Changing nursery

[Turningamumagain]

My LO has just turned one, she's been going nursery around 4 months - full time since the beginning of September. She loves nursery and the staff love her. But there is one thing I'm not happy about and despite myself and 2 other parents speaking to the nursery about it they aren't willing to change it. They have a policy in place where you have to sit in your car at drop off and pick up times and they come out every 15 min to collect your child. It doesn't work for so many reasons, time, weather and mainly because you aren't getting to see your baby in the setting at all. I've had two older children who both attended nursery from babies to school and I loved going in to pick them up, speaking to the staff and watching them play. We just aren't getting any of that here. If I would have been told about this before starting her she wouldn't have gone there in the first place. One other mum has already taken her baby out for the same reason. I have tried to explain politely why it doesn't work but I didn't get anywhere. I want to message again this week to explain again that if it's not going to change back to how it was pre covid I'm going to look somewhere else for her. Every time I think of moving her though I start crying. Has anyone else's baby moved at this age and did they settle ok? Any advice welcome. X

What a ridiculous policy- from a time perspective. Tbh lots of nurseries won’t allow you in, theyve kept the policy since covid.
I’d move her. A 1yr old literally won’t notice the change it’s you that’s upset by it not her. Contact some other settings, it might ease your concerns.

My nursery has also kept pre-covid restrictions and doesn’t allow you in building at all. We have to queue outside (whatever the weather) until the door opens and then the children walk in by themselves when their name is called. My son started nursery during the height of covid in September 2020 and has been there since with no change to the routine at all. It bothers me too that we don’t get to see our children in the setting! However, I think it’s good prep for when he starts reception in September.

You could try moving them, OP, but I think you’d be hard-pressed to find a nursery that hasn’t remained with covid drop-offs/pick-ups.

That's such a strange policy! I wouldn't be happy with that either. I moved my then 11 month old and my 3 year old as we moved house. They've both settled incredibly well into their new nursery - this was 4 months ago. They settled really quickly.

Thank you. They have said it's nothing to do with Covid they just preferred that system. The reasons that they gave though I don't feel are justified especially for babies. There is a nursery so much closer to us with spaces coming up in January so I am going to arrange a viewing. It's just crazy when 3 parents have spoken to them and two willing to take their babies out because of it that they don't realise it's not working. I don't think we will be the only ones either I just think some of the mums wont have said. X

After speaking to other parents I know a lot of nurseries near us have gone back to their old routines they haven't kept the covid rules. If she would have been pre school I would have just persevered but as she was only 8 months old when she started, standing in the rain was a bit much 😩

Thank you so much. My son who is 11 now had to change at around 18 months old because his old nursery was closing. He was fine but because my baby girl is so clingy with me I was really apprehensive about her starting nursery in the first place. So because she has a bond now with the staff it just really upsets me thinking of moving her 😭 but I know I would be unhappy her being at nursery for the next 3 years and me having to get her from outside like I'm going through McDonald's drive through 🙈

My DS started nursery in January 2022 and they’d stopped their covid queuing policy by then. We take DS in to drop him off and go in to pick him up.

Its difficult though, it’s best for babies to be able to form strong consistent attachments with care givers. Your DD has already had to get used to 1 new set of care givers, I’m not I’d want to move her again.

I hope they listen and change the policy even if it’s just for the baby room

This is my worry. I'm not sleeping at the min I can't think about anything else. It has been an issue since the start though. And like I've mentioned they should have made us aware of this policy on viewing the nursery as I do think it would have swayed my decision. If it was just me I could understand them thinking I was just being awkward but it's 2/3 other parents I know of and 1 already moved her baby because of it even though she was upset like myself. I feel like they're being really stubborn with it. That building has ran as a nursery for around 16 years my daughter went there for 4 years and then my son. It was ran by other owners then but it worked perfectly well the parents coming in up to covid. I really can't understand why they aren't realising it didn't need to change 😞