Should I Keep My 2 1/2 Year Old in Preschool When the Baby Is Born?

You're going to get differing opinions from everyone-here's mine. Keep him home so everyone can enjoy the new addition. Crazy or not, it is a once in a lifetime experience for everyon. When my son was born, I had been working full time, unfortunately, and my daughter was in daycare. I dropped her to 2 half days (9-1). Looking back I wished I hadn't missed any time with either of them and should have kept her home. (I also should have quit and stayed home altogether, then, but that is another story-I'm home now.) The time will go by so fast, don't miss out on any of it.

YES! When I had my baby, my girl had just started pre-school... the timing couldn't have been better. It was GREAT for her to be in preschool... it was HER time and she had her friends and it was a nice socialization for her.

My daughter was in preschool everyday, for half a day. She loved it. She adjusted just fine. For me, it was a great help, having her in school for part of the day. She came home happy, I had the mornings with only my baby... and it worked out great.

Just because you are home, does not mean he has to be home too and the baby, don't feel guilty about that.

At preschool, they really enjoy it. I lOVED that the timing of my birth and my daughter started preschool just in time.

Keep him at his present schedule. That is what I would recommend... then he also would not have to adjust to having it different. PLUS you will need the one on one time with baby... and it will work out well.

YES, by all means, I would suggest you keep to the same schedule. I did that and am VERY glad.

*by the way, I was also recovering from a c-section with my son... and so having just him and I home was much easier on me. It wasn't so bad taking my eldest child to school or picking her up. For the first 2-weeks my Husband and then my Mom was home to help. But after that, I was on my own... and it worked out well for us, to keep my daughter in her preschool... she also loved it, as it was her time and not just having Mommy be with baby all the time and juggling the 2 of them.

Congratulations on your baby, and take care,
~Susan
www.cafepress.com/littlegoogoo

I think that the adjustment of stopping school altogether plus the new baby might be too much change. If I were you I would keep in maybe part time - then his routine wouldn't be completely changed and you could also take advantage of your time w/both your kiddies. Good luck!

Hi there,
I think it's important to maintain a child's schedule. That said this new sibling is important to your son and they need to bond also. Perhaps a half day program during the summer while you are home will give you a chance to give baby your attention (and give you a chance to nap with baby) and then have some fun time with brother.
Of course, you will have to go by what you feel like when you have baby #2. You may feel super energized or run over by a mack truck.
I kept my kid in preschool: 2days/week, 9-12. Sometimes I wish she was in school til 3! But all in all, she is glad she has her school and she has more than enough time with baby #2 who is now 3 months old.

BTW, Congratulations!!!!!
E.

I did this myself afew years back. I kept my 18 month old in school full time, but dropped his hours back. Instead of being there almost 9 hours per day which was required since I worked full time, I would drop him off late and pick him up earlier. This gave him the consistency of continuing with school and his friends but he got more time with me than usual and time to spend with the baby, and gave me time to bond with the baby and get into a routine. I think if I had tried to keep my son home with me, he probably would have felt neglected since the baby took up so much of my time.

When my daughter was born, I fully intended to keep her in daycare with the shorter hours of 10 - 3 (or whenever she woke up from her nap). However, I ended up keeping her home with me the entire time. It was just easier to stay home and relax in the mornings. By the time I was ready to take her, it was time for her nap, so it wasn't really worth going. As it worked out, I returned to work, finished the school year and quit.

Hi NH and congrats on the baby coming! My DD was 22 months when DS was born. I worked FT and she was in daycare 8-5 except Wed when my MIL would watch her for some Grandma time. I agree with the PP who said that it would be less disruptive for your son to continue his current schedule. On my maternity leave, I got up every morning with my kids, got DD ready, packed them in the car and drove her to daycare. She loved being with her friends, I was able to focus on DS (because really, DD got undivided attention when she was born) and it was less stressful for me during those first few months than to have to worry about a toddler and a newborn. Alone. All day. Plus, we didn't want to lose our spot in the wonderful in home daycare we had. Anyway, it really worked well for us. Best of luck and hope it works out!

Hello!

I was in your shoes last year too. My daughter started preschool in July and she turned two in August, her little brother was born October 1st. I wanted to keep her in school. She had so many friends and really loved her teachers - and vice versa! But my husband, on the other hand...his parents were coming to stay with us for three months to "help", so he thought we could "save" the money and keep her home during that time. I was so sad for her to take her out of school. Just in the couple of months time she was there, we could tell a huge difference in her and I didn't want her to miss out on anything, and I didn't want to disrupt her routine either.

It was rough for me having her home. I had too many people in the house to begin with, but she woke up every morning by 6am, sometimes earlier. She started her terrible two's in full force and it was just more than I could (or wanted) handle. It would have been much easier for me had she stayed in school, even if it were part-time or for maybe three days a week.

Good luck!

-Char