Experienced mums please help!

[bluejellybean]

Help I feel like i'm drowning in guilt!

I have returned to work 3 days a week M,T,W. My mum and dad have been great and are caring for my 10month old 2 days a week. Here he is happy and settled. However it is the 3rd day that is causing problems and making me think more long term.......

The nursery is a large Sure Start Outstanding (Ofsted) nursery with super resources, however it is open plan and feels at times like maddness! I have arrived twice now without warning and come in to find a few things that have worried me, generally a very unorgaised envionment etc.Staff looking a bit distant etc

My baby cries when I leave and crys when I pick him up with a huge look of relief all over his face. His key worker has changed after just 6 weeks and most days he has been unsettled. I am also a bit worried that some of the children are very challeging, some from tough backgrounds and I don't want my baby copying this behaviour......I hate to sound a snob!

I had thought about moving him as soon as he is 2 1/2 to a pre-school as I was a bit worried about 2 settings, making school friends etc.

Am I being over the top, thinking to far ahead and just being a worrier like my husband thinks I am?

i think it would be difficult with a childminder too being just 1 daya week. it doesn't give you or your baby much chance to settle into the situation.

could your mum have him maybe a day and 2 afternoons and him go nursery the 2 mornings? or your mum have him 3 mornings and him go nursery 3 afternoons?

dd's been going 2 afternoons since she was 7 months old.

we've moved house a couple of times since then so we've seen lots of nurseries and she's been in 3.

the best for her, and that i preferred, had a room per age group. she is currently in age 2-3 room. however she was at another place for a short time that just had 2 rooms..0-2 and then 2-5. she was bored stiff in the baby room as a nearly 2 year old. but i could see her floundering as a 2 year old in with 5 year olds. that was an outstanding ofsted family run place. on a farm, the whole dream scenario really. but it was shite. moved her to where she is now.

it does look chaotic, stuff everywhere, kids doing whatever activity they like. staff kind of just observing really. letting them get on with it. and that's how i like it.