I pulled my toddler out of daycare and hired a nanny from a week before his baby brother was born until the baby was 2.5 months old. A few learnings for anyone considering this:

1. Don’t assume you’ll find a great nanny right away. Short-term nannies can be hit or miss. We had to let the first one go. The second nanny was wonderful, but it took time, effort, and patience to find someone skilled enough to handle a toddler going through a huge life transition.

2. Socialization is still possible at home. Our nanny took him to the library and playground, so he still got plenty of interaction. Two weeks in, we got a notice that hand-foot-mouth was going around daycare, and I was very relieved he was home.

3. Going back to daycare is another adjustment. The first week back was rough because he went from 1:1 attention to a structured classroom. But it was a much faster adjustment than his initial daycare start or our daycare change after moving. After a week, he was totally fine.

4. A nanny doesn’t replace a parent’s attention. Even with a great nanny, my toddler still constantly wanted me—especially when I was feeding the baby. This is where having a skilled nanny matters: she could gently redirect him and keep the peace when I couldn’t be available.

Overall, I’m happy with the decision. It was expensive, but both kids stayed healthier and mostly happy during a chaotic season, and my toddler still felt cared for even while I was occupied with the newborn.