9 month old nursery

[SparklingJoyous]

Hi all, I'm currently on maternity leave, my daughter is due to start nursery in April when she's 9 months old.
To say I'm panicking is an understatement. She is exclusively breastfed- she does take expressed milk in a bottle but screams because of gas. She still contact naps - she naps after a feed and as soon as I move her she wakes. She screams when I'm out of sight. She's majorly fussy and often only settles when I'm holding her. How on earth will she manage at nursery?!
What happens if she starts nursery and she just won't settle there?! I have no idea what I'd do about work. Anyone able to give any advice to a stressed mum 🙈
Edited to add she will be going in 6 hour days x3, and 11 hours day x1.

You don't say if you have a DP or DH around. If you do, then I'd start to go out more. If they are home at the weekends send them out together each Saturday morning. It doesn't really matter where. Library and Park, Swimming, Soft Play. She needs to get used to not relying on you always being there. I would get DH/DP to take a bottle and some food for her so that she gets used to other people feeding her and getting her to nap.

Does your DP/DH do things like bath her or try and settle her now?

I'd also aim to be feeding her first thing, before lunch, before tea and before bed by 9 months although obviously she may wake more for a feed in the night once you're back at work. 9 months is difficult as it coincides with the 9 month sleep regression.

Once she's hit 12 months you can try some gentle night weaning.

I would also give one of the BFing Support Lines a call and talk through BFing and returning to work with a BFC.

You might find the No Cry Nap Solution helpful too

Just wanted to say I know it's stressful for you, but she will be absolutely fine. Babies and toddlers adjust so much easier to changes than we do, they're better at it than we given them credit. I'm not saying it'll be plain sailing and she'll settle right away, but she definitely will get there.
I'm an early years practitioner and I work in the baby and toddler rooms, and even our most unsettled, clingy, only-want-mum babies settle throughout the day. They may get emotional at times, and getting used to new ways of sleeping/eating can take time, but none of them cry all day long. They will settle with the staff and the staff will give them all the comfort they need (of course they can't replace mum!), and after some time your little one will get used to the routine, the environment, the people etc.

My top tips are try and prep baby as much as possible before starting by going out more often without them and allowing others to settle them if possible, try to get them used to the bottle as much as you can etc. and when you do drop off, try not to linger too long. The longer you're waiting for baby to stop crying, the longer baby will cry. They will settle after you've gone but not as long as you're standing there or hanging around and they can see you.

Good luck though!! It will be a bit stressful for you at first but I promise it will get easier over time, and baby will be absolutely fine! Xx

Sorry also just seen you say she'll be starting in April when she's 9 months. So she's about 6 months now? On which case you'll be amazed how much development and change happens over the next 3 months!! She'll be like a different baby. Try not to fret too much and just enjoy your last few months of may leave 🥰 xx