New baby and quitting daycare?

Maybe pull her out at either 38 weeks or a week later so you get some down time for yourself? Or even a few weeks after you've had bub so that you can catch up on sleep & adjust two having a newborn again?

I was planning on having DD1 in full time daycare for 1 week after my due date and then down to 2 days. As it happened i got admitted to hospital at 35 weeks with Cholestasis and induced at 36 weeks. I was so glad to have that extra time with DD2 while DD1 was in care.

If possible i would recommend you try to give your daughter 1 day in day care - you and her will both be grateful for it - it is exhausting looking after a toddler and a new born!

the daycare days also give me a chance to dedicate myself to DD2 (i feel guilty that she doesn't get the same level of attention DD1 got as a baby!)

Edited by catisla

I'll double check the notice period, I guess, but I think it's usually quite long because it's a university creche, so they tend to plan a semester in advance. I can pull her out anytime, but they do want to know in time to give the spot to someone else with plenty of warning.

It's a 30km trip to daycare, so making the return trip twice each day she's there as well as paying $2500 (total) for her to be in 1 day a week while I'm not working is just too much, even if DH can drop her off some days. Plus she's so gorgeous, I'd miss her

Kels, that's pretty much what I'm thinking. Maybe leave her in until I'd be 43 weeks, and by then I'd hopefully have a baby whose a couple of weeks old, and even if I have a very newborn, DH will be home for a couple of weeks to help amuse her. I'll either pull her out just before (like 38 weeks) or just after (43 weeks), but I wondered whether one was likely to be better than the other? I'm leaning towards after because then she won't get used to having me all to herself for a couple of weeks, only to lose me again to the new baby.

I was in the same boat as you. Pulled DS (aged 2y 1m at the time) out of daycare when I was 38 weeks cos I wanted to be able to spend some 1:1 time with him before his world was turned upside down. Had the baby 4 days early. DH was home for a week to help out. The first two weeks after DH went back to work were pretty tiring and DS tried it on a few times due to not getting the same amount of attention. Now, 3 months on he is absolutely fine and I really love having him and the baby home, and he is so loving towards his little brother. The reason I didn't keep him in DC until after baby was born is because I didn't want him to feel left out or 'replaced'. That was just how I felt, but I'm sure there are pros and cons whichever way you decide to do it. Good luck.

I'm contemplating what to do with DD and DC too. She's only in 2 days a week and I'm finishing 5 weeksish before baby is due. I was thinking that I would keep her in for a couple of weeks at part time hours then have her finish 2 weeks before bubs arrives. DH is on holiday for 2 weeks after my due date (he's a teacher and I'm due on the last day of term 3)so hopefully I won't go as overdue this time so that he will be home for a week or so before going back to work.

For us it is financial (we could afford it but it would mean me going back to work slightly early if we keep her in) plus I really love having DD home!

Hi

I took DD1 out the same time I finished work which was about 38 weeks, I only worked3 days a week.
I also wanted to spend that 1:1 time with her before bubs was born and we also had time to discuss the baby and what was going to happen (like where the baby would sleep etc).
I also couldn't justify the cost for her to be in daycare when I was at home and we our daycare had minimum two days.
I ended up with an emer. C-section so was homebound for 4 weeks after. DH stayed home for 3 weeks. I really enjoyed introducing dd1 to her sister.
I also didn't want to send her away because another sibling had arrived. I wanted equal playing fields. DD1 was only 21 1/2 months when her sister arrived so I wanted to spend as much time with her as I could.
good luck in your decision.


Edited by Mango

Thanks Mango. We'll have the same age gap so glad it worked for you

One reason I'm leaning towards taking her out a week or so after is so that if I labour during the day she can go to daycare and I can labour without worrying about her. At least I know she's very happy at daycare.

I had the same dilemma when my son was born last year. DD was only there 2 days a week but it was a 20 minute drive each way. She finished when I stopped working at 35 weeks and DS was a week over so we had 6 weeks together. It was really nice to have those last few weeks getting ready for the baby together. She was 2 years 8 months when he was born. The main reason I took her out was that it was winter and I didn't want the baby picking up all the bugs she got at daycare. And it worked, we had much less sickness with her at home. It was also good not to have to wake baby for drop-offs and pickups.
Good luck!

These are all good points! It's a hard decision for sure.

Bobchannz, I'm planning a home birth, but if it's during the day it would be nice to get someone to drop her off to creche cos I won't worry about her at all while she's there. But who knows if I'll birth on a weekday!