Settling in with childminder- 20 hours?

[cornflakes5]

Our soon to be one year old will be going to a childminder for 3 days a week from end of next month. The childminder has suggested 20 hours of settling in spread over 3 weeks. Is that normal or does it seem a bit too much? I'd rather not be apart from my little one for longer than necessary while I'm still on maternity leave!

Anyone please?

That seems pretty reasonable - essentially a day a week for three weeks, or you could do a few hours in the first week, more in the second and more in the third. We did similar.

That's a lot more than we did. We had an hour where I stayed and did the paperwork and DD just got used to being there, then a couple of half days.

It’s in your child’s interests to do it. He may settle really quickly, but he may also struggle a little and building up to his normal sessions will be beneficial for everyone.

We did an hour one morning, two half days and then a full day before DS started full time. That is about 20 hours I think.

My DD had over 20 sessions at nursery building from 30 mins to half a day but she wasn’t used to being left at all. I would much rather choose a childcare provider that put the needs of my child first. It sounds like you have found a good sensible childminder.

Hi, childminder here. I had a similar aged child start with me, also 3 days a week at the beginning of the month.

We gad several settling in sessions over February, starting at 1 hour, building up to 2-3 hours. It worked out brilliantly, and she was very happy and settled with me when she started her 3 full days.

I'd probably go along with what your cm has suggested. Hope all goes well x

how about you do a couple of hours and see how she is? It does vary - I did an hour with paperwork then a morning between naps then short day including nap before starting 3 days a week.

As much as I can appreciate that you want to spend what is left of your maternity leave with your DC, a longer settling in period will make the adjustment much easier for your child.

I've done more than that I think. Over 8 weeks, have gone once a week first from 20 mins to 6 hours. I've had no problems with my dd going and I put it down to the brilliant induction. She's had a successful afternoon nap after lunch and done the school run etc and there's been no issues.

It's definitely in their best interests. You van go have your hair cut or go for a swim or something just for you in that time. You dont have to be joined at the hip because you're on mat leave

Ok thanks everyone, sounds like the CM knows best so I'll go along with it

I think 20 hours is perfectly normal. More than some may do, less than others.

I would say, in the nicest possible way, have a think about why you didn't trust her on this? You haven't even started settling in and you're already questioning her ability to do her job. This doesn't bode well for the relationship going forward. Is it a general anxiety about leaving the baby or something about this childminder that doesn't sit right? Either way try to address it for your own sanity and the future relationship with the person caring for your baby.

Also the settling in time helps you, it's hard to begin with going back to work