About Nursery Hours?

[Teawithtoast]

I'm going back to work soon. Part time, three days a week. I've found a really lovely nursery, but having read another thread, it's clear that long days at nursery are considered by quite a few to be unreasonable for babies. Given the hours I am expected to work, it is unreasonable to put an 11 month in nursery from 07.30 - 18.00 three days a week? If so, what else can I consider? (family providing childcare is not a option, neither is cutting back on my working days/hours sadly).

I wouldn't worry about the number of hours, your little one won't have any idea re hours or even remember nursery as she grows up.

As long as you are happy with the nursery, all will be fine.

Many do prefer a CM for a little one but I like the routine and stability of nursery. No being bumped for better hours clients, no housework, shopping, school runs etc, no strangers around, child in a known place at all times with more than one adult.

My DS did 8am-6pm two days a week from 11 months and was fine about it fro the start. They still get naps and time doesn’t mean anything to them. They were non-consecutive days which may have helped.

Mine have both done 3 long days from 6 months old - same hours as you're suggesting. I have one day off a week, and my 4th working day they were with DGPs. Best of all worlds I say - they both utterly thrived at Nursery, were socialised from a young age, and working is very important to me (financially, mental health wise, etc etc).

Of course there were days they didn't want to go, guilt tripped us, clung to us and those days were hard, don't underestimate it.

But, my eldest DD started reception this time. She walked in without a backward glance, made friends easily, thrives in the structured environment and we have had the comment "oh you can tell she went to Nursery" more than once from her teachers (in a good way!).

It's fine. Better than fine actually.

You'll still be with them 4 days a week, so that's more of the time

My eldest is 23. When I had her i had to return to work when she was 12 weeks old working full time 9 - 5.30 5 days a week in a town 30 minutes away from home so she was 12 weeks old and away from me from approximately 8.15am until 6.15pm. She's a lovely girl. It didn't harm her even though it wasn't what I wanted for her but I had no choice.

Mine went to nursery from 8-6 for 5 days per week from 4 1/2 months old. We didn't have the luxury of endless maternity leave 15 years ago and DH & I both have careers we love. She's turned into a lovely, bright, independent teenager with no emotional damage and a great relationship with both of us in a loving, stable home. Ignore the witch hunts and enjoy going vack to work and your time together at home.

NoArmaniNoPunani

Thanks. I'm seeing a lot more of my DS now as I used to work 3.5 days a week and my husband did 1.5days a week childcare until he died.

My DS12 was in nursery four days a week from 3 months old. He's a wonderful boy and loves me to bits. It hadn't harmed him. He was in 7.45-5.30

I debated this with myself for a long time and discussed it with many of my friends. Finally I decided on nursery over childminder. As a childminder you are trusting 1 individual with your child. If they are not up to scratch there is no-one to pull them up on it. In nursery there are managers and other nursery nurses in the room so everyone is always being monitored. This decision came from a friend who had childminder for her kids whose partner was around the children and he was then arrested for child pornography. Also childminders have a range of children ages in nursery they are grouped into ages which I liked more. We are at a small nursery though with only 9 in dd room all within a month of her age.
My dd goes from 7-5:30, 5 days a week and although loves being picked up. Carries her shoes and coat to us in the morning and waves goodbye to us as she is going into nursery. She is 14 months. Even if I wasn't working, I wouldn't be able to take nursery away from her for at least some days a week as she just loves it.