if #1 was in daycare before #2 was born

and you took some form of maternity leave, did you continue sending #1 to daycare when #2 arrived? Did you take any break to have them both home?

Re: if #1 was in daycare before #2 was born

DD usually goes to daycare 4 days a week. While I'm on on leave I will be sending her 2 days a week.

This way, I can get some time alone with the new baby and she stays in the routine.

Re: if #1 was in daycare before #2 was born

DS went to daycare while I was on maternity leave with DD. When this baby comes, DD will also go to daycare while I am home with the baby (DS is on first grade so he will also be at school).

Re: if #1 was in daycare before #2 was born

DD went to daycare 2x per week before DS was born. She continued to go after he was born.

She was 18 months old and so much change was happening at home, I wanted to keep her routine and schedule as consistent as possible.

if #1 was in daycare before #2 was born

DS#1 went to daycare for a half day rather than a full day. Gave me time to bond with the baby and DS#1's routine wasn't broken up by stopping daycare.

if #1 was in daycare before #2 was born

DS 1 was going 3x a week when DS 2 was born and we kept him in 3x a week until I went back to work.

Re: if #1 was in daycare before #2 was born

DS is in daycare fulltime now. I am debating continuing full-time while I am on leave (for 12 weeks) or keeping him home 2 days a week.

I don't want to disrupt his schedule too much (he absolutely LOVES daycare) but I sort of feel guilty about not having him home part time bonding with his new sister?

if #1 was in daycare before #2 was born

DD is in daycare full time and when we have DC#2 I will continue to have DD in daycare full time to not mess with her routine.

I will probably pick her up an hour earlier and on some days maybe even earlier than that depending on the time of year but for the most part she will continue to go.

Re: if #1 was in daycare before #2 was born

Yes -
I took a 6 month leave and instead of going 3 days a week and being w/ my parents the other 2 days - He went 2 days a week and was w/ me 3 days .....

I felt he had to keep some routine especially for 6 months - it would have been unfair to
1. Him - to let him get used to being home w/ my for 6 months, and then expect him to roll right back into the 6 am wake up to daycare, pick up at 6 pm routine
2. His little brother to not get ANY undivded attention from me

Re: if #1 was in daycare before #2 was born

DS1 was in daycare/preschool FT when DS2 was born. He continued to attend FT for the first 2-3 weeks so I could recover from my c-section. Then, we dropped him down to 3 times per week. I wanted to keep his routine fairly consistent. He really enjoys daycare and learns a lot. Plus, I wanted to have some time alone with DS2.