Bonding older siblings - home from school?

[honeylemon]

DS's last day of school is right around my EDD so I'm not sure if he'll be in school still or not. He's in preschool and only goes half days Monday through Thursday. I won't be taking him out of school if the baby is born while he's still in school. I prefer to keep his routine as normal as possible.

But then again, he already has a younger sibling, so this won't be a brand new experience for him. Plus he's only 4.

I think it's definitely a case by case basis depending on the older sibling.

[scattered]

No. Jack does not do well when his schedule is disrupted, so our goal is to keep things as fluid as possible for all our kids. Granted, unless I go early (which history tells me is likely), this won't really be an issue.

[maggiet19]

I plan on keeping DD's schedule as normal as possible. She will still go to school as scheduled. She likes routine and I figure enough will be changing already so I won't disrupt her schedule.

Once school is out, she will be home with the baby and I all summer. I agree with honeylemon that it is a case by case basis depending on the older sibling.

[snapdragon]

I also think schedule is important and will keep DD in school. I also want to add that *I* would like bonding time with the baby...and it will be easier for me to give DD1 the attention she needs if she's only with me for part of the day. Know what I mean? Plus she'll be with the baby all summer, and at least with my first two, the real bonding didn't start until the baby was old enough to make real eye contact and smile anyway.

[psmomma718]

DD will be staying in school and keeping her routine. She will be graduating from kindergarten shortly after our EDD, so she will have all summer to bond with LO. I think it will be helpful to have a week or two of those few hours with just LO to give us time to get into our own routine.

[jennadesigns]

My 6 year old daughter will be in Kindergarten when the baby arrives. We're debating taking her out of school the day the baby is born (c-section) or if we'll keep her in school and have her come after school is done. She's not going to be missing any school after the birth. I figure she'll be home with us all summer and it's best to keep her routine. I'm sure she'll have plenty of time to bond with baby after school and like a previous poster said, I'm looking forward to the time she's in school to figure out what I'm doing with baby!

[Deleted]

My oldest is 6 and my youngest is 4. They will be attending school as usual. There will be lots of bonding time after school and on weekends. I don't want them missing something essential especially towards the end of the school year. Also, I need time during the day to bond with baby and resting; I can't with two boys running around and needing things. I will be will be all for it when they come home from school though.

[Renarene]

My daughter is 9 and won't be missing school after baby is born. We haven't decided if we will take her out though on the day the baby is born. She wants to be the first to meet him so I wouldn't take that away from her. We might just play it by ear.

[la79al]

DD1 is in 1st grade and loves school.  I'm thinking the only thing she loves more is the new baby.  We will pull her out to come meet the baby but she is going to be going to school as normal otherwise.  Her last day is going to be about 3 weeks after EDD so she can finish school while I am focusing on recovering and getting things back to normal.  Then we will have all summer together.  DD2 has preschool graduation the day after EDD.  I'm hoping I have this LO a few days early so I can attend graduation but if she weren't done, she would be going to school as usual.  Newborns aren't really that exciting and I feel like I will need all the kid free time I can get to recover and prep for a summer of 2 active kids and a newborn.

[fikmama1986]

My step-kiddos are in 3rd and 1st grade. They will be going to school as normal so that their routine isn't disrupted and so that I get some quality time with baby without having to cater to 2 other kids. At least for a few hours while they are at school. This is my first and I think I need to learn the ropes without 2 others asking me to do a million things.

[smile55k]

Not that it counts as school, but I'm keeping my 2 year old in daycare as scheduled. She goes to a center for 2 days and to grandmas' houses 2 days and is home with me 1 day of the work week. Weekends and evenings will be the best family bonding time since DH will be home also to help juggle the two kiddos.

[mpiemont]

My oldest is only going to be 4 when baby is born and he's in preschool 3 mornings a week. I will send him as scheduled to keep his routine. If I had an older child in school, I don't think I would keep them home from school.