Is My Son Too Young?

Updated on April 30, 2007
C.N. asks from Sun City, AZ
17 answers

I am expecting another baby in July and my son will turn two this month. I have been thinking that it might be good for him and me to enroll him in a preschool program a couple days a week in the mornings for some social time and time I can spend with my new baby. Is he too young? If not, what kind of programs should I look into?

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Z.O.

answers from San Antonio on

No he isn't and you can use the extra time to catch up on sleep. lord knows that is number one problem with moms. We can never get enough sleep.

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M.C.

answers from Amarillo on

I don't think he's too young at all! My son was 25 months when my daughter was born, and he'd been attending a Mother's Day Out Program for over a year. He enjoys his 2 days of school, and it gives me time to bond with the new baby, and he gets to socialize. Go for it!

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N.L.

answers from San Antonio on

Try a mother's day out program. Many churches offer them. Most start kids at 12 months. It is a couple days a week. Most of them run like a school year, so they are about to close for the summer. Which would be better for you so that he can be there for the first couple of months, then maybe start him in the fall. Just talk to him about the baby coming and what you will do for the baby and what he can do with the baby. I did that with my son and he and my baby have a great relationship. He hasn't ever had bad feelings towards him. I didn't send him to MDO and the first couple of months were a little challenging, but now things are fine. Good luck!

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C.B.

answers from Odessa on

Hi there! I'm in the same situation as you. my son is 19 months and i'm expecting another boy in 4 weeks. I really don't think it's too soon to start a preeschool program. I think it's great for them to learn their social skills early. I go to Bible study once a week and he's in child care for 3 hours and he loves it. So, i'm considering a mothers day out program once or twice a week. I don't see anything wrong with it and it will give you and the new baby some special time together. Good luck!

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D.E.

answers from Killeen on

I have a 3 yr old and he is going to start pre-k this august. I was thinking that we was to young to start but everybody tells me that it will be good for him and if he isn't ready then i can pull him out and wait till next year when he turns 4. So I don't think he is to young to start preschool. He will interact with kids his own age and be sociable with them.

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T.S.

answers from Killeen on

It might help the both of you for him to have his "own time" away from home. If you do take him to preschool or daycare it might be easier if you do it now. This would give him a chance to have a "schedule" set before baby comes. I let my daughter stay home the week that the baby was born then let her go back to "school". I let her know that it was her special time with her friends. While she was at school I was able to devote all my time to baby without having to worry about her feeling left out.

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B.T.

answers from Austin on

I think it is wonderful that you are able to send your child to preschool....2 is an adventurous age! He will have lots of fun at preschool for he will put all his "terrible two's energy" to good use!!! Don't feel bad about sending him away for a few hours---this will give you a chance to focus on your new baby and yourself and regain some of that energy you will need to hug and kiss him when you pick him up from school. It feels good to be missed!!!!!! How do I know this; well, my children grew up in daycare and they are doing just fine. Good Luck and enjoy your new baby!

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L.S.

answers from Odessa on

My oldest was four when her little sister was born, and she was in headstart and preK. The major drawback was trying to stay up all night with the baby, and then get the older on off to "school" the next day. Of course, this was everyday, not a couple of times per week. It's not that he's too young, but a lot is going to be expected of you as a parent of an enrollee, so you might consider that before signing him up for anything. I'm thinking of the bake sales, volunteer time, community events, that sort of thing that I had to endure while taking care of the baby......and the school was actually the ones who convinced me that I needed to do this so that I could bond with the baby.

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K.W.

answers from Lubbock on

Well, I think whether or not he's ready will be up to you and your son. As for age, newborns go to daycare so I don't think there would be a "too young" age. If you are okay with it and he's okay with it, I say give it a try. Maybe not a structred pre-school, but Mother's Day Out or something along those lines might work well. The only thing I'd recommend, though, is if he's not enjoying it (which may be a possibility if he feels he's being "sent off" because of the new baby) then pull him out.

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T.B.

answers from Austin on

Not at all. I have 2 sons 18 months apart and I took my oldest out of daycare but sent him back after a couple of weeks. Of course, my youngest had bad reflux and a host of other issues so there were times when I wished I had sent them BOTH to daycare. You will want and need alone time with the baby and other children can prevent that from happening e.g. my oldest wanted to potty train when the baby was born but only had to potty when I was breast feeding!

Good luck! Two kiddos are a ton of fun!

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L.S.

answers from San Antonio on

Some require that the kiddo is potty-trained. Depends on the place. Also things may be overwhelming for him when the baby comes. If you send him to Pre-school he may think he is getting replaced if you do it all at the same time. My advice to you would be try to find something now before the baby comes that way he and you will be adjusted to going to school. My girls are close in age too and I wanted to send the oldest to Pre-school but it was not possible and things seem to move at rocket speed.
IMO I thing he is young for Pre-school but it's your decision and also I love having my girls at home with me. They are starting school soon enough for me and I don't want to wait a minute with them when they are young.
Good Luck and Congrats...
L.

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L.S.

answers from Wichita Falls on

As a teacher I think there is plenty of time for school. If you start too early they won't be excited when it is really time to start. I would call some of the local churches and find out if any of them have a Mother's Day Out program. You can take your two year by a few days a week and use that time to spend with the new baby. That way the two year is in a loving envionment and is getting social interaction.

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B.J.

answers from San Antonio on

I don't think that he is too young...i think it would be good for him, he will be able to interact with other children and give you time to spend with your other child at the same time, i think it is a good idea!

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A.G.

answers from Amarillo on

Okay, first of all congratulations on the baby. I will start off by saying that I teach in a Preschool program at First Baptist Church. I do not think he is too young. You should definitely visit whatever programs you hear about. I had 12 2&3 year olds in my class this year. I have to tell you they do very well. It is a great place for socialization, and it gives you an opportunity to have some free time. First Baptist has both a Preschool and a Mother's Day Out. Preschool is from 9 to 12 on Tuesday and Thursday, MDO is from 9 to 2:30. Anyway, I hope this helps.

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R.R.

answers from Wichita Falls on

Although we didn't start our son in pre-school until he was three, I do think that it is a wise decision to do this. It did wonders for his confidence and his socializing skills. It's only a couple of days a week for only a couple of hours. If you think that it may be too much you can even just enroll him in some sort of activities where you're there but you can spend the time with your baby. We put our son in a tiny tumblers class when my daughter was only 2 months old so I got to spend special time with her also. Good luck!!

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F.G.

answers from San Antonio on

i dont think that it is such a bad idea because he does need social time and time to grow alone. believe me that it will be a blessing because you will at some time or another need a break...i have a 2 yr old and 6 mth old. if you dont want an actual school try a daycare with a curriculum for parttime service.

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A.P.

answers from Austin on

C.,
No, I don't think your son is too young. I think it is a great idea for many reasons: 1) it'll give you a little one on one with the new baby - which you will need 2) it'll help him feel special and "big" when little brother arrives 3) he's old enough to need some more socialization and academics. I would recommend a small center or home-based care that has a professional curriculum it follows, is state approved, and has a small number of kids (less than 6). The bigger places are great with curriculum, but the kids are often grouped in much larger numbers and can have more than one teacher. You don't want to overwhelm him or make him feel lost in a sea of kids! I would also recommend that you find somewhere that he can go to 2-3 times a week - tops. You don't want to over do it. If you live in the Round Rock area and would like recommendations, please email me (my kids are 3 and 19 months)!

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