Is not going to daycare deterimental?

[LoveYouForeverMyBaby]

Dc will be looked after by mil when I return to work FT. I realised how lucky we are financially to have this option.

However, others have commented that do will lack social skills etc as they will not be in a nursery/daycare environment.

Mil is in mid 60s fit and able, but not willing to take dc to more than 1 baby and toddler activity a week.

We will take dec to swimming, soft play, play dates etc on weekends.

We can't afford childcare, not even 1 day a week on a nursery.

Will dc freak out when they are 5 and go to school? Are this damaging socially somehow?

I think nurseries at 3 are more a convenience for parents than anything else. Nothing wrong with that and I don't think that it harms children but I doubt that it's a must do thing that will damage your child in some way if they aren't sent.

I wouldn't worry about her not going to childcare before she hits 3. I'm sure that good quality time with Granny is far better for her than 8-1 or whatever the ratio is at nursery. Just as long as she's not sat in front of the tv all day, every day I think pottering around with mum/primary carer is fab. She should check out some toddler groups though. The ones I go to always have loads of grandmas there.
My DD1 went to swimming, music and toddler group with me during the week plus meeting up with my friends and their little ones once/twice a week two. She did take a few weeks to settle in to preschool, but there were plenty of others who were fine right from the start. Every child is different. DD1 is now at school and loving it. There are some kids at her school who have done the childcare from 6months/1 year and still have problems settling in.
I'm doing the same sort of thing with DD2 and she seems fine. Plus she doesn't have to fit around a nursersy's routine, which can be a pain.

I think nurseries from 3 months are definitely a convenience for parents. Preschools from 3 years are good for children to get them used to being in a 'school' type situation and to help them develop their social skills.

I'm not sure it's fair to call them a convenience. Some parents have no choice but to use group childcare if they want to keep a roof over their child's head or maintain their standard of living. Others feel that there is a benefit to the child from them attending a nursery in terms to learning to be independent or more sociable.

I remain convinced that one to one care from a loved one who is choosing to offer it is the best option for any child but in the real world there are a myriad reasons why a child could be better off attending a nursery.