Switching nurseries (poss) and worried about the impact on DD – WWYD?

[CakeInMyFace]

My DD is 2.4 and due to changes in work circumstances it’s becoming very stressful to get to my nursery on time for pickup (they close at 5:30pm). Their policies are such that they don’t really allow for late pickups and I’ve recently had to have my emergency contacts collect my DD, which was very upsetting for her and for me. I have no family around and don’t want to get into the habit of needing to rely on others to help with childcare. They have been clear that should nobody be available to collect her by 545pm they will ring social services.

Both my DH and I work a train ride away, (My DH used to work locally but recently started a new senior role elsewhere) and I’ve already had negotiations and a change in working hours to enable me to collect her. The trains are late sometimes and I currently could only arrive on time if my train is no more than 10 min late. This is causing me great stress now in the afternoons – and I imagine this could get worse in winter.

I’m looking at a nursery that is open until 6pm (and they have a space) which would help greatly – if my trains were that late I could still get back in time even via taxi if I needed to. My worry is that my DD has been very settled at her nursery since she was 17 months (so a year) and I’m worried about the impact this would have on her. She goes 3 days a week. I feel awful about removing her from somewhere where she is comfortable and started to make friends with the other children. Has anyone else moved their DC around this age? WWYD? Would you switch nurseries or just hope that the trains run on time?

I should mention I don’t want to move her near to where we work because I’m on a contract currently (likely to last another year) and if my contract ends I’d then have to move her again back to a local nursery.

I moved ds at a similar age because we weren't happy with the nursery and knew of another very good one.
It was hard to make the decision as he'd been there from 6 months old but in the end I was so glad we did it.
He settled fine, although we had the benefit of already knowing some of the children there.
A nursery threatening to call ss if you're late doesn't really deserve your custom IMO.
Young children are so adaptable and it sounds like your current situation is too stressful.

You're current situation sounds untenable. I can't imagine how stressful it must be to have to clock-watch every afternoon.

Your DD may be settled where she is but she WILL adapt to a new nursery. My DD changed nurseries aged 3 due to a house move and I was surprised by how well she coped.

Your current nursery doesn't sound great TBH. I can't think of any local to me that insist upon a 5.30 pick up. Most are open until at least 6.00 and one or two are open until 7.00.

Move her, absolutely - being worried and stressed every afternoon is really not acceptable for your sanity sake.

However, if you do like the current nursery, as a last chance I would explain your situation and I would ask them to implement later pick-up policy for extra money.

Ours allows extra 30 mins if we book 1 week in advance. This cost £5/30 mins. If I was you I would just book continously for £25 per week to save my sanity.

The nursery should be interested in getting extra money if they have resources (staff) and demand (you and others).

Thanks for the encouragement / advice. Littlecrystal I do like our nursery, they've done a great job caring for our DD and it does pain me to move her. I'll speak to the nursery manager but feel there is little hope as already had a discussion with her about late pickup times after the staff caused me alot of stress the other week. Their downfall is definitely communication and think they see it as doing parents a favour when really they are in business because of the parents.

Most of them are on courses still and not fully qualified and attend classes starting at 6pm so there is little leeway. I know some of the other parents also find 5:30 closing time stresful too though so worth one more try!

Am feeling slightly better now - been feeling terribly guilty at the thought of disrupting DD's routine even though I see moving her as necessary really. The other nursery I'm looking at has a good reputation even though its more expensive.

If that helps I will move my DS2 to another nursery for his last year before starting school, one of the main reasons being that DS1 and DS2 will be in the same setting so this halves my children pick-up stress after work.

I moved my LO at 2 because I didn't like her nursery. She was fine and settled really well. As long as she's going to a good nursery I don't think you'll have any problems.

We had to move our DD at 2 1/2 because we relocated for work. She'd been at a little 2 room nursery since she was 9 months and ended up in a massive multi-room nursery.

She didn't bat an eyelid and within a couple of days was saying "new nursery" when we pulled into the car park. I think I was more unsettled than she was.