Daycare or not??? help please

I have a dilemma.  I have Tom enrolled to start at the new preschool thats opening around the corner.  He is down to start at the beginning of Feb. But I dont really know my motivation for enrolling him.

 

He went to preschool before we moved but I was working and he was only in for 2 half days.  he loved it.  I guess I kinda assumed I would just find him one here.  But I wont be working and I am a little afraid that he might feel pushed aside with bubs arriving in Jan.

 

We just went for a look around and he happily played with all the toys.  They couldnt give me all the details yet except that they have 18 under 2s enrolled and are looking at ratios of 1:5 for the unders.  I only met one of the teachers and she is there for a few months until another centre opens in Oamaru.  she was nice...but very young.

 

Why should I put him in?  I was going to cancel our booking as I thought the only reason I really wanted him in was because it is nearly impossible to get a place at a daycare in Cromwell until they are nearly 3.  But I dont feel thats a good enough reason.  I am not going to be working so why cant he stay home. 

 

Then a few of my coffee group friends said that they would definately keep him in as I am going to need the time out with a new baby. 

 

Help!!!! I would love to hear some opinions, experiences etc.

 

Also...who knows how the child care subsidy works?

That is what I was thinking too.

i know when charli arrived i loved having jack at daycare! i mean that in the nicest way of course

Gina loooves daycare. They get to do a lot of things we don't really do at home like messy play, water play, paining etc. She also gets to intereact with other kids and has gotten to be a very confident child as a result

What kind of days have you booked him in for - if it is only part time like he was in chch then I would go with it. Everybody around me reckons that i am going to want some time out from Luke once baby gets here - but we don't have the choice... MIL is going to have him quite a bit to give him a change of scenery and some adventure!

I think going a couple days a week, even for half days is really good especially with the social interaction with the other children his age. My DD has been in daycare for a while and loves it there !! Plus gives you a break with the new baby - I would get him in early though before baby arrives so he is settled in and doesn't feel left out when baby arrives

sno0ze wrote: I think going a couple days a week, even for half days is really good especially with the social interaction with the other children his age. My DD has been in daycare for a while and loves it there !! Plus gives you a break with the new baby - I would get him in early though before baby arrives so he is settled in and doesn't feel left out when baby arrives

I'd be happier doing that but unfortunately it doesnt open till 5 Jan and this baby is due 14 Jan so I dont want any committments around the 5th.  I have Tom booked to start early Feb.  When I asked advice from the manager on how kids cope with a new sibling etc she didnt seem able to answer...just thought I should start him 5 Jan.  I dont want to be paying for days he's not there because we are in turmoil with a new baby.

Thanks Glow, I wanted to here opinions from both sides and I think I am leaning a bit towards your thinking.  But at the same time trying to be realistic about what I can and cant cope with.  I also had the thought that the money would be better spent on a cleaner so I didnt have that to worry about. 

 

There are plenty of activities here that Tom goes to and I would want to keep them  up.  That keeps us busy 3-4 mornings a week.  I'm thinking that to put daycare in I would have to drop something or have an overcommitted boy.

 

Basically my gut tells me to drop it but EVERYONE has told me I'm nuts to even consider that.  The only advantage for Tom would be different stimulation and messy play (but I just need to get over myself and let him make a mess here).  Otherwise the advantages are all for me.

 

I'd love to hear what others who didnt use daycare think too.

Unfortunately I have to have him in for a minimum of 2 6hour days and thats the bit we are really not keen on.  Of course I can pick him up earlier but I still pay $35 per day.  $70 a week is a bit when you arent working.....think how much cleaning could be done for $70

 

They are having their official open day on 23rd so I am making hubby come with me for his opinion.  I cant believe I am having so much trouble with this decision.  As a result I think I mustnt want it deep down.

 

I think I would miss him.

I never put Jack into daycare either. We started playcentre when he was two but before that we had playgroup once a week and that was about it. You will be surprised with what you can cope with.

Jack was still having 2 sleeps when Caprece was born so I got their sleeps lined up and had plenty of time to myself, I actually think that hassle of dropping and picking up may outweigh the benefit while bubs is still young. Since newborns don't do much and you have already done it before you will find they don't take up so much time and there will be plenty of time for Tom.

Do they have a playcentre? Its got everything that daycare does but you are there and there are plenty of people on hand who love to cuddle little babies. We started going for Jack but Caprece is such a typical playcentre baby and she loves it too.