To ask at what age you put your child in nursery?

[chuckb4ss]

Was it part time or full time, and did you feel it was beneficial for your child?

I've read that research shows babies should be with their primary caregiver for the first few years in order to create a secure, healthy attachment, but I simply cannot last that long!

12 months

I didn’t put any of mine in nursery

My little one is going to nursery part time at 1 year old. I feel very lucky that this is the case as I know a lot of babies who go younger and for longer each week. All happy and adore their mum and dad :)

12 months. Our nursery takes children from 6mo.

10 months, for two mornings per week. My mum died and I was not coping so well.

One.

She loves it, and I think would have been ready a few months earlier.

DS was 2 years 3 months. DS2 was 16 months. They both did 2 days, I am a SAHM. On paper and with hindsight I feel like 16 months was too early, such a baby still, but in the moment I was completely frazzled, he was a shrieker and a climber and needed the stimulation! I just asked if there was a space while dropping DS1 off on a bad day and that was it 😂

Childminder for two days per week from around a year old for DC1. DC2 goes three days (as family are no longer available to help out with childcare). I preferred a childminder for a child under two but that’s personal choice and lots of people prefer to use nurseries - they have different advantages.

A good childminder with whom you have a good relationship is worth their weight in gold - but the relationship is key. If I hadn’t felt comfortable with either of our childminders, I would have gone for a nursery.

6 months for both..I had to go back to work. No regrets whatsoever

My dd is starting nursery when they reopen and she will be 7mo nearly 8mo. I need to go back to work full time. 2 days with GP’s and 3 full days at nursery. Both my niece and nephew went to nursery at the same age for the same reasons. Both love nursery and both have secure healthy attachments to their parents.

12 months for first two. This one will wait for numbers to drop a bit more to start. They went part time and then daily when reached three/31/2.

Mine went at 7&8 months. No regrets. They’re there four days and we have a long weekend and I do term time only. Works perfectly for our family

2 years we have decided. A few mornings a week. The research I've looked at says there are some benefits from then onwards. Before that it's not necessarily worse but no real benefits (people will tell you otherwise- they say their child developed more quickly but they can't prove it wouldn't have happened anyway and of course they want to have done the best for their child).

I have been tempted since a year purely as there is nothing to do with covid around and sometimes I really need a break. But we got through the difficult stage he was going through and decided to wait (also because of covid!)

Not nursery but both of mine went to preschool 2 mornings a week when they were 2. Don't know about it being beneficial as such but they enjoyed it.

2.5 for 2 mornings until she was 3 and then from 3-4 3 days per week

Dd2 was due to start 2 mornings in january at 2.5yrs but its put off for now

Dc1 went 2 days a week from aged 2.5
Dc2 went 1 morning a week from 2.5, gradually increasing so he went 1.5 days aged 4
Dc3 didn't go
Dc4 went 1 morning a week from aged 2y 3m and then 2 mornings from 3y 3m
Dc5 went 1 morning a week from 2 y 3m and then 5 mornings from 3y 3m when dc4 started school and dc5 got lonely without his bff

We have never needed it for childcare and my youngest was put into preschool 2 then 3 mornings a week at age 2 purely for the social element. It really helped advance her and she loved going. She now goes to nursery (well she would but lockdown) 5 mornings a week and she is missing it very much.

9 months

6 months as I had to go back to work.

My son is 3 and still hasn't started nursery. He was due to start January this year, but due to COVID - me being preggers and a terminally ill Dad we want to see and are in a bubble with, it just wasn't worth the risk of him bringing something home (not just COVID, but all the other crap they get when they first start!)

As baby is due in April, we've left it and he'll start in September just before he is 4.

My son is very confident and secure, I've no concerns about him or his learning and development.

I do worry a bit about his lack of interaction with other children, as we haven't been able to go to any groups or see any friends for nearly a year now. I'm sure nursery in September (and a new little brother) will sort that!

We only kept him home as I work evenings and a Saturday and am based from home anyway, so we didn't need the childcare.

This baby however, I would like to start in nursery from 12m, and I'll take on two weekdays in work in the week.

13 months. It's been very beneficial. She is 2.5 now, has her own friends and loves it. She goes two days a week. I'd out her in for 3 if I could afford it.

At 6 months for DC1 as I needed to go back to work (a bit less than full time, but full on busy)

They loved it and stayed at the same one until just before starting primary school, made lots of lovely friends a few of whom we still see now

9 months for 2 of them and 5 months for the other. 3 days a week. I had to work so needs must. No regrets

10 months for DD1 full time as I had to go back to work, although managed to drop to a 4 day week after a few months. 6 months for DD2, again when went back to work - 5 short days a week

DS started the term after his second birthday, I was on benefits so got the funded hours. It was great for socialisation as he's an only child.