Best way to do this: AP with newborn and preschooler

[Anonymous]

I think a big factor should be whether older DC has been in full-day before and whether this is a familiar school environment. If you have a newborn specialist, then you will have older DC go to a new school/adjust to full day, then have new sib and random nanny that doesn't really interact with DC1 and is only there a few months, while mom is home but recovery from surgery and dad apparently has work travel and then DC1 and DC2 would both have to adjust to a new au pair living with and caring for them over the winter school holidays right after mom goes back to work. That timeline is rough.

If this Full-day pre-K is going to be a transition in itself, then that would be a strong argument for me in favor of having au pair start in September and bond with DC 1 so that there is a connection there to support DC1 through all of the changes of new school environment/schedule and new sibling.

If DC1 is going to be on a similar schedule and similar routine to last year then I might lean more towards a temp nanny.