Nursery days

[RedSkySuperStar]

Hello

DS will be starting nursery when I go back to work in February and this will be 3 days per week. Would it be best for him to go 3 consecutive days or break them up a bit e.g Mon, Wed, Fri or Mon, Tue, Thur? Not sure I'm over thinking it or being PFB but don't want him to forget about me at nursery and I'll miss him if he goes 3 days in a row but then would it be too unsettling to break the days up

[Gillian1980]

We do mon, tue, wed every week. It works well for us.

[teaandbiscuitsforme]

My DD went Mon and Thurs when I went back to work and my mum looked after her on Tues & Weds. She was fine with it and I think it helped me because I didn't feel like I was leaving her too much. Having said that, she's 2 now and goes Tues, Weds, Thurs.

[welshweasel]

Our nursery encourage consecutive days as it helps them settle.

[insancerre]

I'm a nursery manager and there really is no right answer
Children will cope with whatever pattern you choose
Full timers settle much quicker than those that do half days
Choose the days that suit your family circumstances

[Emma2803]

Do what suits you and lo will settle into a routine. Try not to worry, he won't forget about you, I have been back to work full time since my son was 7.5 months, he is 2 and a quarter now and never cries when I leave him,sometimes hardly notices I'm gone but still comes to hug me every evening when I collect him! Saying there's my mammy in such an excited wee voice!

[DrSpin]

I'm putting DS in for consecutive days on the grounds I think he will settle better and I would rather him be happy in both environments.

[Zebrasinpyjamas]

For your child, initially consecutive days will probably mean they will settle quicker. However by day three will be more tired. Both factors are temporary though once they get used to nursery.
With consecutive days one illness or instance of sickness can knock out the whole week of childcare as a 48hr quarantine rule is common.
Overall, I'd pick whatever makes your working life easier.

[SilenceOfThePrams]

Personally I'd do tues-thurs if I had free rein. Consecutive days easier, avoid bank holidays, and makes it easier to skip out of town for a long weekend.

But I suspect they are the fullest days, so I might not get the choice.

[CaipirinhasAllRound]

Your nursery might dictate anyway. For 3 days we have to do either a Monday or a Friday

[MalcomTuckerInSpace]

Do you go to any groups or anything at the minute that you’d want to keep going to? I didn’t want to do a Tuesday when I looked at childcare for my eldest as we went to a regular thing then.

Also I always tried to organise any evening social stuff I did on days when she wasn’t in childcare. It’s an absolute pain getting an overtired toddler home from childcare and having to get them to bed in a rush or only seeing them for 20 minutes. Much better to go out and leave them with your partner when you’re ready for a break from them after having been with them all day!

[switswoo81]

My husband stays at home with our 2.4 yr old dd two days a week so she goes to crèche Monday, Wednesday and Friday. This suited us as If she sleeps longer in crèche we put her to bed a little later and she sleeps in the next morning. Also we supply own food to creche so I only have to make it every second night!! She had no problem settling in when I was on my summer hols last year for 9 weeks she ran in in September.

[RedSkySuperStar]

Thanks for your replies everyone! Sounds like he will be fine either way so I guess I'll go with what suits me and work. Good point about if I have plans of an evening to try and organise for my days off so not in too much of a rush! Also probably better to work a Monday so I still get bank holidays off? I'm guessing I would think benefit from them if I don't work Mondays...

[Misspilly88]

Depends on the child but if there's a risk of child not settling then definitely consecutive days.

[insancerre]

If you book a Monday you will have to pay for it but the nursery will be closed, probably

[annlee3817]

I do every other day for more practical reasons, that way of she is poorly i only genereally miss one day of work as I am then off the following day. So i do, Monday's, Wed and Friday's