Changing nurseries at 15 months- would DD find this very difficult?

[pendulum]

I have DD2 booked into the same nursery that DD1 goes to from June. In January DD1 will go to school, adding an extra leg to my journey pre-work.

There is a nursery in the school grounds and I am considering booking DD2 in from Jan to make our mornings easier. But am worried about unsettling her after 6 months at the first nursery.

Does anyone have a view on how hard/ easy it would be for her to adapt at this age? Since I do not HAVE to do it I need to balance the unsettling effect against the increased convenience (assuming the nurseries are equally good)

thanks

[Dynamicnanny]

I don't think that you will have too much of a problem to be honest (am an old nursery nurse who worked with 1-2 year olds) and think that the transistion would be fine - depending on the ages of the children in DD's "first" nursery maybe see if she can stay in the baby unit for an extra couple of months - many nurseries are able to offer this if numbers aren't too affected. then the transistion would be cleaner - how many days will she be doing at the nursery etc.

[pendulum]

thanks for replying Dynamicnanny.

She will be doing 3 full days a week.

Sorry to be slow but not sure what you mean about staying longer in the baby unit- do you mean staying at the first nursery until she would have changed rooms anyway?

The main advantage to the girls of switching is that we would be able to walk in a (relatively!) relaxed way to nursery then school and back again, as opposed to a more rushed run in the car. Also they would have a more chilled out mummy in the mornings Would also help DD1's transition to school I think if DD2 was nearer and not still going to the nursery that DD1 is extremely attached to IYSWIM.

Writing it down, it seems a no-brainer but I have been so happy with the first nursery that I feel I may be short-changing DD2 for the sake of convenience. It's so hard to work out what will produce the most overall happiness!

[Dynamicnanny]

Most baby units move children up at the age of 1 - as your daughter is moving to the 2nd nursery at 15 months of age - it may be possible for her to stay for those 3 months in the baby room - so there isn't too much change for her - but then as she is doing 3 days a week I don't see her having too much of a problem with transistions

[mazzystar]

Have you checked out the school nursery? Do you like it?

If you are equally happy with the care, would it work to send DD2 to the school nursery from the off? Just an idea.

I think that little babies at this age are mostly quite adaptable. I changed DS nursery when he was 17 months - because I thought it would be a better environment for him in the longer term - and he actually really blossomed. Didn't seem to phase him at all.

[pendulum]

thanks mazzystar.

I really want the DDs to go to nursery together at first, it will be a real comfort to me to think they are together. Also, sending DD2 to the second nursery from the off would give me the same logistical problem but in reverse unless I also moved DD1!

Am reassured to hear that your DS reacted well to the change- I did feel instinctively that they must be pretty adaptable at that age. I am going to check out the second nursery next week but know I will find it difficult to look at it objectively as I have invested a lot of trust and time in the first one (building relationships with the staff etc).

[cmotdibbler]

We moved when DS was 16 months, so had to change nurseries - he didn't bat an eyelid. It was a baby room to baby room move as both didn't move children up until 18 months, so it might have helped that he went into that calmer enviroment.

If you are going to be less stressed, it makes sense to do it.