Did you keep your child in childcare while you were on mat leave?

**Annie Goolahey** · 28-10-2008, 12:49pm

I'm going to have to have a chat with my CM today, and I'm dreading it.
I'm hoping (although money is awful) to keep J with her til June (I don't necessarily want to be tied to the school run/ trying to entertain him while getting a new baby into a routine.
But after that I want to have him at home for the summer onwards and (TBH) financially it would be nuts to pay for childcare when my salary will be feck all.
But I know he thrives there and loves it etc and I know she relies on the money.

What did you do?

**noo noo** · 28-10-2008, 12:55pm

I kept Kyle at nursery three days a week. I'd have definately lost his place there otherwise. It was goo to have those 3 days a week just for me and Iona especially at the beginning.

Don't let the bit about "I know she relies on the money" come into it. I'm sure she'll get another mindee in his place and its not something you should be worrying about.

**donna-j** · 28-10-2008, 12:59pm

We have kept him in two days (dropped the Friday morning) and it is saving my sanity but hammering us financially.

**bluekat** · 28-10-2008, 01:04pm

Lexie is now full time.

I did think about cutting her to 4 days but she's having none of it, she loves her school. I could in theory cut her to 4 days as she's in reception and it isn't compulsory.

BKx

**Cheetara** · 28-10-2008, 01:07pm

I kept Thomas in but dropped him down to three days as otherwise, like noo noo said, we would have lost our place.

**Mrs B** · 28-10-2008, 01:48pm

We're keeping Sol in, but cutting his hours slightly (5 hours 3 times a week down to 4 hours 3 times a week). It won't be easy financially but he deserves not to be mucked about plus it will be valuable time for me with the new baby. Also, his free funding kicks in less than 6 months later so it seems daft to take him out for just a few months.

**LiLi** · 28-10-2008, 02:34pm

Emma is staying in nursery for the three days that she was doing previously. It's lovely to have the time to myself at the moment - both to rest and to get all the baby stuff sorted out.

When Junior arrives I think it'll be better for all concerned too - Emma will have the continuity, stimulation and attention of nursery three days a week, and I'll have time to spend bonding with the new arrival. Yes - it is going to be pricey for a while, but fortunately Emma's 3 soon, so she'll have some nursery funding from then.

**durhamlass** · 28-10-2008, 02:39pm

Loooong time ago now, but I kept Niamh in CM. I loved having some time to rest, and if Izzy was up in the night and I felt awful, I didnt have a toddler to please.

It helped Niamh keep some familiar surroundings, and I got some rest. Was win win IMO.

**Calamity** · 28-10-2008, 02:41pm

Yup, Lorna was in council nursery 2 afternoons while I was still pg and is now in 5 afternoons since August. It's free obviously and she's loving it there and I'm also getting some quality time with Scott which I absolutely cherish

**James** · 28-10-2008, 02:46pm

When L was born J hadn't started nursery, but I did stop the CM as I couldnt afford it on my ML

If I could have afforded it though I most certainly would have carried on ...... maybe reduced hours or something.

The one thing I am sad about is that due to the boys being close together I never had time alone with L like I did with J. Having childcare could have given me time to bond with L alone, without a toddler taking my attention every second!

j xxx