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

[Oligg]

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.

Given she can’t walk yet I’d say baby room

As everyone else. My 16mo is starting in a new setting next week and has been walking for about 2 months, he’ll be in baby room for a couple of months until he’s reallly steady then will move up.

My DD was walking at 10 months and moved up at 14 months but they gave us the choice at her old nursery as they acknowledged it was a bit early, but it coincided with a new term and a couple of preschoolers moving up to school I. January. Most importantly though we felt she was ready and could do with more stimulation at that point.

The overlap is because children learn to walk at different rates, are more or less confident, may have different sleep needs (1 or 2 naps) or just because one starting at say 15 months may as well go into the older room to avoid changing whereas one that started younger may be settled in younger room so it makes sense to keep them there

My nursery is 0-2 and then 2-3 and 3-5 as someone said previously I would also be wary as there is a massive development gap between these ages - I also wouldn’t have thought you would chose that should be the nursery based on the needs of the child I’d go baby room

I wouldn't be comfortable with having a baby in a 2/3 year old room. My godchilds nursery are mixing rooms at the moment and it really isn't safe. A tiny 14 month old with a big almost 3 year old running around. I'm surprised it's allowed.

Definitely baby room till she’s confidently running around, approx 18-20 months , must be terrifying for poor baby otherwise. Our nursery does 0-2 for baby room, 2-3 toddler room and 3-5 preschool

Our nursery had two baby rooms, both from 6 weeks up to 18months/walking and they would split the babies across the rooms depending on the current cohort. Then they had a 12 months/walking to 2 room which was huge with a big garden which essentially seemed to be to get the kids really confident on their feet, climbing, running, jumping etc.
Then two 2-3 rooms and 2 pre-school rooms. Again they would split the current cohort based on hours, needs etc.
For a not yet walking 1 year old I would definitely go with the baby room.

Definitely the baby room x

I think the room age overlap is also because they would move children in cohorts, say every term, so that there are some familiar faces rather than starting from scratch?

If she can't walk I would choose the baby room.

My nursery has the option of moving a child up earlier/mid year if they are ready, so hopefully your nursery can also be flexible if you want to reconsider once your DD is a bit older and walking :)

If she can't walk - baby room. Our nursery won't allow them to move up until they can walk.

There is such a big difference between a 1 year old and a 3 year old. Most 1 year olds aren't walking and if they are not comfortably, mine started at 13 months but wasn't properly confident till about 15 months. If your sure that's the nursery for you I would opt for the baby room until walking confidently at least.

The nursery my son goes to, the baby room goes up to 18 months then the next room is 18months to 2.5 years, my son started at 23 months and it worked well, but if I was you I would have concerns about being with older much more mobile children too. I don't really get how they can have that kind of mix with the carer to ratio rules either tbh.

I’d go for baby room with a plan to review it in about 6 months time.

my little boy started nursery at about 15 months in the baby room (0-2years) and did great in there but by around 19-20 months he was ready to move up to the next room (2-3years) but unfortunately had to wait until he was 2 to move. He’s coming up to 3 in a few months and I think he’s ready to move up to the next room (3-5 years) but has to wait until he’s 3 to move.

Baby room & then staff can tell you if they think she’s ready to move up

Definitely baby room. Seems very strange they would have a non walking 1 year old in the toddler room. Most move up around 18 months if they're ready , there's a big difference between 12 & 18 months.

Baby room definitely. Until she can walk confidently I'd be worried about her being knocked over and she couldn't take part in any of the activities the bigger kids were doing anyway. Plus the baby room will be a much calmer introduction to nursery, with much longer, darker, more frequent nap times.

My daughter didn't move from baby room until she was 18 months old and I think this was about right as she was then properly walking (albeit carefully) and could get involved.