Pregnant Sanity Advice

[Unregistered]

Hey i have a sign on thing i just can't for the life of me remember my password right this second. But anyways i know there are other pregnancy topics on here and I've read them, most all i think. Im 5 months pregnant just about and I've got a few questions/dilemmas id love advice or input on from people in childcare, (and being alone in this house with no one to talk to for advice but my husband is no help) for anyone who would be willing to respond.

1. I am currently only watching 5 children because of ratio reasons and to keep a spot for my own when he arrive in 4 months. So this is where is begins. My mother says ill change my mind but I don't want to have my child here at my home daycare with me, so as soon as he is old enough, around 6 weeks or so, id like to just pump and send him to a center near by, BECAUSE i feel like i want to separate this from my personal life as much as possible, and id like to thing of him as more of a blessing than an inconvenience to the business because he is an infant and takes up so many spots in ratio and he would be my only infant so id be stopping my preschool learning and activities often to feed him and balance mommy and daycare provider it seems.
SOO id like to just put this away at the end of the day and pick up my happy baby and have time to miss him i guess? IDK please give me input. i run more of a preschool program so the infant in the mix seems like an inconvenience to me. it may sound heartless i just want to be like every other mom who doesn't have to take their child to work, good thing is if i change my mind i can do so whenever.

2. I am finding really hard to stay... positive or happy lately? I'm sure its just the pregnancy hormones. I don't like me. I used to LOVE being a daycare provider, it gave me energy, and i had plenty of it to go around and interact with the kids and now there stress feels overwhelming. so my question is is there any tips or tricks you previously, or currently, expecting providers have for this to help me not feel so just down?

thanks in advance!

[Annalee]

Hey i have a sign on thing i just can't for the life of me remember my password right this second. But anyways i know there are other pregnancy topics on here and I've read them, most all i think. Im 5 months pregnant just about and I've got a few questions/dilemmas id love advice or input on from people in childcare, (and being alone in this house with no one to talk to for advice but my husband is no help) for anyone who would be willing to respond.

1. I am currently only watching 5 children because of ratio reasons and to keep a spot for my own when he arrive in 4 months. So this is where is begins. My mother says ill change my mind but I don't want to have my child here at my home daycare with me, so as soon as he is old enough, around 6 weeks or so, id like to just pump and send him to a center near by, BECAUSE i feel like i want to separate this from my personal life as much as possible, and id like to thing of him as more of a blessing than an inconvenience to the business because he is an infant and takes up so many spots in ratio and he would be my only infant so id be stopping my preschool learning and activities often to feed him and balance mommy and daycare provider it seems.
SOO id like to just put this away at the end of the day and pick up my happy baby and have time to miss him i guess? IDK please give me input. i run more of a preschool program so the infant in the mix seems like an inconvenience to me. it may sound heartless i just want to be like every other mom who doesn't have to take their child to work, good thing is if i change my mind i can do so whenever.

2. I am finding really hard to stay... positive or happy lately? I'm sure its just the pregnancy hormones. I don't like me. I used to LOVE being a daycare provider, it gave me energy, and i had plenty of it to go around and interact with the kids and now there stress feels overwhelming. so my question is is there any tips or tricks you previously, or currently, expecting providers have for this to help me not feel so just down?

thanks in advance!

To keep or not to keep your own child in daycare is your own choice. I kept both of mine in my FCC home...Yes, it is hard sometimes with your own, but the pros outweigh the cons for me....they are now in middle school. As for pregnancy hormones, that is different for all as well. I was so thankful to be pregnant after trying for 7+ years that I don't think anything could have made me unhappy. Even when I would have nausea spells, I can remember just smiling thinking WOW, I am finally having a baby!!!! I was in my mid and late thirties when I had my two sons. Best of luck to you!

[mamamanda]

Something to consider: How long are your daycare hours each day? Would you have a way to pick him up or drop him off during your work time? I'm just thinking I work from 6:30-4:30 so if I took my kids elsewhere with drive time id be away from them for 11 hours a day. That would be really rough on an infant. Taking my kids elsewhere wouldn't even be a consideration for me, but other providers on here have said they do & its wonderful. You have to do what works for you.
As far as the pregnancy hormones are concerned I really hated childcare during the last half of pregnancy both times. The kids drove me insane, I felt terribly sick all day, zero energy. Just hated everything about it. Once the baby was a couple months old I loved it again. Best tips for dealing with it...take time for you after work. If you can afford it, hire a mother's helper to supervise kids & give you a break once a week, or at least to tend to household chores so you have a little less on your plate. Chocolate. Lol Lots of chocolate...good luck!

[childcaremom]

Hey i have a sign on thing i just can't for the life of me remember my password right this second. But anyways i know there are other pregnancy topics on here and I've read them, most all i think. Im 5 months pregnant just about and I've got a few questions/dilemmas id love advice or input on from people in childcare, (and being alone in this house with no one to talk to for advice but my husband is no help) for anyone who would be willing to respond.

1. I am currently only watching 5 children because of ratio reasons and to keep a spot for my own when he arrive in 4 months. So this is where is begins. My mother says ill change my mind but I don't want to have my child here at my home daycare with me, so as soon as he is old enough, around 6 weeks or so, id like to just pump and send him to a center near by, BECAUSE i feel like i want to separate this from my personal life as much as possible, and id like to thing of him as more of a blessing than an inconvenience to the business because he is an infant and takes up so many spots in ratio and he would be my only infant so id be stopping my preschool learning and activities often to feed him and balance mommy and daycare provider it seems.
SOO id like to just put this away at the end of the day and pick up my happy baby and have time to miss him i guess? IDK please give me input. i run more of a preschool program so the infant in the mix seems like an inconvenience to me. it may sound heartless i just want to be like every other mom who doesn't have to take their child to work, good thing is if i change my mind i can do so whenever.

2. I am finding really hard to stay... positive or happy lately? I'm sure its just the pregnancy hormones. I don't like me. I used to LOVE being a daycare provider, it gave me energy, and i had plenty of it to go around and interact with the kids and now there stress feels overwhelming. so my question is is there any tips or tricks you previously, or currently, expecting providers have for this to help me not feel so just down?

thanks in advance!

Don't feel guilty about doing what you want to do. This is a job. You are a working mother. If you want to put your child in care, that is your choice. If you don't, you are lucky enough to have the option not to. If you did decide to keep him home, you would find a way to adjust. It would just be different.

I kept my own home with me when they were younger because I wanted to. Now that they are school aged, they are in an afterschool program. I do this for many reasons. It is easier for me if they aren't here, I can have more children (ratio) and earn more income, and, my kids are happier with others their own age.

My point is: do what you need to do.


It has been a long time since I was pregnant but I was always soooo tired. I needed a nap as soon as the daycare kids left. I also had to take iron supplements which helped my energy levels immensely. And I made sure to have a lot of healthy snacks available. Hormones can really knock you off balance!

Good luck!

[kendallina]

I'm also pregnant...congrats mama!

1. I run a preschool program and my baby will be going to childcare. My daughter was with me in the preschool from when she was 2-years old and up and really, it was a disaster. I found it very difficult to be a mom and preschool teacher at the same time. I cannot do it all and I will not try with this child either. Depending on my baby's personality, he may stay in another preschool/childcare until he goes to school. I will never put myself or my child through what my DD and I went through...haha. You eed to do what works for you. And, yes, maybe you will change your mind in the future, but don't let anyone try and talk you out of it now...just wait and see what works for you. People do not understand how difficult it is to do this job and have your own kids in care at the same time.

2. Pregnancy sure does some strange things to our bodies and minds. Do you have anyone that you can call in to sub for you a few hours or a day per week? How many hours per day are you working? Starting when I'm about 5 months I have a sub lined up to come in and take over completely for one day/week. She's the same person who will cover for me for maternity leave. I'm very fortunate to have someone and know that it's not always possible, but please find some way to get a break. Even if that means taking it a little easier during the day with the kids...not as many preschool activities for example.

Best of luck mama!