long days at nursery

[dobbin]

I'm due to go back to work 2 days a week when ds is one (now 7 months) and with commuting in to London I'll need to drop him at nursery around 7.30am and pick him up around 6.30pm. I can get him used to it gradually for a few months/weeks before I go back but what I'm worried about is the length of time he'll need to be there. Is anyone able to reassure me that he'll cope? It seems a long chunk of time for a baby.

he'll cope, it make take him a while to get settled but he'll be fine.

dd does 8am til 6pm and she is a lovely balanced kid. She went at about 6months though and it did take her a while to settle in.

can you share/stagger the drop off and pick ups with your dh/p so that you can reduce the length of time?

i don't know about all this "it's a long day for them" always said while tutting about nurseries in general. i presume the actual length of your baby's day will be pretty much the same as usual?

also, it's not as though this is happening 5 days per week - he'll still be with you 5 days out of 7.

what advice have the nursery given you about settling him in?

A good nursery will ensure that for the duration of their charges' days there is a good mix of quiet and busy time, dobbin...your ds will cope. He will be on the cusp of toddlerhood by then, probably mobile, and will generally seem a lot "older" and less vulnerable than he does now.
I promise! It's not easy returning to work, I do sympathise, and have been there with my two already. They have both coped fine with the good nurseries they attend.

I feel very reassured by your messages. It's great to hear from people who've been there. We have two good nurseries nearby that would be fine. I shall go and check them out and see how they handle the settling in bit. I am already trying to build his confidence with others and he seems a gregarious chap so hopefully he'll love it. I have been very worried about the practicalities of going to back to work and I now feel I can put my worries aside for a bit and enjoy my leave. Many thanks.