Starting a baby in nursery - how many sessions?

[Lilipot15]

I would value input as I am struggling with the behaviour of my two year old and I am on mat leave with my 8 month old. Hadn't been planning to start baby in nursery until around 14 months when I return to work which will be 3 days per week.
Toddler presently does 2 mornings in nursery, which she loves and we are happy with the setting. She'll step up to full days on those days plus one extra when I go back to work.
I'm really struggling to juggle the needs of both of them. Eldest is quite verbal but only just two so has all those issues that come with being two!
Baby is starting to be a bit clingy, still naps 3 times a day and wakes at nights for 2-3 feeds between 7pm-6am. They nap at different times (despite me trying to get them together) but apart from that, that is the only 1-1 time I have with my toddler in the daytime.
Grandparents are not close enough to help regularly.
I'm wondering about whether to start baby in nursery early for 1-2 days / mornings per week? But I have no idea how this would work for settling in and would it disrupt attachments? When I've asked the nursery all they say is that each child is different! Although I think they suggested that it is easier to settle younger ones.

Would value experience of others of starting under ones in nursery. I have been saving nursery vouchers so could use those.

Trying to think what would be best for both of them. It is very clear that toddler plays up when she needs attention and I wonder if she would benefit from 1-1 time with me.

[HSMMaCM]

It is easier to settle little ones, but 1-2 mornings a week makes it harder, as the gaps in between are very long for them.

[Jesabel]

2 or 3 mornings would be better than 1 full day.

[Lilipot15]

Thanks, I think we are going to try 2 mornings and see how it goes. Will do two of the three days she will be there already so hopefully she will get used to the staff and other babies there.

[winchester1]

I've the same age gap, we had the older one in every morning and kept the younger home until the day she turned one. He could have routine, attention from others and work off some energy.

When age started, LO settled in a week of sessions gradually getting longer, and after two weeks was happy to go without her brother (he was ill).

[Lilipot15]

Winchester, what I'm really struggling with is not getting time with my older one. She has a long nap after lunch so we are limited to morning groups only at the moment. She was in nursery 3 mornings, with a period of some full days whilst life was particularly tiring with the baby's sleep, but I stepped it down to 2 mornings until I go back to work.
Presently it feels like no-one is getting the best of me (although I suspect this may be a common feeling!) so I hope this solution will help. My youngest presently seems to have a very sunny personality and actually when discussing with family about her "clinginess", she is apparently worse when I'm in sight!

[VagueIdeas]

What you're describing is pretty normal for life with two children. Mine are 4.5 and 9 months and I definitely feel like neither get the best of me, and that the older one barely gets my attention at all.

[MogLikesEggs]

just wanted to say we did similar with putting the baby in nursery earlier to spend quality time with the older one and it worked well - we did 2 full days per week just as hard to get short sessions round here, the baby enjoyed it and it really helped the older one

[Lilipot15]

Thanks Mog, that makes me feel better.