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Nurseries

Find nursery advice from other Mumsnetters on our Nursery forum. For more guidance on early years development, sign up for Mumsnet Ages & Stages emails.

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Original poster

How young is too young?

12 replies

starodyssey2015 · 03/03/2015 10:29

My DS is 15 months old and I think it's time for me to look for a job. My last job was working with horses but since having him I'm a little less brave and don't want to work with them anymore so I'm starting from scratch. Ideally ill be working full time but partner has thurs,Fri off and my mum will have him one day through the week. So will only be 2 days a week he's there. But I'm so scared of leaving him. I need to get a job now as money is tight and my maternity ran out a while ago when I decided to quit.

Is he too young? I just hate the thought of me at work and him crying for me with a bunch of strangers :(

OP posts:

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AnythingNotEverything · 03/03/2015 10:31

No. Plenty of babies go to nursery from 9 months, lots more even younger.

He'll have lots of time with family too.

MsMittens · 03/03/2015 10:34

Hi OP
My DD started nursery at 9 months old and absolutely loved it from day one. She is incredibly engaged, adores her time at nursery but also loves being at home with family.

Please don't assume that your DS will be sad or cry, it is not necessarily the case. If you make treat it as something which is fun and an opportunity to make friends (as opposed to treating it like you are abandoning him) it can be a very positive experience for you all.

Good luck.

VeryPunny · 03/03/2015 10:40

Well, DS will be doing two full days from 5 months! I saw a job advertised for two days a week so although I am going back soon, it is worth it for a two day a week job. He's done two 2hr settling in sessions so far and been fine. The way I see it, many people leave their DCs with grandparents much earlier, except DSs nursery workers have first aid qualifications, a clue about child development and won't try and feed him baby rice in a bottle....

That said,his key worker looked after DD, who went FT at 9 months, so I know the staff.

LetticeKnollys · 03/03/2015 10:40

I am a bit like you, I'm planning to do childminding instead of going back to my old work, but of all of my mum friends I am the only one not putting my baby into childcare when mat leave runs out, so it is really normal for babies to go to nursery much younger than yours.

Speaking of childminders, maybe you should consider one instead of a nursery, given your concerns. If you find one you like he can be in a 'home from home' atmosphere with an adult he grows to trust and just a few other children instead of with a 'bunch of strangers', as you put it!

AnythingNotEverything · 03/03/2015 10:49

I second Lettuce's comments actually - DD has been with a childminder since just after her 1st birthday, and its a lovely homely environment. I also like that they go out to parks and soft play and story time at the library. There's nothing wrong with a good nursery, but look into a good childminder too.

rioballinx · 03/03/2015 10:59

My daughter started nursery at 14 months and didn't get on that well, as in she was great for them at nursery, but hard work at home. I'm hoping to find a childminder or a smaller nursery setting for her soon as j think this might suit her personality better. So long as you pick the right childcare no reason why not.

Sandybananapants · 03/03/2015 11:09

I think two days will be fine and I think that personally it all depends on the individual child .

14 months is a nice time in the sense that they'll be learning to socialise, engage in play but predominately on their own at first.

I think you should go for it. Just choose a really good setting.

We had the experience of DS going to a weak Nursery. We then changed him and he has flourished unbelievably so in his new nursery. It's wonderful.

Good luck :)

Pootles2010 · 03/03/2015 11:11

The right childcare is key - start looking now, ask around, get somewhere you really like the feel of. DS loved his keyworkers, he started at 9 months and is 5 now, he sometimes likes to pop over to nursery for a cuddle with them and they love to see him, so obviously a good bond!

Original poster

starodyssey2015 · 03/03/2015 11:27

Thanks for all your lovely comments and support. Childminders scare me a bit as when I was young I had 2. Both really horrible who use to just sit on the sofa and shout at us. One time a child, which was her friends son, drew on her sofa and she literally beat him so I'm worried about putting him in that scenario. It scarred me for life x

OP posts:

HoggleHoggle · 03/03/2015 11:35

My ds started at just over a year. We had a false start with his first nursery and he only did two settling sessions before I found a different one. He absolutely loves it now and I think it's a really good environment for him to be in - he's learning to be without me (albeit one day a week) and also to interact in a setting with lots of other children etc. just make sure you look at lots of different nurseries and keep your eyes peeled during the settling sessions, the first nursery seemed great during our visit but it was during the actual settling time that I saw things I wasn't keen on - I was especially sensitive about it given that he's still quite young.

Only1scoop · 04/03/2015 07:08

My dd just used to do 2 afternoons at 9 months....she loved it. Find a nice setting and have a trial run. Good luck.

Nolim · 07/03/2015 21:22

At 15 months he will be fine. Good luck.

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