Hi, hoping for some input or experiences on having a DC go to two different nurseries. I've seen lots of threads of this being done from 2 year olds onwards, but has anyone ever done it with a baby (6-12 months)?
(Please no 'childminder or nanny or don't go back to work'- decision is already made that I need to do at least 2, preferably 3 half days at nursery specifically. Don't see point in going into why on this thread as it's not what its about!)
The situation is that I had to move to a new area so didn't have any nursery spots reserved, so all of the good nurseries within a half hour drive are totally full until Sept. I've visited all the ones that have space (not many at all), I was not comfortable with them/had red flags other than one that I had some reservations about but think could be workable/will give it a shot, and reserved space at.
However I have just managed to get a very unexpected opening for one that always has long waitlists. But its only for two half days, and I need 3 or 4 half days. The one with space opening up I am more keen on, but have a few reservations about too. I have reservations about both but for different reasons, but also think that both could be really good, I feel I need to see how it goes.
I'm considering a unconventional move of starting him at 6 months the settling in process at both, seeing if there is a noticeable better one for him and if so dropping the 2nd nursery and limping by a 2 days at work until more space opens up, OR if things are going really well at both simply continuing to do four half days, two at each. The issue with picking one upfront is that I'll lose the space for the other, and if it doesn't work out will be in a massive bind (given that I already know I do not want to use the others within a half hour drive that seem to ever have space.
The nursery managers at each are open to this (him starting at each nursery similar time and planning on doing 2 half days at each), you can tell they think it might be a bit harder on him to settle with twice the new environments, but I think that between his personality and his age (not yet hit separation anxiety phase yet) its POSSIBLE he could settle easily at each. Then again its possible that he wouldn't, but if that was happening at that point I can simply pick the one that seems better and drop the other, the same way that if any baby starts at a new nursery and it isn't working, someone might pull them out and switch to another option?