WWYD...Planning ahead for second maternity leave

DD will be 2 when the new baby arrives in the spring. Right now she is home with a nanny Mon-Wed, DH telecommutes on Thurs and I am off on Fridays. She gets sooo much one on one attention and she's constantly at classes or the park etc.

We always said we would "consider" putting her in a daycare situation once she got a little older for the socializing aspect. There is one by us that is very open to part time/flexible schedules.

Would you:

-enroll her in the daycare now for Mon-Wed to get her adjusted. Then when on maternity leave, keep her in daycare those days so I have some time alone with the baby? (breaks my heart to feel like I'm "getting rid of her" to bond with the baby though. )

-keep her nanny and have the nanny stay on for about a month after the baby is born to help with the adjustment period. Then have both kiddies home alone with me for the remainder of my maternity leave (I would LOVE this, but I think DD might get "bored" and restless since I know we won't be going out too much in the beginning)

BTW...my maternity leave is 6 months.

Thanks for any advice!

Re: WWYD...Planning ahead for second maternity leave

Anyone?

TIA!

Re: WWYD...Planning ahead for second maternity leave

What are you childcare plans for after the baby comes ? stick with daycare ?

I would introduce daycare before the baby comes.


I kept dd in daycare fulltime the first 6 weeks. I was busy with doctor appts and it was winter and couldnt really get out with a newborn. Then I switched her to 3 mornings a week - kept her in the routine, got her out of the house and saw her friends. Also gave me time to nap/bond with the baby.

I think it worked out perfect!

Re: WWYD...Planning ahead for second maternity leave

DS will be 17 months old when I have DD.
I work FT.

I'm looking forward to having maternity leave to spend time with DS (especially mornings, when he gives hugs and kisses freely).

DD will not now any better.

I'll have my mom come & help out a bit... so I'd say go with the nanny option... but it's a personal decision & either option is not "better" than the other.