Op- you should not have any problems finding part-time daycare for your toddler. Since your child does not nap, you’ll have better luck looking for morning hours at any kind of daycare or preschool setting.

I’m in Arlington, but there are tons of part time preschools here. I’m a SAHM and my kids went 2 mornings a week when they were two, 3 at age 3, and 4 mornings in the year before K. My mom was a SAHM too and I went to what she called nursery school, same idea. You could also google Mothers Day Out. Our preschool and many others are housed in a church but aren’t religious at all. They play, do crafts, have snack, read books etc and I can go to the grocery store or nap or whatever. Can’t imagine making it through the toddler years without a consistent break!

I have also used nannies part time when dealing with one of my children’s special needs. We found families who wanted to keep their nanny when their youngest went to K, but she had free time in the mornings/early afternoons when the older kids were in school. But ultimately I preferred having the kids out of the house on a consistent basis. The childcare was great when I needed to be with one kid at therapy, but I wasn’t really able to get much done around the house when the toddler and nanny were home.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s no such thing as PT daycare. The only places that allow will be bottom of the barrel. Hire a sitter to take your kid outside. Use the time to sleep. Do chores while you take care of your toddler. You don’t need to be their entertainment 24/7

What a dumb comment. Of course there are part time day care options for toddlers. Lots of them actually. And no, they’re not the “bottom of the barrel”. Some of you should just keep your idiocy to yourselves.

+1. My toddler's daycare offers part time (not in OP's area, though)

Anonymous wrote:There’s no such thing as PT daycare. The only places that allow will be bottom of the barrel. Hire a sitter to take your kid outside. Use the time to sleep. Do chores while you take care of your toddler. You don’t need to be their entertainment 24/7

What a dumb comment. Of course there are part time day care options for toddlers. Lots of them actually. And no, they’re not the “bottom of the barrel”. Some of you should just keep your idiocy to yourselves.

You need a church preschool. Many of them aren’t even religious. Often you become eligible if your child is 2 by the fall, when the “academic” year starts. Many 2’s classes are like 2 mornings a week, for 2 hours each.

If your kid is too young, try to enroll in a my morning out program instead. A lot of churches have them.

^ and ignore the above poster, OP. My daughter is an easy child, sleeps very well, but I need some time to myself, without her.

Try a church based program, OP. My daughter went to a two mornings per week program starting last fall, for two year olds; you might be able to find something similar in your neighborhood.

Also, why does your kid need more socialization? There are so many free or cheap classes and activities in this area. You’re SAHMing wrong

There’s no such thing as PT daycare. The only places that allow will be bottom of the barrel. Hire a sitter to take your kid outside. Use the time to sleep. Do chores while you take care of your toddler. You don’t need to be their entertainment 24/7

You do not need to justify at ALL why you need a break. Everyone needs and deserves a break. I had grandma help and a part time babysitter when I was a SAHM and my mom put us in half day preschool when she was a SAHM.

I don't have specific recs as I'm not in DC proper but you can definitely find a spot in a preschool. Plenty of daycares that have part time programs. Consider church-run programs even if you are not religious. In my experience there is not a lot of Jesus talk at these programs for young ages. They are often more affordable/flexible.

also I know you didn't ask about this but I would really look at solutions for the sleep issues. Not normal for a 18+ month old not to sleep through the night. Personally I would sleep train

Look for a daycare that has part time options. We had DD in one in Silver Spring as a toddler. We even rotated the days due to my work rotating work schedule.
Also your kid needs a schedule and consistency. Work on sleep training, get her out in the fresh air every morning, even if it’s raining and do a nap routine at the same time every day. You can make your sahm experience better for both of you.

Not PP, but there was a blog post circulating on DCUM about the research on the harms of group care for very young children. Google "Childcare: what the science says" if you are really interested. I would honestly ignore it, the blog post tried to summarize the research for the general reader but ends up exaggerating the strength of the evidence. If a part time preschool/daycare is what works for you, do it. Home environment has much larger impacts on outcomes than child care arrangements.

OP here - I would prefer to have kid out of house for a few hours so I can do chores, sleep etc as needed. Care to share why you recommend a sitter instead of part time group care?

I understand your situation. Any possibility you would consider having a sitter come to your home? If so, I can explain why this would be the best thing for your child at this tender age.

We are located in NW DC have a car and are willing to travel outside of our immediate neighborhood. I am a SAHP who needs a break a few hours a week and would like my child to also get socialization too.

Is it too late to get into a school or daycare either starting now or in the fall? Any places that don’t charge for full time care when only two or three half days or two full days are required?

I need a break - I am having mental health issues from lack of sleep. My child does not sleep easily and still wakes almost every night. She also does not consistently nap. I still want to stay at home but I need some time off. Spouse and family cannot help.

Please help thank you so much for reading this.