Nervous mum - leaving 5m old in Ski Esprit creche

[stantonjulie]

We've decided to go skiing on 13 December for a week and leave our dd in the creche. She's never been in one before so naturally I'm terrified she will be upset. I'm also not sure how good the nannies will be with small babies, especially with it being week one of the season. Can someone put my mind at rest - I know that nannies are probably better qualified than I at childcare!!!

I propose to ski from the morning until early afternoon. She's mixed bottle and breast fed now so I thought it would be nice for her (and my milk supply) for me to come back for her 3pm feed so she only has one bottle feed.

stanton julie, that sounds lovely. I have no direct experience of doing what you are proposing, but...I think it is actually easier to leave younger babies in childcare sometimes, than older ones. Separation anxiety (the main issue when it comes to babies being upset, IME) doesn't usually kick in until they are a bit older. How is your DD if you leave her with others now? The BF regime sounds sensible, and doesn't sound like it's too different from the one you follow at home?? If you find yourself getting, er, a bit too full in the mammary area, you could nip into a cafe loo (bit yuck, but doable) and express some milk by hand to relieve things. It would also help your supply remain regulated.

Re the nannies, I see your point with it being the first week, but on the other hand they should be nice and fresh and not too jaded yet! And Esprit seem to have a good reputation for childcare.

Anyway, have a lovely time. We are also (hopefully) going skiing, possibly with esprit, that week. But not to st. anton as we are too crap at skiing to cope with the pistes there!

errr... stantonjulie, why did I presume you were going to st. anton??! You didn't say that, did you? It's your username, it's late, I'm knackered ... yep, that would be it.

I think you will just have to see how it goes. DD will probably be absolutely 100% fine but you on the other hand may not be. This is not meant to put you off but you might just find the maternal urge too great to leave her for more than a morning. However if you find you can leave her then do.....do not rush back, enjoy your freedom .

I left DD at 4 months in a Mark Warner creche and DS at 5 months in a Sunsail creche, on both occasions we have been very happy with the child care, because they were so young as well, the nannies in both cases loved having them, not because of ease but because they genuinely loved babies.

Thanks everyone - I shall go with the flow. She's pretty good when I'm not around and spends lots of time with other people including children so I think it will be me who's going to find it tough.

I'm sadly not going to St Anton - I did 2 seasons there so it has a special place in my heart hence my nickname. Also means I'm a bit of a fair weather skier these days. Reason for not going is that Austria doesn't have a smoking ban yet. Figured we might as well go somewhere that does given the choice (we are going to Italy).

I've used Esprit for last 8 years. Nannies have always been good and DD has always been fine. They will be proper NNEB (or modern equivalent) qualified so have experience even if first week of the season.

I've always been really happy with the childcare, its the childcare that keeps us going back even after other grumbles with Esprit. Enjoy your holiday.

stanton (aha, I get it now), hope it works out well. I am sure you'll have a nice time whatever happens - at least you all get to spend some relaxing time together if nothing else (ach, sure your DD will be fine in nursery). We booked la rosiere with esprit for next sunday in the end(tried for selva, alas no space for us at such short notice!). Have a great time.