Mum advice needed for Nursery starter

[MrsAAshraf]

Hi ladies!

I thought this site was the best place to seek for advice as i haven't got any 'mum friends.'

I have a one year old daughter who will be turning two next month. She will be starting nursey soon for only 15 hours per week. I'm feeling really anxious. As I'm a new mum I'm not sure what to expect. She's very fussy when it comes to food, i worry that she might not be eating properly. I don't know what to pack. I worry that she might not settle in. My mind is a complete mess, i just constantly worry about her wellbeing.

What was your son/daughter's first day at nursey experience like?

Any tips or advice would be so much appreciated!

Aysha x

Hi,

My DD started nursery much younger but for what it's worth, here's my advice-

Nursery might have already sent you a list of what to send with her but the key for me is 2 sets spare clothes for they can change her if they do messy/wet play or she gets food all over herself. Do they provide nappies/wipes and food?

With the eating I am always amazed that by DD will scoff just about anything at nursery but is a fusspot at home! The power of peer pressure must be strong :)

You will have seen the nursery and met the practitioners there, did you have a good feeling about it? Unless there was anything that made you uneasy then she will be grand I'm sure. Be prepared for her to be super tired by the end of the first day/week.

X

They tend to not be as fussy about eating at places outside the home, especially when others are eating it too.

Pack spare clothes including socks, nappies rash cream etc

She will be fine, I’m sure. Both mine have settled remarkably quickly and will both eat with less fuss at nursery and now school than they do at home, not sure what their secret is!!

Has she done any settling in sessions? I always found the best way to do the drop off is to take their coats off, quick kiss and cuddle then hand over to the staff, the longer you draw it out the more upset everyone is likely to get. The staff will be used to dealing with nervous toddlers and if she does cry I’m sure she will settle much more quickly if you’re not there. If either of mine cried I would cuddle and say goodbye, I used to give it ten minutes then call to make sure they were ok and most times was told they’d stopped before I’d left the card park!

Pack two full changes of clothes including socks/tights, if she has a dummy then pack a spare. Mine never had a comforter or toy but if she does then pack that too(get an exact copy if you can)

My son is really sensitive, a terribly fussy eater, and very rigid about routine and naps so I thought he'd be a nightmare at nursery. He started at just under a year old.

He LOVES it. He eats absolutely everything they put in front of him, stuff he wouldn't touch at home, he naps like a champion there and it's really done absolute wonders for his social skills. It's a lovely nursery. If you have a good one too I'm sure your DD will be absolutely fine.

The thing to remember is not to linger at drop off, cheerful kiss and cuddle goodbye and then off you go, it's really heartbreaking to leave them crying but you do make it worse when you prolong the goodbye.

My little boy settled very quickly, much faster than I expected him to. But then some kids do just always cry at drop off. One little girl at his nursery screams the place down every time her mum goes, I've seen it. The minute her mum walks out the door she's giggling, playing, cuddling the keyworkers. Don't worry unduly.

Our nursery was totally understanding of my nerves when dd started - I rang up a couple of times a day at first and they put my mind at rest letting me know how she was getting on. I soon became so much more happy and confident leaving her there.

One tip would be to make of the most of any stay and play type sessions and try and make friends with some of the mums. Some of my absolute best friends now are originally nursery mums.

Also, my daughter took about a month to properly settle in (only 1 day a week). It was a tough time but we stuck with it and it was such a good decision, she gets so much out of it and is really happy there now.

They do settle faster the more often they go, I have found anecdotally.

Agree with what everyone has already said. Your little one will love nursery and there's little to worry about. I've done countless nursery drop offs over the last few years, and witnessed many more. The absolute key is to remain cheery and get it over with. I've never had a problem dropping DCs off - they just potter off and play straight away. DH is a bit more of a lingerer when it comes to goodbyes and he always ends up with a small person clutching his leg and sobbing. I've seen it lots of times with other parents too (friends of ours are yet to get their DS to actually go to nursery for a full day on his own because the mum insists on hanging around for at least an hour to 'settle him in'. Needless to say he never settles, and it's very disruptive for the other children and staff. He's always home a few hours later!).

Ahh thank you so much everyone! You've all been so helpful and have put my mind at rest. I've taken all your tips and advice on board and it was so nice hearing everyone's experiences with their LO's. As a new mum it just sounds daunting but i know that i should remain postive and have more trust in the practitioners. I will email the nursery of a list of things i need to bring. Fingers cross everything works out! x

I usually pack spare clothes, nappies, wipes, sudocrem (obv if shes still in nappies!)

he also takes a dummy (which is only for using if sleeping / inconsolable. and a muslin and a toy which are like his comfort things. Half the time these stay in his bag but they are a little bit of home if you see what I mean.

I also send wellies / waterproofs if I know they're going for a walk or whatever but we usually get prior notice.

are you sending her with a packed lunch or do they provide food? our nursery generally tells me what ds has and hasn't eaten and they usually offer him something else like a sandwich if he totally refuses lunch.

ring up during the day and check on her, they wont mind honestly!

it might take her a while to settle in and it will be hard to start with but I have always done a quick bye ds have a lovely day I love you see you later and a kiss. To be fair the staff at our nursery are wonderful and will immediately distract him with a toy/book/breakfast/ooh look at that bird in the garden. so he was never upset for long.