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!

I didn't use a nursery, but my daughter went to preschool for 6 hours per week from age 3, which we quite beneficial for her in terms of independence (not for socialising, as she spent plenty of time with other kids at toddler groups and parks and so on anyway)

Personally, I had no choice about sending my DCs to nursery part-time when they were 3 and 4 months old. I had my own small business, which was financially essential to the family, and I wasn't able to take any maternity leave. Statutory maternity allowance was tiny, and I had the running costs of the business to keep up. I worked on the day I went into hospital and on the day I returned from hospital, though I did try to do almost nothing for the first week or 2. Believe me, I couldn't wait for my DC1 to be old enough to go to nursery (the earliest they took babies was 3 months), as running a business and looking after a new born at the same time isn't that easy when the new born never seems to sleep!
And no, I didn't feel bad about sending either of them to nursery, and I don't feel bad about it now, either. It was only 3 days a week, and they were in the best possible hands - the hands of a woman was vastly more experienced than I was, and who could spend all her time looking after them. They both loved nursery from the first day. They made lovely friends, who they saw outside of nursery too. It was an overwhelmingly positive experience.

@slitheringsnakes my own DS's experience is similar to your DC. He is an adult now in his 20s and his closest friend was made at nursery all those years ago.

I didn't know I was supposed to feel gut wrenching guilt at enrolling my baby in daycare. I knew it was necessary, I visited a few before I found one that was the right fit, I was content with how he was treated and I was able to still pay the mortgage.

I've sat this afternoon with my teen DD collating photos from her time in nursery into a book along with some other random photos. The nursery were better than I was at taking photos and writing dates and places on the back! The photos brought back many pleasant memories.

DD made lots of good friends at nursery, many of whom she is still friends with and I made some really good friends from the parents.

I was lucky to get her a place in a really good but expensive nursery. She started off at aged 1 in just 4 hours for 3 days. As she got older this time slowly increased until I went back to work full time when she was 3. This worked best for DD.

@BackforGood The Grinch aimed that at me because my baby went to nursery from four months and they decided I didn’t care and attacked me for it.

DD1 was 13 months and went for 2 days. She was with my mum and mother in law for 2 days too. DD2 was 9 months, she goes 3 days and is with my mum for the other 2

Hi

I've currently got my 2 year old in nursery but am thinking of removing her as financially it is unmanageable. We want to wait until she is 3 years old for 30 hours but not sure if this will affect her development in any way.

I'm so confused on what to do and any advice would be appreciated.
Thank you

1. It’s a bit crazy how people get annoyed at @Mrgrinch for their opinion re babies in childcare but then think it’s ok to make judgemental and unhelpful comments like “several SAHM I knew didn’t use nursery and their husbands left them for other women so glad I kept working”.

People should just do what they like, accept if they feel any guilt (or not) and not try to make other people’s choices or worse to make themselves feel better!