What should I expect??

[IsabellaMoltisantixx]

Hi all dd is starting nursery and I'm extremely nervous, she's only 9 months. My older dd went when she was 2 so I'm extra nervous this time

I know this sounds silly? But what should I be expecting? I'm realistic and not expecting the nursery staff to bend over backwards. I just wanna try reassure myself so if she cries when I leave her, how would they handle it?
If she doesn't eat her food, what do they do, will they try again? I guess I'm just worried as I've been with her on mat leave or she's been with her grandparents so I know like for example if she doesn't have her lunch, we'd try again within 15 minutes
Also, she's used to getting rocked to sleep or almost always falls asleep in the car so I'm thinking she won't go to sleep , she'd be really distracted with other babies there!
Thanks

[itsaboojum]

Your first step is to take your worries to the nursery and discuss with them. You need to build a relationship with the people who will be caring for your child, and good communication is key.

[CatLadyToddlerMother]

if she cries when I leave her, how would they handle it?

My DDs Nursery staff would comfort her until she calmed down or after a while if she didn't calm down call me or ExH to pick her up (happened once when she first started at 14 months old)

If she doesn't eat her food, what do they do, will they try again?

Depends on policy, in DDs Nursery they'd take the food away and offer them a cheese sandwich later if she seemed hungry. Some Nursery's will try again or if it be came frequent ask you to provide food from home.

[CatLadyToddlerMother]

Also good luck, it's so scary leaving them for the first time!

[elmo1980]

I had exactly those questions and a ton more before my ds started nursery and I wrote them all down and sat down with his key worker before he started and got answers to every one.

A lot of them she just said what would you like us to do and what is he used to. They should follow your routine as close as possible.

[IsabellaMoltisantixx]

@CatLadyToddlerMother thanks for answering x

[IsabellaMoltisantixx]

@elmo1980

Yeah it's scary
I think I'll do that too
I'm just a bit upset as I've discovered her settling in sessions are just an hour long!!! She gets two sessions, one hour!! Don't know how they're gonna settle her in in one hour

Will definitely need to talk to key worker - I just get scared if I'm
Coming across as an overbearing mother as I had a friend who worked in the nursery, and used to moan all the time about mothers who seemed too "dramatic" or "far fetched"

[elmo1980]

Yes ours only offered 1 hour settling in sessions and I thought how on earth is he going to learn to settle in such a short time then go to a 9 hour day!

We instead paid for a couple of longer sessions when nursery had space is there any chance you could do something like that?

[elmo1980]

Oh and don't worry about being over bearing your concerns are completely normal and they will expect all this. It's more important you feel as relaxed and reassured as possible it's hard enough as it Is!

[PlugUgly1980]

Mine started at the same age, trust me they should get loads of cuddles, comfort, picked up, carried around etc....whatever makes them happy. Staff will get to know your little one quickly and what she likes. If she has one take a comforter or scarf or something that smells of you.

Meal times, they should ask you all about what she eats current, whether she has purees or food off their main menu but mushed up a bit. They'll ask about likes and dislikes, what she's like feeding herself or with a spoon. Our nursery would try them again or with something different or an extra snack later in the day if they didn't eat much. They'll report back how much she's eaten so you can keep an eye on it. Bare in mind she may well eat more as she copies her friends. Mine are both fab eaters and I credit Nursery with a lot of that.

Sleeping - she'll find a routine. A good baby room will recognise when she's tired and have loads of tricks for getting them to sleep...patting bottoms seems to be a favourite in ours.

Best advice...trust the staff...share lots of info on what your daughter likes at home, but equally give them time to develop their own routines and allow your little one to adjust.

[HSMMaCM]

Write down your home routines, so they can plan for it. Writing it down also means you could avoid any long conversations in front of your child, which may worry them. If the key worker has any questions, they will check it all with you. Try not to worry.