us all out of the house (new babe and all) first thing in the morning?
Any thoughts on both my dilemas would be much appreciated!
Thanks!

I wouldn't bother with the 2 settings. The only time I've known people do this is when one was linked to a school they expected their child to go to, and the other was for childcare purposes. It's not so long ago that the "15 hours" was "12.5 hours" so there is nothing magic about the number.

Personally I'd choose my favourite/most practical setting and just sent him there (unless you want the extra time with just baby - this does have the flip side of more to-ing and fro-ing which I would think would outweigh the benefits).

Whether you choose mornings or afternoons depends on your routine really - IME lots of baby/toddler groups tend to run mainly in mornings, so if you wanted to use those you could go for afternoons. Alternatively you might find it's easier "to get it over with" so you then have unbroken free time later in the day. Getting out at any time is hard with a new baby. I'm not sure it's necessarily harder (bearing in mind you're likely to be up anyway) to have to do this in the morning.

Hellod Dragonball,
My niece used to go 4 days in one pre-school and 1 day to another, due to my SIL working 4 days at the office and one day at home. It was not a problem for her. Is he attending a pre-school at the moment? If he does, it might not be so much of a problem coping with pre-school and new baby. If he doesn't attend one or a nursery, I will try for him to attend before baby arrives to avoid the feeling of bein sent to pre-school because new baby is in the house.
With reference on how improtant ar 4 or 5 days, I don't thing they are that important. Personally, I will take the 4 days offered in one pre-school and have a day off, until the 5th day comes available.

We will be doing 4 mornings as I'd like a full day to play should we want to go out for the day. It's also useful for being able to meet up with friends who have an afternoon school run and find afternoons harder. Will you still use the childminder as well?

I wouldn't use 2 settings for the sake of it. A lot of tooing and froing and will be a lot of changes at once.

Would it be possible to start your child before the baby arrives? We started a term in advance so she wouldn't feel pushed out after baby.

I sent my DD to a preschool for around 11 hours of her 'free' sessions and then also to the local village nursery, which I paid for as she would get to know some of the children who she would be starting school with. The local nursery don't accept the government funding, so I just did this for one morning session, making up the extra 4 hours. She was fine with both places, although preferred the village nursery, as she liked the smaller setting and number of children. The way the hours were arranged then left us with a free day where there wasn't any nursery and we could just have fun and do as we pleased! I will be doing exactly the same with DS this September as it worked really well for us.

I would take 4 days and ask for your child to be put on the waiting list for the 5th day unless you are working and need 5 free hours.

Thanks for all your replies. There actually aren't 5 days available at the nursery - it only runs for 4 days, 2.5 hours per session.

And I do worry about him feeling pushed out when the new baby comes, but there isn't much I can do - the term starts in september and there wouldn't be much point in him going to a private nursery for only a short time before that (and I would have needed to put him on waiting lists a few years ago!)...also, I won't stop working until august, so he will be with the childminder until then anyway, and then we'll stop her as I won't be earning money so won't be able to pay her!

thanks!

Mine goes to two - for the reason redskyatnight mentions. However DS has been used to nursery since he was little: I wouldn't have put him in preschool as well when he wasn't used to the nursery already.