Worried about first few years affecting daughters development

[Amyk01]

I have read countless times how birth to age three are the most important years in a child’s development. I have planned to have a years maternity, then my daughter would go full time from age 1-2 at a specific nursery and full time age 2-3 at the nursery of the school she will go to thereafter. I’m confident that these nurseries are some of the best available and felt confident that my daughter would receive a high level of care and quality.

It is now no longer possible for my daughter to attend these nurseries, and so I will be looking at putting her into somewhere that is a bit more convenient and the quality of these nurseries is nowhere near that of those I had seen previously.

I’m worried that with the first few years playing such a massive role in a child’s development, how could it affect my daughter if she goes to a nursery that isn’t so highly performing. Am I worrying over nothing? Does it really make very little difference where she attends? Do I have reason for concern especially when she will be spending so much time there?

Thanks

Mine all went to different nurseries and also had a mix of nannies and some staying with me. You would not tell the difference now, so I wouldn't worry as long as they are clean, well run and with a good range of activities.

The only child whose development was affected was the one who was really ill as a toddler, and he has had to catch up and hasn't really quite caught up yet in my opinion (he is 10 now).

Honestly, it's what you do at home that matters. My ds was with a nanny after I went back to work at 8 months and was was in full time nursery, 8.30 - 6.30, 5 days a week from aged 2 until he started Reception. It didn't affect his development in any way, either socially or academically; socially I'd say it helped as he is an only child and it got him used to mixing with lots of other kids. We did lots of stuff with him at home, reading to him, playing, outings. He flew through primary and has just done GCSEs with fantastic results (at a Requires Improvement comp but that's for another thread!).

Don't beat yourself up about it - as blackeyes says, as long as it is clean and bright and well run, and the staff are kind, I really believe what you do outside nursery is far more important.