Anyone with a child around 15 months to just chat with? Especially about Nursery stuff!

[swannny]

I don't know many people with a child or children my son's age. I live in Redhill in Surrey and I work Part time in London's West End. I have recently just found a Nursery (well... 2) for my son and I am so anxious. He'll be going 2 days a week, 1 day at a Montessori and another day at a lovely little social Nursery. It's so expensive and I only work 3 days a week... I'm even considering leaving to spend more time with him. What do you all think?

Anyway, I'd love to chat with other Mum's - Inbox me or comment here :)

Thanks

Leila x

Hi, my ds1 is a bit older than yours he's two and a bit, and ds 2 is 4 mths. It's very scary starting nursery ds 1 has been going since 13 months. It took him a while to settle, but made a really string attachment with one member if staff in particular which really helped.

I used to manager a nursery so it is proberly easier for me as maybe feel a bit more comfortable, what are you worried about. I was worried about a whole host if things. I won't list them all, but I was really worried about him being poorly there and him getting lost. Both really silly but they were the two that I thought about the most.

Ds1 loves nursery and is still going while I'm on mat leave but I know at some point he will have to come out due to the cost.

I only worked three days, and luckily I became pregnant with ds2 quickly. I hated working three days a week, as although it was a work/home balance I didn't feel it quite worked for me.

At work I was given enough work for a full time role, so struggled to get all the work done, and felt that I would come in on weds with piles of work. But I'm sure thus isn't the case for everybody and some people would love to be able to do three days. ( incidentally I don't get on with my boss so I think that might colour my view)

I'm already worrying about what happens when my mat leave is up as I really can't see a way to work but be able to afford child care.

You said you were thinking of leaving to look after your ds, why is that?

Oh I bet he will have a great time at nursery! My DD is 15 months and she loves spending any time with other kids. I work PT so we have a nanny. I am not in the UK though.

It is hard, working part-time. I sometimes feel like I am only doing each role half as well as I should (being a Mum and my work - a teacher).

Happy to chat :-)

I'm not particularly worried about him settling as he's so very social. In fact it's one of the reasons I'm sending him. I just don't see the point in working if most of the money is going on Nursery. I'd much rarer spend the time with him. It's so difficult. I'm just so confused

So why are you sending him if you don't mind me asking? If you would rather spend the time with him and working isn't worth the money?

Is it for the social side? Are there groups you could take him to?

At 15 months he is not going to get anything out of group childcare that he wouldn't get from being with you.

With you he has one to one care from the person (apart possibly from his dad) who knows him best in the world, loves him unconditionally and with whom he feels the most secure. You are the best person in the world to look after him.

You can join a couple of toddler groups or baby sensory/gym/music groups to give him some time with other toddlers.

Maybe he would benefit from attending a pre-school for a year or so before starting school but, other than that, he's better at home with you.

This is time you can never get back.

I think you should keep him at home with you and explore the world alongside him. The two of you have so much to learn together and he'll be in school before you know it.

It's a really difficult one tbh, nursery is so expensive. If you can afford not to work then don't. Their only little once