to not want to put my 2 year old son into Nursery yet?

[SarahL2]

I am very lucky to still be in contact with quite a few of the women I met at ante/post natal group. It's nice cause all of our kids are pretty much the same age - just turned 2 - and are doing the same sort of things.

Except, one by one, the kids all seem to be going to nursery for 2/3 mornings a week. One or two Mums are going back to work or doing courses so that makes sense but the others seem to be just because the Mum needs some time out.

Personally, I don't feel ready to put DS in nursery. We do loads of stuff during the week and see and interact with lots of other children so I don't feel he's missing out on that front (we usually only have 1 day a week where we're home all day). The only bonus seems to be that he would learn to accept being away from me and I'm not sure I like the sound of that yet.

AIBU or can he wait till he's 3 and gets his free hours to go to nursey?

YANBU, as the other said. My DS1 didn't go to nursery until he went to pre-school at 3.9. He did one day for a few months and then two for the rest of the school year. He simply wasn't ready for nursery until he was three and a half, and even then not five days a week.

My DS2 (2.10) is a different kettle of fish entirely and adores nursery. He went early, at 16 months, as I was ill and I was extremely surprised how much he liked it. I would never have thought of it after my first son but apparently all children are different . He's still not going five days even next year though. My baby, sob ...

Go with your gut. You know your child, your family and your own needs best. Personally, I was dying to have a few hours to myself by the time my son was 2 yrs old, but I know parents who's children never went to nursery at all, and just started straight into reception at 4/5 yrs old. There is no right or wrong route. Just do what you think best.

Yanbu.
If you are all happy and coping, then wait.
My ds isn't starting till 3 either because we have so much else on!
I don't think there is anything wrong with your child going to nursery at any age fwiw, it's just what works for us.

My DS (2.4) has just started at a tiny little pre-school for 2 mornings a week. Until now, he stayed with his grandparents for 2 days a week and a CM for half a day while I worked. I'm now at home on maternity leave and could see that DS was ready for something else.

He is absolutely thriving at pre-school, and runs excitedly up the path and asks if he can "come back soon" when I pick him up. He chatters about it in a way that makes me feel very pleased that I made the leap from home-based care to pre-school. I've seen a very definite but positive change in him. Being 32 weeks pregnant, it is also handy to have some time alone, but that wasn't my motivation at all.

I think you have to look at the child and what the child may or may not be ready for. If you feel your DD needs to be at home with you, that is fine. But not all children are the same.

You're the expert on your child and you'll never get this time back so just do what suits you both best.

In Germany and the nordic countries kids don't start school until the autumn after they turn 6, and while many go to kindergarten lots of other kids are just hanging out at home with mum, dad, granny or a childminder. And they all turn into perfectly rounded people in the end. So I really wouldn't worry-save yourself some cash and enjoy your time together.

I didn't send my dds until they were funded the term after turning 3, and I won't send ds until that time either. However, I can understand some mums sending them earlier, whether they work or not.
I cm so I know my own dc are getting lots of outings, group activities, arts and crafts, mixing with other kids ect, as thats my job - but I did feel that the year before school they would benfit from pre-school, and the dds certainly did. made them feel more grown-up, and gave them a break from our mad-house !
But stick with your instincts, you are having fun together, there is no need to alter that. All too soon they are at full time school and your life is just not yours anymore. It is a neverending cycle of school runs and times to keep to.
I truly miss the days when my dds were tiny and there was no nursery or school, it was just us. Golden days that go far too quick.