starting nursery

[Buglady]

Just wanted a little advice RE going back to work and starting nursery...

I am a teacher. I had originally intended to return to work full time for a couple of weeks in July, when my husband would look after our baby, I would be at home with her during the holidays, then she would start nursery in September at 10 months old. I have found a lovely little homely nursery for her to go to.

However, we are a bit more broke than expected and so I'm thinking of going back for the June/ July half term instead- LO will be 7 months. However, I am worried it will be too traumatic for LO to start nursery at 7 months for 6 weeks, then have 6 weeks off for the holidays then start again in September. Just wondered if any more experienced mums had an opinion on this?

Thanks

You will have to pay for the holidays anyway if you start her at nursery in June, so take that into account when you're looking at finances.

If you definitely do need to return earlier, I would seriously consider putting her into nursery for a couple of days each week over the holidays so that she is still familiar with it. It also means that you can get a bit of time to yourself to relax and go on MN get all those jobs done that are harder with a baby around.

The only other thing I can suggest is to see if you can find a CM or alternative childcare for the summer half term so that you don't pay over the holiday- but that could be hard for your DD, it's a lot of changes in 2/3 months.

I wuld probably keep her in the nursery over the summer hoilday but shorter days maybe 10-4. Otherwise she would have to settle in twice because she would have forgotten it, that way she would still be used to going in on the days she will go term time. By doing that she will be used to the staff and children that are in on the days she will be going.

In my experience you would have to pay a childminder for the holidays anyway or at least pay a retainer unless you can find one that only works term time

It's a nursery that won't charge me for the holidays so that's not a consideration! I think I'll stick with my original plan and just send her in September. Thanks for your input.