Minimum age for nursery?! Any Experiences???

[babydevon]

Hey...

I am organising a lovely nursery based in a zoo, to care for 3 full days for my little girl, whilst im studying 1 mile away from her....

What are peoples thoughts on the minimum age this is suitable? Or if anyone has had to return to uni/work etc...

There will be a couple of other same age babies, and they are prepared very well for the age..

First time mummy (quite obvious i think) ha - just like to hear other ladies views

Thanks xxxxx

Mine was in full time nursery at 6 months (I am wicked and work full time!). He's 10 now and very well socialised etc.

How old will the nursery take children from?

There is no right or wrong answer to this.

Some people are against leaving small babies at all, others are against nurseries whilst others are against childminders. The important thing is for you to do what suits your needs and what you feel comfortable with.

Hey

They take from 3 months to school age

My DS started part time with a childminder at 17 weeks and I really don't think he noticed much about it! She was a 22 year childminding verteran and something of a baby-whisperer.

I have just reverted to FT now he is 3 and that seems fine too. He is in an idyllic Montessori pre-school in the countryside. I have been VERY fussy about settings and moved heaven and earth (and house) to get him into places I am convinced are perfect. Then I can relax and get on with work.

There's no right answer to this - you have to do what is best for you and for your little girl in both the short and the longer term. Whatever age she starts at, you will initially feel she's way too small and young and you should hold off for another six months at least - but you will feel this whether you go fot it when she is aged 6 months, 12 months, 18 months or even 24 months to be honest. But, whatever age you start at, there will be some initial tears and doubts at first and then after not very long the arrangement will become the new "normal" and she will accept that this is how things are. Children are very adaptable and assume that whatever they experience is the way things should be - so long as there is consistency and predictability she will be fine.

A Nursery based in a zoo sounds wonderful - what a delightful way for a young child to spend their time while mummy is doing what she has to do!

Nurseries generally can take from 6 weeks.......
I'd feel sorry for a new Mum having to go back to work after just 6 weeks, but sometimes needs must. Ultimately though, that is the minimum age they will take, if that's still your question.

I recently took my lb out of nursery (20 months). The main reason being that I left higher education and wasnt entitled to free childcare at their nursery on the college grounds. Does anyone know of a nursery that would take under 3's that wouldn't cost alot or nothing at all in or around the Epsom area (We live near Tattenham Corner)!! Was such a shame taking my lb out of nursery he loved the social aspect.
Please help!!

Mum of 1!

Dd went at 3 months for 2 days / week, it was better when she was a baby, when they are older they're more aware that they are missing mummy so 18 months plus was a lot harder and we had to cut back (she was full time from 10 months). Ultimately, you've got to do what your gut tells you is right, it's different based on your particular options.

I am not sure about nurseries taking babies from 6 weeks - all the ones I have seen say they take from 3 months. My niece started at 10 weeks (the nursery took her earlier than the 3 months they advertise).

My DD started 4 days a week at 4 months. She loved it and it worked well for us. DS will be 9 months when he starts, probably 3 days a week.

As others have said, it is really down to what you feel comfortable with.

I put my children in nursery 3 weeks ago. DS is 11 months and DD 2. I personally didn't feel ready to go back to work earlier but there is no right and wrong answer and I struggled financially to have that extra time with my DC

My kids go to a preschool in Encinitas, CA. The minimum age there for the toddlers is mere 6 months. I hope most of the preschools have a similar age group for the kids. However, it depends on the preschool or daycare you are trying to get your kid enrolled. Hope it helps.

My son started at 7 months - he's now 9.5 months. Has enjoyed it from day one. The health visitor asked me last week if he has stranger anxiety, to which I said no, not yet at any rate, and she looked very surprised. And then she looked shocked when I said he'd been in nursery 3 days pw since he was 7 months, and is thus well used to being handled by any one of six different nursery nurses.

There's another baby there who is about 18 months now and has been attending full time since he was 2.5 months. Lovely little boy, shows no sign of emotional trauma at all. His parents are Dutch I think, and they see the whole thing as entirely normal & positive, so he and his brother do too...

I'm a cm and the youngest I've had was 4 months and it made settling in great she only came for a few hours to give mums break but has never cried being left, i don't have a minimum age but sometimes it's harder for them to settle once desperation anxiety kicks in but they should settle after a couple if weeks anyway.