Does anyone's fussy or high needs baby go to nursery?

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I wanted to know whether they settled in, and what's the best way to settle them in?

Thanks

Yes ds1 goes to nursery 4 days per week and has done since 11.5mo.

He was the most fussy baby ever during his first year!! Not necessarily clingy to me: just cried all the time, massively frustrated at every stage of development etc.

He took about 3-4 weeks to properly settle into nursery- cried a little a drop off every day to start with.

He settled into the daily routine there really quickly though. Like lots of fussy babies I think he thrives on routine, so knowing what was going to happen at the same time every day really helped him I think.

Nowadays (16mo) he LOVES nursery and is to all intents and purposes a dream child there! Be prepared: your fussy baby may be much less intense for another carer! This came as a shock to me.

Ultimately DS has always needed lots of stimulation and nursery is a non stop fun-factory so he is happy there. I noticed an almost overnight improvement in his mood/less grumpy grizzling when he started btw. I think he was finally getting enough stimulation out of the day.

Good luck, you and she will be fine!

Oh and if you've spent a year looking after a high needs fussy baby this is the best bit: the peace and quiet and freedom of returning to work. Bliss!!

Bot, thanks!

Do you have any tips for the settling in sessions? DD cried non stop for the session when left there. There are toys there but I wouldn't say it is stimulated environment. They are left to play on their own for most of the day.

Is that the same with the nursery your LO goes to? I'm still not sure whether she's even going to settle in, forget start liking it.

No baby should be in a nursery where they are left to play on their own all day, find a different one!

I took mine out after about 6weeks.
I think for her she needed more 1-2-1 attention so while she was fine in the garden or playing in inside sandpit just wandering round the round wasnt what she wanted.
She was 14m old and teething molars and hadnt been walking that long.
I think she may have settled eventually and certainly now at 2 i think she would be fine.
It would just depend on the nursery and why you think the kid is high needs.
Mine
wanted to be carried when she was teething badly or upset
Never slept more than 40min at nursery then crashed at home (not good when i would be working 8-6)
Pooped several times a day at diff times so i was picking up in a dirty nappy several times
Couldnt use a sippy cup so was drinking lots in afternoon, the nursery didnt hold the cup for her for either milk or water
She didnt like all the other babies crying and didnt like her key worker.
They seem to put the 2 year plus ones in the middle of the room to nap. I knew this wouldnt work for DD as she is so active the sight/noise of things would wake her up. At home we cannot use tumble dryer/dishwasher etc when she is asleep in the day

I think a really good nursery could have sorted all these things

Naty1, that sounds like my baby!

I have seen the other babies at the nursery and in comparison to DD they are just so so mellow and calm and 'do as they told'. I just don't think my DD will settle in.

We also don't use washing machine when she is sleeping and it's pin drop silence. She needs someone to walk with her for 10 min at least to be put to sleep. She will not just sit and eat, we have to change the scene for her etc etc.

I was amazed they got 40min sleep from her so it does show they do adapt to the situation and to fit in with the others.
I assume they are a bit tougher with them let them do a but of grizzling to get to sleep but that didnt bother me as we were doing cry it out at home as otherwise she wouldnt sleep except on me.
I dont think im quite there yet though my experience of some playgroups is still different to some of the other mums at song time she wont really sit down , too active. She will do at home when she wants.
Mine is good with food but needs a high chair the nursery had the others in chairs at a table , she knocked some the food on the floor and drinks, tried to eat the food off the floor.
But you dont know for sure until you try. Im sure lots of people think theirs wont settle and they all do.
It can just take a while. They may be tired enough to sleep there.

Hi i also have a high need baby who wont sleep with noise. He goes 3 days a week to a childminder instead as at the moment he need quite alot of 1 2 1 attention and where he sleeps is alot quieter. He still cries when i drop him off and when i pick him up at 5pm he is grizzly and creating with me for alot of the night but i just hope in time it will improve. I am tthinking about moving him to nursery when he can walk and is nearer 2. (he is 13 months) Hope you get it sorted.Sometime it helps to know there are others like yours.