Not sure where you live, but could you do one of the daycares with a free Prek program? CentroNia, Easter Seals, Rosemount, Barbara Chambers, etc

Go back and visit Appletree. Decide if you REALLY want that program - and through Kindergarten. If you do, then do #3, nanny share/Apple tree. If, however, you'd only be doing it to save money, then think long and hard, because your current center might be more perfect for another year - continuity, play based, whatever it is. then do nanny share/current center.

Also, find out if Appletree follows public school calendar for all the closings - if so, you'd need backup care and having a nanny share might not allow your 3 year old to be with the nanny and 2 babies all those freakin' snow days, staff development days, conference days, spring, winter, blah blah break, etc. you'll have to deal with that eventually, but why this year if you don't have to?

If you had your OWN nanny then you'd work it into the contract that your older one would be home with nanny for all days off from public school - there are a LOT every single month - google the DCPS calendar for this year to get a sense- but not sure the other parent in the share would want your 3 year old home all day with 2 babies. On those days it would make sense that the share was at your house, even if it's not usually....

honestly, if you have the money, just keep him where he is because it's probably open much more than a public school, and do a nanny share. Trust me, much easier this year!

Option 3 or Option 2 but wouldn't keep 3yr old at home after being in daycare. Poor kid will be totally bored.

Option #3. Older kid will like stimulation and making new friends. Nanny can pick him up afterschool and he will still have time at home with baby. Baby will have more one on one time with nanny. Win win.

Id send your 3-to to Appletree for the year and have a nanny for the nb. We currently have our kids - 4 and 2.5 with a nanny in the afternoon and in morning preschool. The four yo is fine but I think his behavior would be much better if he was more challenged and stimulated by kids his own age all day. Apple tree will offer new developmental challenges that a naany or daycare won't offer and you can do Lottery for another school next year.

If you can swing the cost, I'd probably do #2--least transition for your older child as he becomes a big brother. Exception might be if you would stay at Appletree till K if you accepted, in which case I'd go for it. If you are going to try the lottery again next year and would potentially move him then, that seems like a lot of movement (but obviously if cost is a deciding factor, that's just how it goes).

Anonymous wrote:I budgeted 2500, because if it was just the nanny with the baby we would probably do a share. That is what we did for the first 18 months with number 1 and loved it.

And yes, I think our 3 year old would probably hate being home with a nanny. So I think options 2 and 3 are really our only options.

Okay, that makes sense then. I would definitely do the nanny share for the first 1-2 years for the baby, and either keep your DC where he is, or send to Appletree.

Anonymous wrote:I can't imagine pulling a three year old from a daycare setting into an all day nanny setting with an infant. I feel like the 3 year old would hate it.

This. Your 3 year old will get bored and hate it - not to mention it is probably bad for their development.

I budgeted 2500, because if it was just the nanny with the baby we would probably do a share. That is what we did for the first 18 months with number 1 and loved it.

And yes, I think our 3 year old would probably hate being home with a nanny. So I think options 2 and 3 are really our only options.

I can't imagine pulling a three year old from a daycare setting into an all day nanny setting with an infant. I feel like the 3 year old would hate it.

Anonymous wrote:We didn't get in anywhere for the Prek3 lottery for DCPS. We will likely get into an appletree we have on our list, but not sure we want to send our son there. We are also having a baby this summer. Here are our options. I would love opinions.

1) Send baby and 3 year old to daycare 3 year old is currently attending. I don't love the infant room there and would prefer infant to be home with nanny. This would run us about 3700/month
2) Send 3 year old to daycare he is currently attending and keep baby home with nanny. I imagine this would run us about 4000/month.
3) Send 3 year old to prek3 and appletree and keep baby home with nanny. This would be about 2500/month
4) Keep both kids home with nanny. This would be about 3000/month

Thoughts?

Are you sure you can get a good full-time nanny for $2500/month, or do you not need full-time care for the baby? I just want to be sure you are budgeting realistically. The bare minimum a nanny costs is $15/hour, but most good nannies charge more. Plus, you need to factor in overtime for hours over 40 per week, and employer taxes.

Budget aside, I would keep the baby home with a nanny for at least the first year, and I would want my 3 year old to be in at least a part-time preschool program.

I would keep both home with nanny bc that's personally the easiest and then spend some of the savings on social activities for 3yo.

We didn't get in anywhere for the Prek3 lottery for DCPS. We will likely get into an appletree we have on our list, but not sure we want to send our son there. We are also having a baby this summer. Here are our options. I would love opinions.

1) Send baby and 3 year old to daycare 3 year old is currently attending. I don't love the infant room there and would prefer infant to be home with nanny. This would run us about 3700/month
2) Send 3 year old to daycare he is currently attending and keep baby home with nanny. I imagine this would run us about 4000/month.
3) Send 3 year old to prek3 and appletree and keep baby home with nanny. This would be about 2500/month
4) Keep both kids home with nanny. This would be about 3000/month

Thoughts?