Moving house & nursery - how do I minimise the impact on DS?

[moominsmummy]

We are looking at moving house back to near where lots of our friends are - the main sticking point for me is that DS2.5 will have to move from his current nursery which is fantastic - he is so happy there and totally loves it
Even if (big if)I find a new nursery just as good I'm not sure how to manage the move - I mean I can't expect him to come out of old nursery on the Friday, leave the only home he's ever known and start 4 days a week in the new nursery on the following monday and come home to an unfamiliar house.
I haven't much holiday to take
any suggestions.advice welcome as currently v worried

[fannyannie]

Try not to worry too much - children are incredibly adaptable - especially at your DS's age. I'd just try and make sure his room/things are unpacked and given homes ASAP so that he knows that this is home now.

[carocaro]

I agree, we did this when DS1 was nearly 2.5 and he barely noticed! He was a bit tired/grumpy for a while with all the 'newness' but he took to it all really well, as long as they have you and all their stuff they seem happy. we had a week between old and new nursery with a few settling in periods in that week, he was not keen at first, but soon settled, just lots of love and reassurance and bigging up how great the new house and nursery will be - good luck!

[carocaro]

PS: I meant to add the new nursery was even better than the old one which was fab, bigger etc, we moved from London to Cheshire.

[sunnysideup]

I agree, if you are happy about the move and present it as a lovely thing that he is 'now a big enough boy to go to this nursery' then I'm sure he'll accept it fine.

I had to move my ds after one term in his first pre-school and was concerned as he's extremely sensitive, but he was absolutely fine and he thrived.

If I was in this position what I would do is request a week's parental leave. You are entitled to it and I think it would give you and ds a valuable settling in period at home before he changed Nursery.

But don't worry, I am sure it will be fine. Good luck with the move!

[gingersj]

Hi Moominsmummy, we did the same, moving when dd was 3.5 and ds was 1. I will be very honest and say their behaviour went down the pan for a couple of weeks afterwards. Lots of tears, lots of cuddles, it took a while.

I would take a couple of weeks of parental leave and make sure that you spend at least 10 minutes every night at the nursery understanding in detail how your child was and letting your DS know that you and his nursery carer both are working together to make this easier for him.

You'll both be fine x