Nursery or home with Mum??

[gio71]

My i year old ds doesnt go to nursery as I work freelance part time from home and so with me using his nap times and play times to work it has been fine until now. A few people have said to me recently that I am doing him a disservice by not getting him into a nursery, that he'll suffer as he isnt mixing with other kids and being stimulated in that environment. Now I'm worried they are right. I changed my job because I wanted to be at home with him and I love being at home with him each day. He seems a happy, balanced kid and seems where he should be development wise. He's not shy with other people and isn't clingy with me. What do other mumsnetters think? Carry on as I am or should he go to nursery?? I kind of think, he's only just 1, we are lucky that I can work from home, he's got plenty of time to socialise when he's older, surely now the fact that he can be with his Mum loads is great. Is that me thinking of me not him though????

there seems to be an obsession with sending kids to nursery, that if we keep them at home it's not good for them.

why are we in such a rush to pawn off our kids? if we are able to keep them at home then we shouldn't be made to feel guilty for that.

of course it is best you're at home with him! They grow up so quickly, before you know it he willl be at school and just wanting to be with his friends all the time. You are giving him a secure happy foundation. Just make sure you get out once a day, even an hour to the local park, and to a parent/ toddler group once/twice a week. For some reason, when you a SAHM people think they can be be incredibly rude. My sister's often phoned me telling me 'you need a job' when i decided to stay at home when DC1 was born. Now she is at school, very confident and intelligent, and I am at home with my DS.

FGS - what's the matter with some people. He isn't suffering by being at home with you - there is plenty of time for him to have those lovely "mixing with other children" times. I bet you have friends with children - even if you don't it doesn't matter as he'll get lots of the socialisation at pre-school.
Maybe they are envious - I know I was when I read your post[frin] - DS went to nursery two days a week from 5 months because working at home wasn't a possibility. Enjoy this precious time with him and be happy that you are in a job that allows home working.

I worked from home when my DD was born. DS had been with a childminder but she had to give up so she went to nursery 2 - 3 days a week from 2.

I mananged working from home with DD until she was 2, she had given up naps by then, so I couldn't rely on that time to work, so she went to nursery 2 days a week.

They both thrived there. It's about getting the right balance for you and your child