Maternity Leave and Daycare for older DC?

I will be on Materinity from August through the end of December, returning in January. DS currently goes to daycare 5 days a week. He is 4 and in the pre-k room with a cirriculum. I'm waiting to hear back from director... I don't even know if it is an option, but if possible, would you switch him to 3 days a week to keep his routine and have him home more or keep him in for 5 days and just drop him off later and pick him up earlier.

What did you do? How did it work? Pros/cons? I would be doing the drop offs and pick ups. DH will be working. Is it better to have him have more home time or more school time. Is it better to not have to go out in the morning or not so bad to lug baby out in the morning to drop DS off??

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Re: Maternity Leave and Daycare for older DC?

I would send him the 5 days but shorter hours.

Re: Maternity Leave and Daycare for older DC?

I kept dd full time until DS was 8 weeks. I didnt want her to be stuck in the house. He was also a winter baby, so we were trapped in the house.


After 8 weeks, I dropped her to 3 days a week, 1/2 days.

It saved us $, more home time, but still kept it as part of the routine for DD. She loves going there, so I know she would have missed it if I pulled her completely.
I also didnt want the return to work/fulltime daycare to be a big shock.

HTH!

I think it worked out perfect, I loved having full days with her, breakfast with her, mornings.


ETA: if you have to do all drops/pickups, 3 days would be easier for that also.

Message edited 6/13/2011 10:29:07 AM.

Re: Maternity Leave and Daycare for older DC?

If possible, I would keep the older DC home for the first 8 weeks or so, and then send on a part time basis. My kids get sick so often at daycare, so I would try to avoid that with a newborn. Then i would want DC to have his/her schedule back, but would also like the extra time with them.

Re: Maternity Leave and Daycare for older DC?

DS only goes 2x but I'm keeping his schedule the same. I think if he went 5x a week, I'd keep him in but maybe pick him up earlier.

I personally don't want DS to get used to me being at home (when he's already not used to it, kwim?) I wouldn't want him to have a hard transition going back in 3 short months.

Re: Maternity Leave and Daycare for older DC?

DS goes to daycare 4 days a week and Fridays he's with my parents. I'm due in 4 weeks so I plan on keeping DS in daycare 3 days a week. I want to keep him on his schedule. Plus, he naps better there and he will get to do all the fun activities I may not be able to do with him. At least for the first month or so from recovering from a c-section and staying indoors with a newborn.

DS is 2 and has been at daycare since he was 3 months. My parents live close so they're going to help out a lot too.

Re: Maternity Leave and Daycare for older DC?

Thank you for the replies.

I'm so torn on this... I don't want to disrupt his schedule and I don't want him to get used to me being home, only for him to have to get used to me going to work again... He enjoys daycare, but he enjoys being with me too. I don't want him to feel left out.

It helps to hear others experiences.

Thanks!

Re: Maternity Leave and Daycare for older DC?

I kept DD in part time. I knew it would be tough for her to sit home with me and a new baby. It was great because she got to keep her routine and I got to bond with DS.

Re: Maternity Leave and Daycare for older DC?

Thanks!

Any other advice?

I spoke to Director. I can drop him down to 3 days, however, my 5 day a week spot wouldn't technically be "held" for him. Technically if someone else called looking for the spot, they could give it to him, but the Director said she would call me first so that I could up him back to 5 days a week.

Re: Maternity Leave and Daycare for older DC?

Bumping for night crew!