My DD is about to turn one and start nursery 3 days a week and I’m feeling as I imagine every mum feels at this point... a little bit heartbroken and wondering if I’m making the right decision.
We had her first settling in session this week and it seems like a great place with lovely staff but it’s very busy and will obviously be so different to what she’s used to after a year of my undivided attention.
She’s a sociable little girl and has always been happy to be left with family but she seems to have hit a bit of a clingy phase with me lately.
She’s also not particularly mobile yet and it makes me sad how small and vulnerable she seemed in a busy baby room where there won’t always be someone available to pick her up and play with her. She didn’t seem fazed by the environment at all but I was still there for this session.
She hasn’t been a great napper either and I’m worried whether she’ll manage to sleep at all in a bright noisy room.
I know these are all the usual worries anyone starting childcare will go through but I’m wondering whether I should have put her in a smaller setting like a childminder instead until she’s a bit older.
Does anyone have any positive experiences of nursery to share that might relieve my guilt? Did their motor / communication skills come on, did they enjoy it? Please reassure me!
Thanks in advance