To send 1 year old to nursery or not

[TheRedRobin]

this is my first post so please forgive any mistakes!

My DC has just turned 1 and is due to start nursery in a couple of weeks for 2 days a week 8.30am- 5pm, while I return to work ( I will be working 8-6 so husband will do drop off/ pick up).

my mother has offered to look after my DC on these days instead of sending her to nursery, but my husband thinks we should take the nursery space because if my mum is unwell or unable to look after our DC for some reason we will have to take time off work. My mum and I have a good relationship but she does have a tendency to over commit and then become overwhelmed, hence my husband’s uncertainty about this idea.

the closer the start date gets the more I am starting to panic that nursery might be the wrong decision and I should accept the offer of help from my mother. since my DC was born she’s spent very little time alone with anyone but me and her dad, although we do go out with friends and to baby groups. I’m worried she won’t cope and she would be better off at home with my mum for another year or so.

any advice or experiences either way would be greatly received!

[WeightoftheWorld]

If you think your mum may turn out to be unreliable I would def stick with nursery. You could tell your mum that you really value her offer and perhaps she could provide some ad hoc babysitting for you instead of tying her into a fixed arrangement and you are thinking of her? Would she be willing to care for DC when they're sick for example, as they will inevitably get ill loads and miss a lot of nursery in this first six months as they all do?

[Hairyfairy01]

Stick to the nursery. Take your mum up when your lo isn't allowed into nursery due to sickness etc (trust me, it will be often)!