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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Nursery have said I can choose but I don’t know which?!

42 replies

Oligg · 18/09/2023 08:50

I have a 1 year old who is starting nursery later this week. In the settling in sessions last week they said she’d be in the baby room or the next one up depending on her personality/confidence etc. However when she was in the settling in they said I could choose as I know her best and they could let me know if the room I choose isn’t suitable after she’s been there a few times.

Obviously the baby room has more staff and there’s not many babies in there at all anyway.

The next room up is 1 to 2/3 and there were toddlers running round… dd can’t walk yet and can only just stand holding onto something. Im worried she will get hurt in the bigger room.

I really don’t know what to do.

OP posts:
Whinge · 18/09/2023 08:54

Choose the baby room.

Although I would be very wary of a nursery that was happy to put a baby who isn't walking into a room with 3 year olds. It's completely inappropriate in terms of development, needs and the toys / activites for the different age groups.

Zola1 · 18/09/2023 08:55

If she can't walk, baby room. When she's confident on her feet ask for her to move up. She won't be able to join in with the bigger kids yet and sounds like she will get more time from the staff in baby room

Flatandhappy · 18/09/2023 08:56

Definitely the baby room, why wouldn’t you want the higher staff ratio if you have a choice.

mynameiscalypso · 18/09/2023 08:57

Baby room I think. At DS' nursery, they moved up from the baby room when they could confidently walk to the park round the corner.

SoupDragon · 18/09/2023 08:57

If she can't walk, baby room.

This. I don't think it's a good idea to have a non-walker or a wobbly one in a room full of exuberant toddlers who are not completely steady themselves.

headcheffer · 18/09/2023 08:58

Baby room for a non walker. They may be offering you the choice because some people prefer their kid to have one key person for the whole time they're at nursery, instead of changing when they move rooms.

Excited101 · 18/09/2023 08:58

Baby room, the toddler room would be terrifying for a non walker.

Original poster
Oligg · 18/09/2023 08:58

Thanks that’s what I was thinking! I will go back to them now and confirm.

OP posts:
Ilovenyfan · 18/09/2023 08:59

Baby room. Bit perplexed at them saying she could go in either. She's 1 and not yet walking, why on earth would they think she'd get on in the toddler room?

My DD is 1 and not yet walking and she would so overwhelmed in a big group of 2-3 year old's.

elliejjtiny · 18/09/2023 08:59

Definitely baby room (ex nursery nurse here)

Stimpend · 18/09/2023 09:00

The upside of the toddler room is she would have more consistency and not have to resettle. Will she lose her key person when she moves rooms? Ours used to move with the children.

It's a hard one and I think it's poor form they are leaving it to you. Yes you know her best, but they know nursery best.

Purplestorm83 · 18/09/2023 09:01

Not sure why they let you choose, best practice is to put non-walkers in the baby room - nurseries can only register to include under 2s if they have a separate room or can divide the room to allow for non-walkers to be separated.

PuttingDownRoots · 18/09/2023 09:28

Are you sure its up to 3yo?
My DS nursery had 2 "baby" rooms. One was 3 months-18 months, the other 12 months to 2years. Both same ratio, but different activities as a 3mo has completely different needs to an 18mo.

Original poster
Oligg · 18/09/2023 09:29

PuttingDownRoots · 18/09/2023 09:28

Are you sure its up to 3yo?
My DS nursery had 2 "baby" rooms. One was 3 months-18 months, the other 12 months to 2years. Both same ratio, but different activities as a 3mo has completely different needs to an 18mo.

@PuttingDownRoots they said sometimes 3 year olds, again depending on the child’s development.

so I guess it’s mostly 1 to 2 in the next room up, but they could all walk from what I could see

OP posts:
Original poster
Oligg · 18/09/2023 09:30

Though @PuttingDownRoots why was there overlap with those rooms are your nursery? Is it for children developing at different rates?

OP posts:
PuttingDownRoots · 18/09/2023 09:34

DD did stay in that room for 2 months after her 2nd birthday but that was July-September when they physically couldn't move anyone up a room until preschoolers left.... they weren't putting new walkers in there!

Mariposista · 18/09/2023 09:36

start in the baby room - she can always move if she needs more stimulation in a few months time.

Spreadthehappiness · 18/09/2023 10:16

We are given a similar option with our son . He was due to start in the baby room which was 6-14 months. He had just turned 1. They gave me the option to move him to 14-24 months as he was walking, drinking from an open cup, using cutlery and eating finger foods well. We decided to move him up and he seemed better settled in the older room. It was a difference of only two months though and it probably didn’t make a huge difference but he had just started nursury and I wanted him to settle in well.

Iamnotastick · 18/09/2023 10:17

Start in baby room for sure. DD went into baby room at just shy of one, she was walking within a few weeks and moved up to the 1-2 year old room ater about 3/4 months when she was confidently toddling around.

Phos · 18/09/2023 10:27

I'd choose baby room. I've never known a child who isn't walking move to toddlers. Clue is in the name surely! Even if they are walking they usually go up around 18 months. Do they have a third "preschool" type room as well? At my daughter's they generally went into that around 3 although she moved a few months early as they didn't want to separate her from another child she was particularly close to.

SkinnyMalinkyLankyLegs · 18/09/2023 10:57

I think I'd go for the baby room. When you say she's 1, how old is she exactly? As in months? 12 months or 18 months? How would she be around little babies?

Wfhandbored · 18/09/2023 11:12

I'm surprised they gave the choice. Definitely the baby room. Mine didn't move 'up' till she was 2 and properly steady and more sturdy.

hdbs17 · 18/09/2023 11:15

Agree with others.

If she's not walking then baby room. Toddler room once she's fully confident on her feet and can run.

TheOldLadyOfThreadneedleStreet · 18/09/2023 11:39

off track but my DD didn't walk until 20 months and she was fine in the toddler room from 13 months.

Alexandra1991 · 18/09/2023 12:03

Like others, I would say baby room. When my DD started nursery we were also given the choice, but she was 14 months and had been walking since 11 months so we went with the toddler room. But if she had started earlier and especially before walking I would have gone with the baby room.