Nursery one day a week

[DesLynamsMoustache]

Interested to hear others' experiences.

I'm self-employed and would really like one day a week I can focus on work instead of always having to work evenings and around naps. A solid day of uninterrupted work would be really helpful for me. I don't need more than that, one day will be perfect.

So with that in mind, we are off to see a potential nursery next week for 13mo DD. I know there's a lot of people who advise against one day a week, but I am keen to hear from people who actually do it to see what their experiences are.

DD is a very easygoing and adaptable baby, not clingy, outgoing, happy to be left with others generally and independent at exploring and playing so I'm hoping that will be in her favour!

Anyone just do one day at nursery for their DC for a while and not live to regret it?!

We do two half days and DD is fine (I’m the same as you wrt work). But a lot of nurseries claim that children don’t settle when in for such a short time each week.

I also did 2 half days and that was fine. Dd had no issues settling and was as you described your DD. Nursery was so good for her. She enjoyed it, ate a good range of food, did lots of activities we just would not have done at home.

DS did one day a week from the age of 1 for about 4 months and was absolutely fine.

Personally I would do two half days is quite nice rather than one long day. Could she stay for lunch so you get quite a long period of time to work? I think this isn’t so good if she doesn’t settle but my DD went for 2 mornings plus lunch and it worked well.

I did with my on a Wednesday

Worked well

DD

My D started off with 2 days but as our working became more flexible he now only goes one full day- he's 2.5.

Maybe the early experience did settle him I guess, but he's no less settled now that he goes less often. I really avoid missing weeks though. Even though I only work term time, I still send him, as I don't want him to have big gaps.

DS does 8-6 on a Friday, he loves it and has been absolutely fine doing one long day a week.

They don't do half days for under 20 months (and it's a 30-min drive each way, yay rural life, so would cut into the time I had to work a bit).

This is encouraging, though, thanks!

My DD did one day from 12 months -2 years. Had zero problems. Sure, we had crying on drop off for maybe the first month but she was 100% fine the rest of the day. And after that, no issues at all. In fact, she loved nursery so much we decided to up her to two days a week when she moved rooms aged two

I will add our DD is a fairly confident & sociable soul. Probably makes a difference!

Exactly the same situation with me, I'm self employed and pick and choose my hours. My 11 month old is also similar, not clingy and quite independent. We just had our first half day with the childminder on Thursday and it went so well.

I can get work done and also she's not just looking at my face all day.

Thanks, all! We had a look around and liked it so we are going to give it a go and see how we get on. If it doesn't work out then we can easily stop, but I have a feeling she's going to have a ball and won't give me a backwards glance!