When and why did you send your child to nursery/Childminder?

[TopStar]

I've been thinking about DS in to a nursery, he's 15m. If I had gone back work he'd have gone at 11m, part time but I didn't so he's at home.

I'm expecting a baby in June so I was thinking may be it's time DS did get in to a routine of spending time away from us, socialise with kids, learn things etc. Also to give me some time alone with the baby.
So I visited a nursery today which has made me doubt my decision.
I was thinking of putting him there 2 afternoon sessions, 1-6pm but the room he will be in is quite small and I feel he will be cooped up in there for 5hrs which seems unfair. I'm sure I can check out a few more nurseries.

So anyway, I was wondering if anyone put there kids in to nursery to get a break, deal with the smaller kid / new baby. I'm now worrying that DS might miss out bonding with the baby if he's in the nursery.

[Franny]

I remember going to daycare when R was 2. At the time, I was considering f/t work but felt like you. In the end, I hung on until pre-school, which I was much happier with. Some of them take them from as young as 2 but I can see you have a good few months yet.

[parkejm]

Oscar went from when he was about 17 months, mainly because I wanted him to be sociable with other children on a regular basis. We knew he'd be going to one nursery at the age of 2 and he was getting more and more clingy so we decided to put him in nursery earlier - that sounds mean :oops: it was to get him used to being away from me. As it turned out he loved it so much (eventually) that when he reached the age of two he carried on going to that nursery and then went to the other one as well so now he goes 5 days a week.

3 days a week he goes from 9.30-10ish until 6pm, the other 2 days he goes from 10ish until 3.30 or sometimes 4.30. He absolutely adores Oren, has done since he was born and has had no problems at all in bonding with him. I found that the break from him when I was pregnant was invaluable, I could rest when I needed to and I think that helped with the sickness. Also it allows me to spend some time with Oren like I did with Oscar when he was tiny.

The room he is in at nursery is not much bigger than my living room, but they have the garden too and he never seemed to be cooped up. Only very recently has he found it harder because he was one of the eldest and being surrounded by 2 yr olds was hard on him but now he's moved up to the preschool room and it's brilliant again - the preschool room incidentally is even smaller but they seem to get on just fine.

HTH

Jx

[clementinexyz]

Dexter started going to pre school aged 2.5 when Seth was about 7w old. It was the best thing I've ever done. I found dealing with Dexter quite difficult after Seth was born as Dexter played up quite a bit, so being able to spend time alone with the baby was wonderful. He adjusted well and it has never occurred to me that he would miss out on bonding with Seth. It's only a few hours per week and as far as Dexter is concerned pre school is a treat as he likes going and playing with/doing things he wouldn't do at home.

[parkejm]

Tried to edit but not quick enough. I also found that Oscar needs a lot of stimulation - he's better now and can play by himself, but before I found that I couldn't keep him entertained for very long and he would get bored and ratty. I would always feel bad about it. At nursery he has all the different staff to bounce off as well as the activities and other children, it's made such a difference to both of us and we can enjoy the time together more.

[White Rose]

J went to a childminder for 12 hours a week from being 12 months when I went back to work part time. I didn't want her to go to a nursery whilst she was still so young where she would just be one of many and unable to vocalise her needs. At the childminder, she was one of two or three children and given similar levels of attention, time and activity to what she had at home, The childminder I found was absolutely perfect, with three older children of her own that J played with in the holidays. J still goes there a day a week now and has taken up her five sessions at preschool - she loves both.

[scatterbrain]

Elena started nursery at 3 months as I was working & couldn't take any longer off. Abigail started a 1 year, again because I went back to work. But when I was made redundant I still kept Abigail going to nursery part time because she loved it there and the routine was good for her.

Most nurseries make great use of the outdoor areas or going out for walks in the area. It's unlikely that they'll be inside all the time, especially in the summer where most allow open access to the outdoor area.

They'll do different things during the session - snack time, reading time, splitting up into small groups for activities etc. So a small room might look potentially boring/restrictive, but shouldn't be if the nursery is managed well.

It might be worth checking out other local nurseries too, or even childminders. Also, ask the nursery if they can do a trial session (with you there if he's clingy, without you there if he's happy to play) so you can see how he gets on in there. Bear in mind some children do take a few sessions to get used to it.

S

[claireh]

The preschools I have looked at for M start taking them at 2.5 for three hours twice a week.

I am thinking of starting M in September. I think she will love it.

[mrsdunny207]

Both mine went at about 6m when I went back to work but for 2 full days a week. They have restructured the rooms recently and the room Sam's in is fairly small (although probably twice the size on my lounge) they have a great garden which is part covered so they are out everyday. Apart from the socialising etc the main big plus is that they do all the really messy play that I can't be bothered with at home :oops:

I'm really happy with my choice and I think my two have benefited from going as much as I have iykwim.

[suemarie]

Lucy was @ nursery from the age of 12 months until 3.5 & this January stared @ our local School-ran pre school. She stared nursery as I went back to work, was later made redundant but she was only doing 1 day per week...so after a while we decided to try her @ the local school & she loves it there.

It has helped her interact better with children of her own age, has taught her to share,help, be friendly etc.

[Elvisola]

I put DD1 in nursery for 2 mornings a week from her 2nd birthday. As I was childminding it was really just so she could have time away from me, get used to interacting with other adults and children and have the opportunity to play with different toys/activities.

She loved it from day 1, she is really confident now, started preschool in September with no settling issues at all and I am sure it us because she went to nursery at a young age.

Even though I had mindees to look after I did enjoy the break and looked forward to picking her up and hearing what she had been doing.

[Elvisola]

Just to add, although I won't need to I will put Sophia into the same nursery at the same age, just because it was so good for Ella and her development.

[Skipping Girl]

Just wanted to quickly say that if you want to put him in nursery/childminder, then maybe do it now before the baby is born so he doesn't feel like the baby has 'made' him go to nursery etc, ie it's an established part of your routine.

Not from experience but it worked well for A when the twins were born, we kept her at the same nursery, albeit reduced hours so she had some routine as well - we'd just moved, two babies, etc.

Kat
x
PS A in nursery at 12 months, probably liked it from about 15 months; J&S in nursery from 15 months and loved it, but they also had each other :lurve:

[Rosa]

I couldn't afford it so nursery/cm wasn't an option. But I did start putting Louis in to the leisure centre creche a few mornings a week so I could have a swim/gym/coffee at about 10 months. He kept going until he got his free nursery place at 3.5yrs.

Alexei already goes to a creche, for two hours every week or two and loves it. He has his name down for playgroup which he can start when he is maybe 2yrs but definitely before 2.5yrs.

[Timothy's Mum]

Mine both went full time to nursery at 9 months because I have to work full time. 7.45am - 5.45pm

[Jelly]

DS1 started at nursery full time when he was 9 months because I went back to work.

DS2 started 2 mornings a week at 4 months because I went back to work. He went up to 3 mornings a week at about 7 months. When he was 2 and 3 months he went to playgroup 3 mornings a week as well.

[Moffgal]

C went to nursery for a short day once a week from 9mths old. I had PND and was told to try and get some me time to help things. DH works long hours so going out in the evening wasn't an option so this seemed like a good idea. He loved it and I carried on with it when I went back to work when he was 2.

D started at 7mths, the same, one day a week. This is due to work commitments, it was getting increasingly difficult to do my job and look after him as well. However I'm now leaving work but plan on keeping him in. He loves it there and it wouldn't seem fair to take him out now.