Feel Hysterical at the thought of DS in Nursery

[highlander]

DS is nearly 9mo. I'm overseas at the moment and have absolutely no help, so the last 9 months has been miserable (DS was very colicky).

I'm due to go back to Uni in Sept but I don't know if I can do it. I haven't sorted childcare for DS and I've heard that good nurseries will already be booked up. I'm worried that he won't be cuddled, it'll be too noisy and that he'll get really crap, salty unsuitable food (I make my own, he's never had jars).

I'm desperate to do something for myself again, but I really can't bear the thought of DS being away from me for more than 2 hours a day.

[HellyBelly]

I can understand how you feel, well, sort of (I'm not overseas!)

I was made redundant when pregnant so didn't have to go back to work to start with. Then money got very tight and the subject of work came up. Like you, the thought of childcare made me hysterical (nothing wrong with it, I just couldn't cope with the idea myself) so I started my own party plan business (out evenings) to earn money. I loved it as I got out and met people as well as earning pretty good money but after a year, I decided that all the late nights were too much. I'm now a registered childminder which suits me well as I love kids. I still have a need to do something for myself but am happy with my hobby, building websites. Now looking into a course to be professional web designer as a side line (weekends).

I do feel for you and hope you manage to find something that will make you happy as this is very important for both of you!

Good luck! (sorry I went on a bit there!)

[wysiwyg]

Don't rely on the rumours about good nurseries being booked up - there are lots of different opinions/ needs.
I would go and have a look at some of the nurseries now to put your mind at rest. Yes there may be some you don't like but you could find one you really click with.

Re the food - I don't know of a nursery that does "jars". My DS will start in a months time and that nursery will either provide their food (freshly prepared daily) or you can take your own in if you prefer.

Good luck. Generally babies love nursery - so may not be as bad as you think!

[Meeely2]

I would go with Wysiwyg - my two love nursery (they are 6 months old) and have come on leaps and bounds since starting. they were premature so developmentally behind, but since starting we don't have temper tantrums if left alone on a playmat for a few mins, they will happily entertain themselves - they both smile and chat for england.

I checked out a few before I settled on the one I liked. It could take you a while - you have to be 100% sure you are comfortable with it - plus all nurseries SHOULD do a try before u buy - a free session or perhaps a few hours to see if LO likes it.

If you've had no help in the last 9 months I would highly recommended you look into nursery as a serious option, you won't belive the difference it can make to you personally once you are both settled. You'll feel human again, you'll have adults to talk to and no screaming baby for a few hours a day...thus when you fetch him if he does kick off you won't really care because you'll miss him, so your stress levels will be soo low and he'll pick up on that too. mummy relaxed = baby relaxed too, I 100% believe that. the minute I start to get wound up at home, Edward (my noisy twin) yells, if I have nothing to get wound up about it's bliss, we play for hours!

Good Luck - and be reassured, they do cuddle your lo if distressed, I've turned up at my nursery several times to find Edward being cradled cos he's had a moment...it's in their interests to cuddle the noisey ones believe me!

If we can help further let us know - mine have been at nursery for just over a month now.

[Marina]

Does the uni have a nursery? They are usually excellent because the need to make a commercial profit doesn't conflict with issues like staffing ratios, aiming to be 100% full every day etc.
Ds spent three brilliant years at a uni nursery in London and we were very happy with it.
Dd is at a good commercial sector one and by and large we are pleased with that too, but the differences are there for the seeing. Still plenty of cuddles and very good staff though
If you can say where you are heading back to, maybe someone can do some local research for you...