Doubts over Nursery Choice - or is it just me

[LEMONADEGIRL]

My ds of 6 months has been attending nursery for 2 weeks - he goes five mornings a week.

However, I now have concerns and wondered if I am being unreasonable or not.

Ds has only been weaning a short time - fruit/veg purees etc and agreed with staff that he would have their lunch. I did not ask to see the menu stupidly but explained that he had only recently started weaning. Dropped ds off first day and when collected informed that he had eaten pasta and vegetable, then crumble and custard for desert!- very sick ds that pm. Decided to bring own food. As after checking menu, items such as chilli are on it. Now discovered that nursery offer weaning menu - so why not tell me about it knowing ds is just over 6mths.

Secondly - although ds has key worker - key worker seems to have little to do with him - never mentioned in his daily diary. Knew faces every other day

Thirdly - they have college students into train - my ds was sat with student today, student just sat their didn't seem to interact with babies, my ds had vomited on floor, which I brought to attention, where other children could walk in.

I am first time mum and all knew to me, which I explained to nursery - or is it just that I am expecting too much?

new - not knew

Thanks NJ.

I took ds for several inductions, which they were happy for me to do, as often as I felt comfortable with, which impressed me.

The menu issue has really bothered me, staff at settling in sessions asked if I had introduced yogart but that was it, I should have mentioned that I phoned the Friday before he started and mentioned again that he had only just started weaning and acting manger said that menus were available on the notice board. Not once was I shown one, but then in hindsigh I should have thought to ask.

The students were seated in enclosed area where other members of staff can see them, but other memebers are busy doing other things.

Do you think I have justifiable concerns?

my children have been in several nurseries, and so as a customer, I find your description a bit odd. I would expect a bit more individual attention.

If I were you, I would visit a few more nurseries and see what you think about them compared to this one.

I would say you definitely have justifiable concerns, particularly in view of your baby's age

What I find strange about the meal they gave him is that apparently nobody thought as they spooned it out "odd meal for a six month old." It's not whether or not they'd noted down his age on a form or the existence of a "weaning menu" that would bother me. It's the lack of child care sense. You know. Looking at a baby and looking at the crumble and custard and making a judgement that he'd probably be better off with something else.

The food issue is by far the most serious concern for me. I do think nursery menus for children under 2 often leave a lot to be desired. (nursery Jo's nursery sounds fab though) When I was baby room supervisor the parents supplied all of their baby's food each day and this worked brilliantly. Parents had complete control over what their children ate and I was able to wean babies as and when their parents felt they were ready.

I echo NKF's concerns over lack of childcare knowledge, surely SOMEONE should have realised crumble and custard is not a suitable first weaning food. It all sounds worryingly slapdash to me.

As far as key workers go, yes your ds's keyworker should be spending lots of time with him, especially as he is still settling in. She/He should be the first person your ds forms a relationship with, so that he feels secure enough to explore the rest of the nursery.

I would recommend having a serious chat with the nursery manager and possibly looking at alternative childcare options. Ofstead might be interested to hear about this nursery's menu chioces too.

ps- Students who sat motionless in the presence of the children at my nursery were not tolerated. Some simply had no experience of young children and had to be encouraged and shown how to play with them. ( these were mostly school students on work experience) The staff should be constantly monitoring the student's interaction though and intervening when necessary.

Sorry this has become very long!

Thanks all for messages. Have spoken to nuresery reference my concerns.Ds is now on weaning menu and it has been agreed that I will introduce food t home and then they can give it. Will see how it goes and review in two weeks.

Which nursery is this... it may be one of us is sending our child there too and can offer better advice.

trust your instinct, if you're not happy, then it's possibly not the right place for your boy. I had this, and changing was the best thing we did. x