Nursery

[Strangehair]

If you send your child to nursery at a young age does it affect the way they behave.

I think it really depends on the child TBH and the nursery that they go to.

My dd has been going to nursery since she was 6 months old and all I can say is that they go through phases -if you are unhappy with any element of their behaviour speak to their keyworker. I don't think behaviour depends on whether they are at nursery or not _ i have friends who have always been SAHMs and their children have never been to nursery - guess what they go through phases as well.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Strangehair, is your question influenced by that article in the Guardian yesterday? if so, there was a huge thread about it yesterday. Can't do links but I think it was either in 'chat' or 'in the news.'

My personal opinion is that very very young (2 & under) children are best cared for in a home-like environment (parent, child minder, nanny, grandparent etc) where they will receive lots of one on one attention. I know this is not very PC, but I always feel that nurseries struggle to offer what v.young babies need - although I think they can be great for older children.... I think if you have the choice of a childminder/nanny or a nursery for a baby I would choose the first (Mine were both at child minders for first 3 years until I bcame a SAHM)

Melmum, before I had to choose childcare I would have said the same thing; would have assumed childminder/nanny was better than nursery for babies. However, when I investigated, I was much happier with nursery. The child/carer ratio is exactly the same whether you choose cm or nursery, 1:3 for babies. And it just so happened that I was unhappy with the four childminders I saw and found three great nurseries to choose from.

Strangehair, my advice is always go with your gut instinct. It doesn't matter how good the nursery or childminder is, or how many other mothers are fighting for places in it or with her, if you don't feel right about it, then it ain't right. And similarly, if other mums don't like your childminder because she had "an accent" (oh horror!) or because she had CBeebies on a lot, but you saw that your children were happy and comfortable with her and she was spontaneous and joyful with them, then she's the right one for them. At the end of the day you'll know yourself if you've chosen the wrong childcare, because it will reveal itself in their behaviour.

DD went to nursery from 21 weeks and is now 2y 3m. Her behaviour has been fine and TBH I can only say positive things about a nursery environment. It has certainly been the best thing for us and our DD. But not for everyone - all children are different. My DD has thrived

MY DD went when she was 13 months and is still going at 3. She loves it and loves all the girls that look after her. I didn't notice any particular change in her behaviour, other than the usual stuff with growing up (terrible two's and the rest). Apparently she is much better behaved there than at home....

I ma very happy with the nursery and some of the staff are still there after 2 years. LIke you I did not like any of the c/m I sawe. besides even if they can only have 3 children under 3 at a time, they might still have another 2 over 5. LOts of different ages and needs, even if the older ones are more independent it seems to me they could be pulled in many different directions at the same time.....

The hard thing is you'll never really know what's best, though I'm sure different research and articles in the guardian will keep us confused in the meantime...(must admit the recent one really got me upset and unsure ) dd (10 months) has been at nursery since 6 months. She's always been a sociable baby and always seems happy to be there, so I go with that for now.

I can't discern much difference between my 2 year old dd (at nursery 3 days per week from 6 months), and her 2 year old friends who haven't been to nursery...except to say that she is perhaps more confident of herself, unphased by new things..