Angry with nursery for putting babies in with older kids at the end of the day

[Nuni]

Because some of the staff go home early, they don't have enough staff to keep the baby room open the last couple of hours before nursery closes.

I deliberately chose a nursery with a room for Under 2s, I'm paying the same price for the hours she's mixed in with older kids. She's still so small and vulnerable, I don't like her being in with 4-5 year olds

Why didn't they tell me this before?

Or do all nurseries do this?

Keyworker is fantastic but I feel really let down by the way the nursery is run... surely if they advertise a baby room it should stay open until closing time? I wanted a safe, baby-friendly area, where she feels secure, not being lumped in with older kids at the end of the day, in a room set up for a different age group, just so they can avoid paying more staff

When DS was about 12 months I picked him up from nursery and a wee girl of about 4 I think said to me "I've been [DS] mummy". Apparently they quite often played mummies and babies with DS as the baby. I thought that was adorable.

Our nursery doesn't do this, and I can see why you're annoyed especially as it is more expensive usually for babies.
Reading all the comments it appears to be normal practice though. If it's a deal breaker for you have a look at other settings and quiz them on this before you sign up.
It wouldn't have occurred to me to ask this before.

Not until about 30mins before closing in two I used. Usually they put toddler and babies in together then 3+ go to the after schools

Our nursery doesn't do this - but I don't think I'd be angry...... I'd like to hope they were being sufficiently watched and it's only for a short time

Lilac you are so right

what if the baby is of crawling age picking up buts of play doh and small bits

I know when our nursery does this room mixing, the babies are in the toddler room - age range in toddler room starts between 12-18 months (once they're reasonably confident walkers) to 3 yr olds - so the toys etc shouldn't be the sort likely to be a choking hazard, as the younger toddlers will also still be at the putting things in mouths stage.

Its possible the OP didn't return because so many responses have been sarky or insulting.

People should read AIBU before posting. If you want a 'ur bubz, ur rulzs hun!' response, this isn't a good place to get it

Not sure I would be happy with this. I'd mostly be worried about the older children being too boisterous or rough with very young babies. DD is in the preschool class and they all race around like its going out of fashion.

Our nursery has 2 toddler rooms (12 months -2 years) and they both merge at the very start/end of the day, then the nursery room (2-3) and the preschool room (3-4/5) merge. The baby room with children less than 12 months is never merged with another. That seems sensible and I'm happy with that, 5yos and babies in the same room I'd be uncomfortable with.

As long as the staff ratios do not go below what they are supposed to be, this is a fabulous idea. Babies love being with older kids and you can see them watching everything that they do. It's actually pretty unnatural for kids to spend all day with only kids in the same age group.

DD is just 10months, only just crawling and not walking yet. I don't think it's beneficial for her to be placed in a room with 3-5 year olds. They are boisterous and she looks worried when I pick her up, she's usually in a corner. Staff are usually busy getting kids bags and forms ready for collection so not closely supervising at this time and lots of running and jumping. Sometimes there are art-craft things all the floor in the older kids room.

Thanks for all responses.

The baby room she's in is under 2s, it's not one room but 3 rooms all set up for babies (including messy play and a dining room for under 2s) so it does annoy me when it's full of older kids jumping around.

I do think nursery should sort out staffing so each age group has cover until closing time. It should be about the kids, not staff's convenience. Imagine if healthcare professionals did this in order to leave work early, there would be uproar!

But I do accept I'm being a bit PFB and need to relax about it.

At DS' nursery they occasionally mix the babies (0-2) and toddlers (2-3) for very short periods of 10-20 minutes or so. If they need to merge classes for longer periods at the end of the day they normally move the toddlers up to the preschool room. DS (age 2) loves it as its a change at the end of the day and there's one little boy in the preschool that he really looks up to and has taken DS under his wing. They're so cute together!

Nuni do you plan to have more children?

You know your DD will be a "boisterous 3 year old" one day too, right?

They are not doing it to leave work early, they are doing it to leave at the end of their shift!

Would you be happy for the price of the nursery to massively increase to pay for the extra staffing?

If you want all rooms to remain staffed from 7am-7pm, that's fine but ne prepared to see the fees skyrocket to facilitate this.

As to your DC looking worried, I'd be very suprised this is the case, in my experience younger children are enthralled with older ones and the older ones love to see the little ones. Are you sure you aren't projecting your own OTT worry onto her?!

You are beginning to annoy me now
The staff are not skipping out of work early. They are going home at the end of their shift
You don't have to use the nursery
Use another one or pull her out and keep her at home

It's what happens in many family homes with multiple siblings and with many childminders too. It's great for them socially. Watching and learning. Will make transition between rooms and carers much easier too.

Nutella
Its a nursery, not a Romanian orphanage
Your post is ridiculous

Hmm lets have a think about why the op might go out to work. Maybe she wanted to feed her child. Or keep a roof over its head. Daft stuff like that.

I don't know why, but I'm always surprised when some sanctimonious sexist idiot with views from the last century comes crawling out of the woodwork. I don't know why but I am.

Nutella trot on back to the 50s where you belong