SAHM's w Toddlers. Day care Q.

At the moment I work from home and my 27mth old has a babysitter that comes to the house. We are hoping to have #2 next year, at which stage I will give up work for a year and stay home with Dd and baby #2. I am worried that DD will be bored as I will be restricted with taking her to the library etc while new baby will be an infant.

But being a SAHM our budget will be limited so I dont see how day care will be an option.

So what do you SAHM's of 2 or more who dont have a huge pile of dough do with the older toddler(s) once you have an infant.

Thanks

Re: SAHM's w Toddlers. Day care Q.

what about preschool?

Re: SAHM's w Toddlers. Day care Q.

You get creative. Go to the library for their free programs, join a playgroup, find a friend with children and get together with them a lot. Lots of crafts, coloring, play-doh and markers.

I am a SAHM to a 3 year old, a 4 year old and a 10 month old.

Its not going to be as hard as you think... trust me!

Re: SAHM's w Toddlers. Day care Q.

we are signing her up for a preschool program-just can't decide on 2 or 3 mornings a week.

Right now....if they wake up at a certain time and we can get our act together, we go out. Otherwise, with the cost of gas and tight budget, we play here at home. We do crafts, going food shopping is fun for them, we try our best to mix it up.

When DC#2 was an infant, it was quite boring for her....I felt so guilty for having the tv on so much for the eating every 2 hours of the new baby.

Re: SAHM's w Toddlers. Day care Q.

Jeremy will be 2 when the baby is born. He is going to school in September for 3 mornings a week.
Now that I am pregnant, I get out of the house every day by doing a lot of play dates and just overall being "out". I also take him to camp (mommy and me since he is under 2) on monday and wednesday mornings. It is with the same kids he will be in school with in the fall.

Re: SAHM's w Toddlers. Day care Q.

My older DD will be 3 in September; she was 20 mos. when her little sister arrived last May. I also stopped working at that time.

In the beginning, I had DD#1 maintaining her routine from my working days 3 days a week between my mom's, my MIL's and my cousin's. On the days she was here all day long, I put her in the baby pool in the yard while DD#2 napped in the bouncy; my ILs bought us a sand and water table for outside and several balls, bubbles, etc. I was able to do a free library "class" 1x a week while my ILs watched DD#2. I bought a Sit and Stand stroller and went to the park a lot. Luckily, DD#2 was born in the spring, which made this all possible.

In September, I enrolled her in school one day a week for 2 hours and did a Just Wee Two class with her once a week.

Now, school and the playgroup is ended. DD#2 is almost 14 mos. now, but we have a whole different set of problems...lol. I can't bring them to the library without the little one screaming and fighting to come out of the stroller; going shopping is a challenge for the same reason. So, once again, being outside is the key! You should invest in several outdoor toys and things to keep her occupied and for a change of scenery from the house. Walk around the neighborhood...anything. It's all trial and error I find.

You know what...no matter what, you'll all survive! The anticipation of it all is actually worse than the reality!