What is the ideal amount of days/time in nursery for a toddler?

[BabyQuestions]

What is the ideal amount of days/time for a toddler to be in nursery?

I think our baby is going to enjoy nursery, she's very sociable. As long as they can get her to nap there.
The alternative is being at home with an enthusiastic (but not generally good with kids) mum who is also hoping to get some jobs done (despite child only napping in moving pushchair) and who dreads the thought of messy play. Baby quickly seems bored of her toys etc at home but loves exploring, people watching and new things. I'd love her to learn to read before starting school like I did if she is interested and able. So I'm wondering, for her happiness and for her learning and development, what might be the optimum mix of nursery/home time while she is under 3?

For us it was however many days mum and dad both needed to be in work to keep ourselves afloat.

DD has done two days since about 18 months, going up to three days when she turns 3 next month. It's worked well for us. She absolutely loves nursery!

Thank you. I'm trying to think about this question separately from the financial side of things and then weigh that up afterwards.

DD has done 3 days since 2.5 years. I like having two days during the week to take her to classes, activities like swimming and visiting places like museums and theme parks on quieter weekdays rather than weekends. I think less than three days at nursery makes it harder for them to get used to the environment and build friendships.

Started nursery at 2yo.
Started on 2 days, up'd to 3 after 6 month. Now doing 4 days. He loves the place.

We make the most of a Friday and weekends as a family.

@perrito

DD has done 3 days since 2.5 years. I like having two days during the week to take her to classes, activities like swimming and visiting places like museums and theme parks on quieter weekdays rather than weekends. I think less than three days at nursery makes it harder for them to get used to the environment and build friendships.

I agree with this. I know a few people who have put toddlers in nursery 1-2 days a week, and the toddlers have struggled to settle. It's hardfor them to become familiar with the setting if there's a whole week between each session.

DS is in nursery 3 full days and 2 mornings. Ideally I think I'd like him just to do the 3 full days, but DH and I both need to work.

DT’s went full time from aged six months (that was standard maternity leave then). They thrived there and stayed until they started school. We all have good memories of their time there. Two of the staff also became our weekly babysitters.

Anything from 0 up. I'm a childminder some come 50 hours a week others 5 hours they all settle you wouldn't question if z child would settle going to aunty's one session a week its no different.
Childminders are another option they offer exactly the same as nursery.

Mine both started with 2 mornings a week (at 15m and 22m) and settled straight away.

DS1 started 3 whole days when he was nearly 3 and really enjoyed it, there was a few month period when he did 4 full days plus 1 day at grandmas and he did find that quite tiring.

Depends hugely on age and personality i think. Your title says toddler but then you talk about a baby.

Under 18 months, I don't think there is much benefit if they can be with a healthy, attentive primary carer. That is their main social need at that age, strong attachment to a parent not lots of baby friends.

18months to 2.5years I'd say a few mornings to encourage independence and learn how to build relationships away from the parent.

After that full school days to start getting them ready for school but still nice to have a couple of days at home for them.

In reality most parents can't do this for financial or even just local nursery availability. People get very defensive as well about their use of childcare from a young age so you'll have people saying full time 45hrs a week from 10 weeks old is great and their child thrived.

My son is almost 3 and does 3 full days.

I think at least 2 is good, I wouldn’t want more than 3 full days if I could avoid it.

If I didn’t work I would maybe consider 4 mornings

I think 3 days is a good amount of time. It needs to be enough time for them to feel at home there really. And spread throughout the week is better than all lumped together

Thanks everybody, it's really helpful to hear your thoughts on this.