What do babies do in nursery?

[Annie592]

What do babies do in a nursery? I hope this doesn't sound like a stupid question, but am looking at putting my little one in to one, and I just want to try and picture how she'll be spending her day. With toddlers it's obvious because they can play and paint and dress up etc, and to be honest I think it seems quite good fun at that age. But what about for a 9month old baby? When I think about what I do with her at home, I talk to her and sing to her, she lies on her playmat or goes in her bouncer for a bit, or sits in her high chair while I do a bit of housework and I tell her what I'm doing. And lot of the time we are out taking walks, or going to a baby class, or meeting a friend for coffee. I feel like this post sounds like I'm being critical of what babies do in nursery and it genuinely isn't (there are days at home where I feel I've been a rubbish mum as I've had to get housework done etc), but I just would be really grateful if someone who works in a nursery, or has babies in a nursery, could give me an idea of how a pre-toddling baby might spend their day? I'm having a hard time thinking about going back to work and leaving her, so I guess I'm hoping that being able to picture more what it would involve would help me! Thank you!

[Hellmouth]

DS is nearly 9 months old and they do the following activities with him

Reading
Singing
Messy play
Tummy time
Jumperoo
Plays with loads of other toys and mirrors on the wall

They have also been helping us with weaning him as were out of the house from 7-7 so we don't really have time. He eats more at nursery than he does at home!

There is also another baby the same age as DS, and they babble to each other apparently :D

[VeryPunny]

Messy play - hand printing, gloop etc
Nap time, snack time, lunch
Walks (our nursery takes babies out for walks in pears, some have a nap in their prays)
Read books
Sing songs
All the usual baby toys
Play out in the garden (stick a mat out, bring out toys)
Bubbles - staff member blows bubbles, babies watch and pop if they can.

[VeryPunny]

Pears??? Prams!

[FacelikeaBagofHammers]

The nursery should be able to provide you with a general routine that they stick with as best they can ... usually broken up into 15 min time slots at that age e.g.

9am - breakfast
9.15 - floor play, animals
9.30 - songs
9.45 - nappy change

and so on.

[Annie592]

Well that sounds more fun than what I do with her at home really!! Thank you, I just keep picturing her sitting alone in a room which I know is STUPID and reflects my own insecurities, so this helps a lot. Aww that's really cute, I love their babbling 😊

[Jintyj]

My daughter does all this two days a week at nursery and I feel a bit of weight off my shoulders to be a creative genius! :)

[Coldhandscoldheart]

As above, I know she has a good time at nursery & there are things like painting I would just never do at home, because mess.
She now has a bunch of little pals :)

I would say this is why it's absolutely vital you get a nursery you're happy with.

I know that at ours, if a baby is sad they will cuddle, almost all day if necessary. They work with us on things, like she didn't nap for ages & we came up with a plan together.

They seem to like her & enjoy her company & she definitely likes it there, although us always pleased to see me at Hometime.

[HiMyNameIsUnknown]

Following for interest

[AbbeyRoadCrossing]

When you look around nurseries you can ask all these questions as they will vary a bit. DD went when she was 10 months and loved it.
Things she'd do :
Play outside on slide, rocker etc
Bubbles
Stories
Singing and actions
Messy play and crafts
Themed things e.g. try Irish foods for St Patrick's, make Chinese new year drawings etc.
Playing with sand, water, train set
They have more help with the crafts the younger they are but she seems to enjoy it

[teaandakitkat]

My babies seemed to spend s lot of time in their nappies playing with shaving foam or paint. They often came home with pictures made from hand prints or footprints.
Lots of singing, playing instruments, lots of playing with cotton reels or tinsel or all sorts of random things. They did have proper toys too.
They have mirrors on the walls at their height with little bars to hold on to, as soon as mine could stand up they seemed to spend the entire day standing up and waving at themselves in the mirror.
Morning snack, morning nap, lunchtime, afternoon nap, afternoon snack.
A walk to the park

You're right, it is hard to imagine what it will be like for babies, but they are so busy all day

[Daisies123]

Mine started at 12 months and did:
Painting (hands, feet, brushes, using plastic animals and cars!) and other Messy play (gloop, play doh, sand, water)
Singing,
Actions
Baby signing
Playing with baby walkers, musical instruments, sensory baskets, soft toys, books
Nap, nappy changes, mealtimes
Outside time every day either walk in buggy or outside on a mat.

The baby room was stuffed full of stuff for her to be doing things with. She had a lovely time!