nurseries catering for children with health needs

[Itscurtainsforyou]

I have a baby who was born prematurely and as a result is on home oxygen and a number of medications.

In a few months I'm going to have to make plans for returning to work, but I don't know if nurseries will take babies with additional health needs like this. Obviously the quickest answer is to phone and ask them, but I wondered if anyone else had experience of similar and could tell me what to ask/look out for.

Thanks

[kimlo]

Yes they will. A health care plan will have to be put in to place, and training might need to be given but they will take him.

[Itscurtainsforyou]

Thanks!

Do you think his additional needs should be mentioned when we go to look around? Is there a chance they'll say they don't have space for him just because it'll be harder work?

[ShinyShinyShiny]

I would mention it straight away as any nursery who is going to be put off by the additional work isn't one you would want your baby going to anyway.

DS's nursery were fab during his cancer treatment and have continued to make the necessary adjustments for him as his needs have changed.

[Iguessyourestuckwithme]

Have you considered a nanny?

[Tiredstressed]

We were recently looking at nurseries for our DD who has cystic fibrosis. I mentioned it when looking around because I wanted to see if they would be phased by it. Everyone was very nice and just wanted to understand what they needed to do.

[Itscurtainsforyou]

Good point, thanks

Would much rather a nursery than a nanny tbh - for a range of reasons that aren't worth going into here...

[Iguessyourestuckwithme]

No worries. As a nanny [but ex nursery nurse] I am better able to deal with children with complex needs and do everything that the parents want/need - ie child has a cold then we can stay home, whereas if you were concerned about contamination etc you would need to take the day off work. But each to their own.