smart smart smart. I haven't had me time for 7 months... Do it!

Anonymous wrote:Agree with the last few posters. Send the child part-time next week, although you will probably pay the full time tuition this gives you time to have some me time before going back to work.

I would have loved to have this option when I was on maternity leave. A great compromise.

Agree with the last few posters. Send the child part-time next week, although you will probably pay the full time tuition this gives you time to have some me time before going back to work.

I agree. I would start atleast a 1 or 2 weeks before you go back to get them accustomed, and yourself. This will also give you 1-3 hours a day at the beginning to get stuff ready. Like the other posters said... get your hair cut, go to the gym. Take a NAP!!!! I did that with both my kiddos and it really helped us both. If you like me once you go back you will not have time in the first year to think about any of the YOU stuff. So get it done NOW!!1

I agree with PP. Start paying for the spot and taking your baby in part time to transition — for both of you. So much easier for when you start back at work if you aren't bawling all day on your first day

Anonymous wrote:New mom here. I've been looking for an in-home daycare spot for a while now. A provider just called me with a spot that's open starting next week, but I don't go back to work for another 3 weeks. Can I ask them to hold the spot? Should I expect to pay for the weeks between now and then in order to hold the spot?

How does it work? Thanks for your advice...

If you are going back in 3 weeks and the spot is available next week I think it is perfect timing. You can spend the next 2 weeks getting into the routine of dropping off. You can go and get a little alone time to prepare for getting back to work - a haircut, get your nails done - a little shopping - go and do your grocery shopping - or get a bunch of food prepared so that evenings are not so crazy.

We paid a month to hold a spot before my son was old enough to start daycare. The age limit was the daycare's rule. Had he been old enough, i would have used the week prior to my return to work to send him in part time to ease him into a full schedule.

If it's a provider you really want, I would offer to pay her 1 1/2 weeks-seems like a good compromise if you are going back to work in 3 weeks. We got a spot at a daycare that we wanted 2 months before we needed it and ended up paying $1700 for them to hold it so a couple of weeks payment for a good home daycare is well worth it.

Yes, ask her. And clarify whether she will hold the spot for you with a deposit, or do you need to pay for the slot now. Could be either way.

I paid in full to hold a space at a daycare center at my work for almost two months until my daughter was old enough to be enrolled. It was a lot of money but for me it was the only game in town and worth every penny.

Ask her. Every provider is different -- especially in the home daycare world.

FWIW, my home daycare held my spot for 2.5 months. I paid a standard deposit of 1 week's pay ($250 at the time). The deposit would have been the same if I was starting in a week or 6 months. I did not pay for the weeks my child was not there.

New mom here. I've been looking for an in-home daycare spot for a while now. A provider just called me with a spot that's open starting next week, but I don't go back to work for another 3 weeks. Can I ask them to hold the spot? Should I expect to pay for the weeks between now and then in order to hold the spot?

How does it work? Thanks for your advice...