Preparing baby for nursery - and advice?

[EmmaLL25]

LO will go to nursery 3 days a week from March when he will be 10months old.

I want to spend January and February doing as much as I can to ease the transition (ease my guilt).

I know we will have transition days nearer the time when he goes to visit nursery etc. but I'm thinking about what I can do at home.

1. sleep - is pretty consistent about when he naps but only in pram/sling so will try and work on cot naps.
2. food/drink - has taken really well to food but will only take a few oz of milk from bottle. Is bf rest of time. Going to try substituting day bf for bottle. Will keep morning/evening bf when at nursery. Takes water well from sippy cup.
3. time away from me - has only had odd hour here and there away from me so working on more Dad time, time with grandparents.

Anything else I should/could be doing?

Anyone wish they'd done xyz with hindsight?

I think your plan sounds good, but don't worry if some of it doesn't come to fruition before he goes to nursery. Little people are very smart & either adapt to a new situation quickly or manage to get the new grown up to do what they want.

Our nursery accommodates them if they want to go to sleep in a pram, so if you want to keep it as it is, maybe they'll be ok with that.

Tbh I would just enjoy the last of your time off, I worried loads before DS went to nursery, however, he has a totally different routine at nursery, naps less, eats better, sleeps without his toy or dummy!! He does sometimes cry at drop off but by the time I've put my shoes on and walked round to where I can see him through the window he is usually playing! He was 10m when he started too

Also, no 3 sounds like a good idea, I think we'd managed a night out prior to DS starting nursery and grandparents would have him for a few hours so he was getting used to us leaving him and always coming back

Nice ideas to prepare your child for nursery. Kids are very much adaptable and can adjust themselves in the new surrounding. Idea 3 sounds better where the child will live with grandparents and learn to live without you for few hours and then come back home.

I call one of the bfing helplines and talk to a BFC about bfing and returning to work. She should be able to give you a plan that means DS won't be hungry and you shouldn't get mastitis and you dip onto want that your first week back at work like this daft bugger

I would also say- if he is not used to other children being around then maybe arrange to meet friends with under 5's? Some children who come into my setting are over whelmed by all the other children who can be very noisy!

Also, do you have a partner OP? If so, could you start by sending them out swimming or to the park and library on Saturday morning? It should help him see that you don't always need to be there

IME of my then 11 month old DS going to nursery - don't worry too much about it, with the possible exception of number 3. I fretted about how he would sleep, as he still BFed to sleep with me unless he was in the pram or car. Within only a week or two he was settling nicely with a nursery nurse patting his back, then without.

He also wasn't keen on formula, but I didn't express while at work so wasn't sending BM in. He drank a little bit from a cup but nursery just gave him a yoghurt and a drink of water at milk time instead, then by the time he was 12 months he'd accept a bit of cow's milk instead.

Foodwise, I'd done Annabel Karmel slavishly so he was eating lumpy and finger food well, so they moved him up a menu, IYSWIM.

DD is going at 10 months in spring, I'm sure I'll fret about her too before she starts, though....

Thank you for advice and reassurance everyone.