Nursery hours… what is best?!

[timalal]

Dd will be going to nursery when she is 1, 3 days a week. Work have been flexible with hours and I think I could specify when I will collect etc. The longest day I could do would be 7:30 drop off and 6pm collection. I work 9-5:30 so obviously wouldn’t need it this long. But would it be better to drop off earlier or collect later? I could log in again after collecting, for example, to make the day even shorter for dd and just do another hour when she’s in bed. What do you think?

Sorry what I’m trying to say is I need to work 7.5 hours a day (I have a paid hour for lunch that I could work through). How would you do the hours is what I’m asking…

I dropped off earliest I could and picked up earlier than when they closed ie. 7.30-5, because my toddler was up early anyway and 5pm dinner kept her evening schedule better ie. Dinner at 5pm, bath at 6pm, bed at 7pm

I'd probably wait and see (annoying answer I know!) You may need to start off in one way and then change it as you and your DD get used to the new routine. I would say don't plan to work through your lunch hour. It's a break, and as a mum you don't get many of those. If WFH you could use it for exercise, getting ahead with dinner prep or, just sitting and doing nothing! If in the office, you could go for a walk or eat lunch in peace or use it to get admin done (book appointments etc). My lunch hour is sacrosanct on working days!

@OnlyFoolsnMothers thanks, v v helpful, that’s a really good point about keeping the evening routine! I think I will suggest I start work earlier then, that makes sense. Perhaps I could ask for 8am start as I could be back home by then…

@Brieandbeetroot thanks, good point, I won’t sacrifice the lunch hour just yet!!

I’m thinking I do 8am -4pm and have either a half hour lunch break or do an extra half hour when she’s in bed? That way she would be home by 4:40 and can relax a bit and have dinner etc

I'm a childminder and little ones do better with early drop off, early pick up over later drop off, later pick up.

We drop off at 7.30am and collect at 4pm as we have an early riser. I have a 30 minute lunch and relish the little extra time I get with my child at the end of the day before they go to bed 😊

@KateyCuckoo @Herecomestreble1 thank you both!

Find out what time they serve meals and how that aligns with your schedule. We don't pick DD up until 5.30ish as they have tea around 4.30. But we do drop her in later as DH works from home and doesn't need to be at his desk until 9 and nursery is only a five minute walk away. It also means we all get to eat one meal a day together!

I'd start as soon as you can and finish as soon as you can.

I drop off when they open at 730 (life line if toddler decided 4am is getting up time) and pick up after the “evening” meal which is included in the rate. It’s finished by 430pm and I usually collect before 5 (close at 530). I used to give DS tea at home afterwards but he’d never eat it so I offer a snack now (fruit, raisins etc). We have tea at 6pm on non nursery days but offer him a snack at nursery tea time.

For clarity the day rate include breakfast, morning snack, hot cooked lunch, afternoon snack, cold tea (high tea type thing, sandwiches, crudités, etc).

I agree with what others have said about earlier drop off / pick up.

Also, keep in mind they may take you longer than you imagine. My DS's nursery is a 7mins drive away but often takes over 20mins in rush hour (or longer when roadworks), then sometimes we have to queue to park in the car park, then queue up at the door (sometimes behind parents wanting to have a full on talk about their child while the rest of us wait). It can be frustrating.

Obviously you may love next door to the nursery so this wouldn't be applicable, but it may be something to think about!

Oh and also check what time they serve breakfast and dinner (if they do?). Ours opens at 8:00 and breakfast is 8:30, and closes at 6 with dinner around 4:15. If meals are included in the price he's having them!!

I preferred to get them home as early as I could as it made the evening easier.

Do they charge by the hour or by the day? DD's Childminder charges by the day so she usually stays the whole day 😂

Start work as early as you can, they get sick and you have to keep picking them up 😭

We dropped DD off pretty early because she naturally woke at 6-6.30am. We could be out of the house by 7.30 without rushing anyone. I could then pick her up by half 4 and we got a nice chunk of time toghether (early enough for a park trip on the way home if we wanted). An early start would have been much harder if she needed waking up though.

My suggestion would be to start her as early as possible that fits with her natural sleep pattern. It means the day should start fairly smoothly without stressing anyone out and you can maximize the time you get after work/nursery.