Leave Ur Kid at Daycare and Go Back Home???

I have done this, when I worked and had a day off but day care was still open I took him in. First, I still pay for that day even if he does not attend, and second I could use the time for myself. I agree that a deep cleaning like that happens best when no one is home to disrupt what you have going on. I would do this in a heartbeat were I you.

I have a 4 year-old and a 1 year-old. My older son is in preschool three days per week and the baby is in daycare two days per week. I work part time, but most weeks I have at least part of a day free while the kids are being cared for elsewhere.
I could pick them up early, but usually I grocery shop and clean the house so that on the weekend I don't have to worry about those things and we can have more fun family time. It's win/win, cause they are happier at daycare/preschool than strapped in a grocery cart or parked at home so mom can get the house cleaned.

Do it and don't feel guilty.

Absolutely!! I'm off on Friday and my husband is working from home. So we'll both be there. The youngest goes to daycare normally, but I always leave it up to him if he goes when we are home. If he stays with us, it's normally cleaning, errands, and homework. If he goes to daycare, he gets to play, sing, dance, etc...

So I just leave it up to my kiddo :).

And I agree - if it's a sometimes thing, do it. If it's every day, there's a whole other issue involved.

Havent you asked this question already? You should go back to your post on January, 17 2012 and read the answers you go there. You got 34 responses

And looking back I just noticed you also asked this question on December, 11 2011.

Have you forgotten that you already asked this question back in January? You got 34 responses!

DO IT!

Look at the bright side - on Saturday and Sunday - you can devote your full attention to your little person instead of rushing around cleaning like a wild person.

Several times a year my children go to daycare while I stay home and clean, or shop or get a hair cut. Sometimes, I even lay on the couch and eat candy and watch a Lifetime movie!

At first, I wouldnt do it because I felt too guilty - I already leave them every day for work and then I was missing out on even more time with them.

However, these 3-4 days a year make a big difference.

We get the chance to live in a clean house for about 48 hours. I feel less frazzled and the kids (both toddlers 3 and 2) get my full attention for the weekend after.

DO IT!

Edit to add: Ha ha ha - just read other responses - If you need reassurance, ask the question as many times as you want. This is what this forum is for - to provide support.

Your child will have more fun at daycare, because if you were cleaning you wouldn't be playing with her. You will feel better when you do the cleaning you want to do. No need to feel bad.

Blessings...

why should you feel bad about doing something you want and need to get done? Your child will be at a safe place having fun instead of under your feet wanting to play or talk.

So yes. I've done it. Many moons ago when my kids were in day care. When I had a day off from Kindercare - my kids were there and my butt was back home sleeping or cleaning.

DO NOT feel bad about doing this.

Please put on your own oxygen mask FIRST, and then assist others.

You're the parent - YOU make the hard calls. :)

good luck!

Oh my goodness, yes! Our youngest started Kindergarten this year, so we don't have kids in full time daycare anymore. But, when we did, we would totally take days to ourselves! My husband and I work at the same company and we have some odd holidays during the year where work is closed but daycare was open. We would sleep in a little and let the kids wake up on their own time and then we'd pack them up and take them to daycare like any other weekday! Sometimes we would do like you...we'd come home and do much needed cleaning or yard work. Sometimes we'd do date days and just have fun together out and about! But to answer your question.........HECK YEAH! =0) We pay SO MUCH money for daycare and the kids have a great time there and they are well taken care of for the day. So you take that time and go home and blast some good music and clean your heart out! =0)

DON'T FEEL BAD. I've done that before. I'm telling on myself but I've done it more than once!! If I've paid for daycare for the whole week and I got a day off from work during that week--hey--- it sure stayed "a day off". :) I used it to shop, have lunch with a girlfriend, go home and took a nap, whatever I wanted to do. We deserve it. Don't feel bad.

every couple of months or so, i'll take a day off of work and my husband and i will take our son to preschool and then go watch a movie! we don't have babysitters so that is the only way we can have dates. you're taking your kid to daycare to CLEAN aka do chores. Please don't feel badly about it!! Just think - you're making the house more sanitary for your child to live in :) Enjoy your cleaning day! Try to do something a little fun too while you're at it :)

You're providing your child with an opportunity to play, have fun, a different (different is good) environment, with activities. That's not a bad thing. You're providing your child a healthier, cleaner, more organized home environment. After cleaning you can know what needs to go out and what you need to replace....that can only help your child whether they notice or not. If it makes your husband very happy, if it makes you very happy, that will also positively affect her whether she knows why or not. Sane mom = better home environment. :)
If you left her somewhere 10 hours a day while you watched Oprah and ate bon bons every single day, it'd be a different thing. This is for a specific thing that needs to be handled. You'd be ignoring her; she'd be off to the side watching TV or playing all alone if she was home.........or you'd be fussing at her to please stop messing with things that 2 year olds mess with when they see mom doing something. That's no fun! Being with peers and being played with sounds much more appealing, doesn't it?

We have a nanny, but there are MANY times that DH and I will play hookie from work and go see a movie or have lunch or something while we have the nanny there.

Take advantage of your resources and your sanity Mama! It's OK!

If it's one day, don't feel any guilt. If you did it everyday, that's another story.

I work and homeschool my 4 kids, and my house is pretty darn clean, but there are times I can't seem to catch up all of the way, so I have my aunt come and take them to the park for a few hours. It goes a LONG way to keeping me sane.

Oh man do I ever suffer with this kind of guilt! It's ok though! Think of your litlte one getitng to play and run around instead of you trying to keep him confined while you clean! They really don't mind, after all, you are cleaning for him too! You also have the whole weekend to be with him/her. It's hard on us Mom's sometimes, I know with my 3 girls I feel like if I am not working that I should be with them 24/7, but the truth is, they don't want to be with me 24/7. It's about the quality of the time, not quantity, and it sounds like you really do care! So don't stress it!!

I have done this! It was a day that I had off at work, but daycare was open. I had to pay for daycare for that day whether they were there or not. I got so much done that day!!

dont feel bad do it he/shed be there anyway if u werent home on that particular day anyway right? ull be able to get everything done in one day instead of it becoming a huge project ... ive seen alot worse ..i know someone who goes to work an hour after her kid starts daycare but yet every morning she wakes up &drives the kid to grandmas (a few minutes away) to make the lil one breakfast/get her ready for school and then bring her.. so the mom has her own time in the morning, watches tv/does whatever she needs to do n gets ready and then goes to work... dont feel bad that your taking one day to clean

I think it's great. This way you will have time to spend with your 2 year old over the week-end because you won't be cleaning or thinking about cleaning.

Don't feel bad!!! You need that time without him.

It's totally fine. Sometimes you just gotta have mommy time, even if it's to clean. And if you finish early, you go get your kiddo :)

It's worth a lot to be able to go nuts on your cleaning. I clean the best when I'm all alone. Now my son is in school, but when he was younger I paid a flat rate at daycare and I'd have a few times where I'd leave him there for an hour or 2 so I could get things done. I think if it's handy then do it. When I think it's strange is when you go completely out of your way to do something. I used to have a friend who had 2 kids w/2 dads. Before she'd go to Wal Mart she'd drive all over town dropping off the kids and then go. I thought that was kinda extreme. I'd rather just go and get it over w/kid and all!!!

Don't feel bad. Even if it's just for a few hours you will still have the whole rest of the day. We Mamas have so much to do!!!

I do it every day for my sanity. I am a stay at home mom where my 5 year old goes to preschool every day for 4 hours and my 3 year old goes to a church day care 2 times a week for 3 hours... my 1 year old stays home but then I can actually do a few things here and there if he is sleeping.

I have so done that! I had a friend in from out of town for almost a week and my 4 year old was at daycare / preschool that entire week. Now did he stay all day like he would if I was at work, no, but he was still there. Don't feel bad!

i do this!!! My kids were in full time daycare at one point and I have a home business. Some try to tell me thats not right or fair and how lucky spoiled am i?? Well either my business or the kids would be neglected if i tried to do both jobs at the same time.

The way I look at it is my kids are getting social time, eating well balanced meals (they wont eat veggies at my house), getting educated as well as having time away from momma. While I dont agree with just shoving them off on someone else any chance you get (all day with one person and other ppl in the evenigs) its healthy for them to be seperated. Its healthy for us to get a little break. Even if its only to clean the house. Which if your deep spring cleaning removing everything from closets and cabients or moving fruniture around it can be dangerouse for your child to be at home. its ok and they will have fun and you will get something done too! happy cleaning ! !

Yes of course. I've taken vacation days to clean and still took the kids to daycare. They have fun and I don't feel a bit bad about it!

I know a mom who doesn't work, has one child and pays for beforecare and aftercare for her K'er. And she says how incredibly busy she is... You doing this one day is no big deal at all. You'll feel way better all weekend with your house clean and likely be a better mom than distracted thinking how you need to clean or want to clean.

It's fine. People do it, I'm sure.

Split the difference and pick her up early for a surprise!

GO FOR IT! Sometimes you need the extra time to do that sort of stuff. One day will not scar her for life. I think you should do it, and don't feel bad about it, make up the time next Friday by taking her somere FUN! No worries mom, clean away!! :)

I've done it, and so has many others. If it's during their regular hours then you're already paying for that time anyway. If it's extra hours be sure to let them know you'll be picking up late. Being a parent is hard and you need time to clean or even catch a shower and nap! You're not being a bad parent. Your child is in good hands and you need time to do things for yourself so you can be a better parent and get things done so you can spend more time with your child. If your child were home you'd be too busy cleaning to give them attention so why not have them someplace where they're safe and have fun. I find it no different than having a neighbor or family member taking them.

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

Don't feel bad. Your little one will probably have much more fun at daycare than he would watching you clean the house.

Look at it this way, the hours that you leave him at daycare to clean, equal more "stress free" hours for you to enjoy him. YOu will be much more relaxed and fun if you know your house is clean and that you've tackled somethings on your "to do" list!

Why dont you just pick her up early. Take her in the morning and pick her up for lunch or after lunch and go to the zoo or something.

it's actually better for your little one to keep the same schedule. if you keep him/her home she/he will expect you to play etc. leave them at daycare and get your stuff done. why pay for an extra sitter when your already paying for daycare?

I would say take them so they can stay on their schedule and take the day to do whatever you want. You have to pay for the day anyway so why not use it wisely.

My daughter (22 months) LOVES her daycare, so I routinely might leave her for an extra 30 minutes every day or every other day so I can run an errand, which she would hate to be with me for!! She loves playing with her friends -- why should I take her on boring chores (or make her wait around while I clean, which IS necessary and if you cannot afford a cleaner - as I cannot- you must do it yourself). You should do whatever feels right for you and your child IMO. It's not like you are leaving your child to get a pedicure!

Please don't get yourself upset... you are not taking a 'vacation day' for heaven's sake (though I'll bet you deserve one, Mama!)... you are going home to clean. This is not bad, it's Very Very Sane! And you will have more time when Kiddo's home to focus on fun, because some of the bigger cleaning will be done.

I'm a SAHM and my 4 yo goes to Mothers Day Out. So, technically speaking, I do exactly what you are worried about, 3 times a week! 8-O

Why not split the difference. take the day off do your spring cleaning but pick kiddo up a hour or so early and do something fun.---Whether or NOT your cleaning is finished. Set a timer, get him and spend that hour with him.

My friend will go home and take a nap and then go back and get her kids.....could be worse lol
You obviously don't do this all the time. As a SAHM I know trying to clean w/ the kids around is twice the chore. Go for it. You can make it up over the weekend :)

What??? I must be a horrible mom, I would not think TWICE about doing this. Happy Spring Cleaning! =)

I've done that before and then just made a point of picking the kids up early & doing something fun with them. It ends up being a hooky day for all of us.