WIBU to drop off 6 month old at nursery at 7 even though I don't start work til 9

[Katlow]

Going back to work tomorrow and LO is 6 months old. He's going to nursery a maximum of 3 days a week but it's going to depend on how my husbands shifts fall. I've got no idea what to expect at drop off. I was considering dropping him off early to avoid the hustle and bustle as nursery have said its 'mad' in the morning.
I was thinking I could throw some joggers and a jumper on and drop him off at around 7/7.30 then come home and get ready for work properly.
But then he's woken up this morning (he's usually up at 7) and he's so happy to see me. I don't know how I'd feel about literally getting him up and dressed then straight out the door. :(
How long does nursery drop off usually take? To get in the building etc. I'm so nervous and feeling a little bit guilty.
Bonus points for any answers which tell me how much your 6 month old loved nursery.

I understand suboptimal care and poor practice
Unfortunately It arises in all settings in LD and older adult clients are vulnerable and there may be communication difficulties . A group of vp who also may not be able to speak up. Yes. babies literally do not have the words and the emphasis on staff,parents,checks & balances and inspection.
No care setting is 100% reliable no carer or relative is 100% reliable because humans have flaws and may enact inadequate or poor care

More children are at risk at home in a domestic setting than those in day care, there are more a&e presentations and more safeguarding arising from domestic environment with parents than there are a daycare setting. No one says don’t care for a baby or child at home because of the risk some children face or notable incidents . The most unsafe place and risky place for some children is actually their home. The very place one would imagine is safe

Frequently LA and health place children in nursery for the multiple positive benefits eg socialisation, structure day, stimulation, linguistic and emotional development. Nursery overall is a positive and safe environment

@SoftSheen People can't prove their dentist is substandard in treating them unless they go to another dentist or their hygiene measures were substandard unless the practice is inspected/whistleblower. The only thing people can say about a dentist is that they have a poor manner.

No a small baby can't tell you if there is a problem at their nursery. However my DD could clearly show she didn't like some people at 6 months old including a famous person.

This has been quite the thread @Katlow

It's good to canvass other people's opinions. In the end though. I expect you will try it and see how it works out.

Just like any change, you start off, see how it goes and tweak as required to suit everyone involved.

@RedMarauder A baby can't know, or communicate that, for example, the safeguarding measures aren't adequate.

@Whichcatthatcat my experience of working in nurseries is very similar to a pp. I worked as bank staff in dozens (some of the most expensive London) of nurseries. Parents were routinely lied to that there children were playing happily as soon as they left when in fact they had been sobbing on and off all morning. I witnessed very poor levels of care again and again. Children often left to cry because ‘they had to learn not to be clingy’ mums complained about for making their children clingy by breastfeeding them or cuddling them too much.

I wouldn't. It's a very long day for them at such a young age. My son LOVED his childminder (not nursery at 6 months) and then when he started nursery at 3, he loved that too - and drop off in the morning was busy but not a problem, at all. So it will all be fine. But I'd suck up queueing to keep home a little longer.

It'll mean a long day at nursery for ds.

As I said suboptimal care happens at nursery and at home. There is no 100% safe environment. Where you have humans you have potential for risk. Intentional or unintentional. That can be in domestic home environment or in a care setting, One tries to mitigate risk and put in check & balance however risk will never be extinguished. Ever

On balance, knowing there is potential risk at child minder,or nursery or in domestic home people make informed choices and use available information to determine what child care they use

I use 7-6 because that’s what works for us. Simple as that. I’m absolutely guilt free and my children are thriving and happy.

I would OP, it will mean you’re far less stressed getting ready for work and you’d pretty much be ignoring him while you showered etc anyway

Based on this thread if I were a baby I’d want @EspressoDoubleShot to look after me, latest posts exemplary and sensible.

Also all days are long for babies, they’re generally 24 hours whether you farm that out to the local evil nursery or lay siege at home.

If he's 6m now have you started weaning? As I'd be inclined to keep him with you for those few hours in the morning so you can try him out with different foods/purées/BLW whatever you're doing

Sure, because first thing in the morning when you are getting ready for work and getting your baby ready for nursery is the perfect time to start your baby on the messy business of trying new foods. 😆

Hi,

Your baby will be absolutely fine! I had to go back to work at 3 months and drop off at 7.30am, it’s a quiet time of day at our nursery which means baby has time to settle in. I do usually give him a bottle before dropping him off. He’s just about to turn six months and has an absolute blast at nursery! He’s so happy to see all his Carer’s and loves learning from the other children. Being this age is great as I don’t think the baby gets the separation anxiety they would at about 9 months (or so I’m told!)
Good luck going back to work!

@hotmeatymilk I am of course available, for private consultation. Naturally I charge.

I may consider opening MrsHannigans day care with vinyl flooring for the copious tears that the babies will shed. Naturally I will charge

Hi OP

My child started at 6 months and went 3 days. I had to drop off at 7:30am and catch a train to work so mornings would be hectic. It would be get up, get myself ready. Then wake baby up, milk, clothes, go

Tight timing so no messing around. No time for feeding. No time to hang around at nursery. Hand baby over and run.

Nursery did all the weaning on those 3 days. Child settled no problem. Never had an issue

Three years on, very happy child who still loves the nursery and cant wait to go

@Holidaytan

Completely untrue. In the UK

Breakfast at nursery can also be a great way to distract baby / get them happy again if they’re a little distressed when you leave them!

Just to add

I had all the same thoughts and anxieties but in the end, we worked out a routine and it worked

I was told (by an early years manage) that babies settle easier at this age than 10-13 months. And it was easy. I panicked about weaning and i did want to do that myself 7 days a week but they are professionals and they know better than i did.

Sorry op, my dd is 6 months too and I just couldn't do that. Each to their own and everything but 6 months is so tiny, all they know is you and rightly so at that age.
Previous posters saying he will love it, not sure how much he will love being left with strangers all day in a really noisy nursery with very little one on one time with an adult.
I get it's difficult returning to work but I really think you should be easing him in gently.

How are a familiar group of nursery nurses who are seen daily actually strangers @lavenderlemon. Surely the weekday attendance and proximity of staff renders them as familiar not strangers
Having such an emotionally wraught agenda doesn’t help op it only flags up your strongly held opinion.
I personally pay a lot of money for strangers to watch the children.

@ChewChewPanda

You would not be unreasonable at all - you are paying for it and the time for you will be welcome - but I would build up to it as your little one will still be getting used to nursery and settling. When our daughter first started I sent her 10-4ish (I know this was a luxury and I used leave to allow for it). Then I gradually extended the time until it spanned my normal working day with a bit of free time in the morning too. She adjusted quickly and really likes it there now.

I don't think the fact that @she's paying for it" is relevant?

It's surely about what's best for the baby. Personally I'd put that above me having "tome to myself" or value for money in that it's paid for.

I'm shocked at how many people have said they put their kids in nursery for 11-12 or even 12+ hours a day!! So during the week you see your little baby for a hour in the morning then pick them up and put them straight to bed. Each to their own but wow you are missing out on the most important time of their lives!! This actually makes me so sad :(((( My babies over a career working all hours god sends any day.

Wipe those tears,park that sad face. The abandoned babies will be ok
Their avaricious parents will just keep keeping on
I’m missing out on nothing. I made a purposeful choice how to manage career and babies. Giving up my career was never part of the equation.

@EspressoDoubleShot

Wipe those tears,park that sad face. The abandoned babies will be ok Their avaricious parents will just keep keeping on I’m missing out on nothing. I made a purposeful choice how to manage career and babies. Giving up my career was never part of the equation.

Just to say remember @EspressoDoubleShot by keeping up your replies and posts you’re batting for many other working parents who just can’t even - at some of these comments. Well done. Although - don’t spend too much emotional energy responding to the nursery=child abuse keyboard hunnies. As the daughter of two professors, and as a professor mum of two littles, my gratitude to my parents for their choices, and my pride in my littles for the absolute delights they are know no bounds - alongside the genuine pride I have in my career.

Genuinely thank you @Navigationcentral
There are masses of functional mothers working, their making active happy choices. Choosing to work. Not compelled.Not sobbing into our espresso double shots. We are misrepresented, misunderstood and it’s a tired trope. The avaricious shell of a woman who’s bereft of maternal instinct (probably swopped it for a consumer durable).

I have a good work ethic
First in family to go to uni
First to have a professional career
My kids are my motivation, i do this for me, for them with my partner.

I quite like the comedic aspect of being the working mum when encountering the Wah what about the children brigade. It’s like a magical opportunity to be vile Cruella with a Mac Pro