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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

What Age Did Your Child Start Nursery?

16 replies

karlahine · 20/04/2012 10:44

I've often had this discussion with the girls and there are varying opinions. In my case my eldest went to nursery from 3 months part time with regular grandma interaction my second went at 3 months full time and my youngest went when he was approx 8 months old part time. Out of the 3 I have noticed that my youngest is the most confident of all, the other 2 are happy with their own space and very shy when meeting new people. I can't help thinking this may have something to do with the fact they went to nursey too early. If I could do it all again and had the finances to support my decision I think I'd stay at home for the 1st year. If there is anything I could advise new mothers it would be to enjoy every second, they are so precious and you never get them back!

OP posts:

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BonkeyMollocks · 20/04/2012 10:48

Ds went to nursery at 2.2 years.

I needed a break and he was more than ready. Started off as one morning a week and then worked up from there!

I don't think I would have been happy putting him in any earlier. I don't think it would have worked for us at all.

I agree enjoy the younger years because they go so fast, my ds starts school in Sep

Firawla · 20/04/2012 10:50

my eldest went at 3 and a half, to school nursery class. 2nd will probably be going at just turned 3, to school nursery class.
personally i wouldnt be happy having them in much earlier than that.

Nevercan · 20/04/2012 12:40

My first started at 9 months and still loves going - two days a week plus one day at nannys. She is very confident. My second is due to start soon at 1 year old so I can go back to work again for three days a week

insancerre · 20/04/2012 12:46

DS didn't go to nursery but went to a sessional playgroup at 3 for 3 mornings a week
DD went to playgroup at 2.5 and school nursery in the afternoon for 2 years 5 days a week with 3 months at a private day nursery before starting school

PotteringAlong · 20/04/2012 12:49

My DS is due to start when he will be exactly 7 months

Iggly · 20/04/2012 12:51

Ds started at 2 - two morning sessions. Before that he has a nanny since 1. Dd will be with her brother and nanny from 11 months or so when I go back to work. Nursery full time wasn't for me but I respect other people's choices as many kids thrive in them!

Seona1973 · 20/04/2012 12:59

my 2 didnt start until they got their free hours at age 3. I dont work so we didnt need it for childcare

musicmaiden · 20/04/2012 14:40

Mine started 3 days a week at 10 months old, then he has 1 day with me and 1 day with his grandmother. He's now 2.7. It's proved a nice balance and he is happy. I feel very confident with the decision, not least because it's meant he's very used to seeing me come and go and it causes him no anxiety. It's also amazing how good he is at sharing, waiting his turn etc, which definitely comes from what he has learned at nursery.

Beanbagz · 20/04/2012 15:57

DD & DS both went to nusery from 6 months old.

DD went 3 days a week, one day with GPs and one day with me. Finished nursery the month before she started school.

DS (3 years younger) started out with the same routine but when FIL died, he had an extra day at nursery. Finished nursery at the beginning of DD's summer holidays so we all had a lovely long summer together.

Much as i loved them being little babies, i enjoy them far more as children and they're an absolute joy to be with (now aged 10 & 7).

conorsrockers · 20/04/2012 20:24

Mine started very early at 10 weeks. I know some people will draw back in horror at that, but I run my own business and it meant that I could have the facility of full-time care but pick the days I needed (and change them at the last minute). I have to say I don't regret it at all - my boys are very well-rounded, sociable and confident. I am not the sort of person that requires 'me' time (!) so when I am not at work I am all theirs . It totally depends on the parents, their lifestyle, personalities and ethos I suppose. For us, we want to be here for our children when they need us, but to bring them up so they don't. I can't remember feeling guilty/sad when they weren't with me as I knew they were having a ball ... separation anxiety didn't feature (and still doesn't, they can't wait to get off to boarding school!)..

Sittinginthesun · 20/04/2012 20:30

6 months and 7 months, respectively. Both part time.

Don't beat yourself up, OP. I sometimes look back at the differences between the boys and wonder if it is something I influenced (one formula fed, one breastfed. One born four weeks early, one full term. One horrid, stressy labour and birth, one calm and happy....). Guess it's mother's guilt.

Also, I am pretty certain that my dcs' personalities were pretty much formed by the time they were 4-6 months.

conorsrockers · 20/04/2012 22:03

Agree with Sun - there will always be something to over analyse. We just don't have any way of knowing whether our decisions at the time are the right ones but we all do our best, whatever path that may lead us down.... I also had one non BF and he always seems to be the sickly one - probably more to do with the fact that he was the last and the others had already had all the goodness my body could give!!

JiltedJohnsJulie · 21/04/2012 09:05

DS started at 2.5 and DD at 3. Did have about 10 months off with each but only worked part time and they where with DGPs while I was at work. Nursery was more of a pre-school experience. Still think I sent DS too early and was listening to R4 the other week, they were saying that children under 3 in nursery have raised levels of cortisone in their blood whereas after 3 this isn't the case.

Voidka · 21/04/2012 09:15

I am a SAHM.

DS1 started at 3
DS2 started at 2.5
DD started at 2.1 - she was desperate to start because we took DS2 every day.

MrsShitty · 21/04/2012 09:20

Mine both went aged three and one is shy....the other is not. I think they are who they are.

SuperScrimper · 21/04/2012 09:26

DS went just after he turned 3. We paid for him to go 2 mornings a weeks for 2.5 hours. 4 months later he got the funded places and started going every morning.

DD is 18 months and won't be going until she is a least 3...

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