Would it be weird to have 13 month old attend nursery 10-4?

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FTM and have no idea if this is common/uncommon. Planning to put 13 month old in nursery and the ones we've seen and liked don't do mornings/afternoons. It's 1 or 2 days minimum and they're open from 8-6. Baby is mainly going to give me some free time to get stuff done as DH works very long hours, and friends and family all tell me their children have come on leaps and bounds since attending nursery. I'm thinking I'd like his morning and first nap to be at home with me which means we wouldn't get there until around 10:30am, and I'll pick him up after his last snack which is around 4:30pm. I imagine most people have their children in from early until late to fit their 9-5 jobs. Would it be strange to ask if I can bring him in so late and I imagine a 4:30pm finish is more common? Or is this unheard of and isn't very practical?

Also I know I will have to pay for a full day regardless of what hours he attends

I didn't see the point in it unless you need it for childcare. My 2 never went until they got their free hours at age 3

I think you need to consider if the nursery, as a group travel off site. My sons nursery go to the local park everyday. Sometimes twice in summer. They are certainly there by 10:30am, this also happened when he was in the baby room. I collect at 4:45 as I WFH but they’re sometimes still sorting out snacks etc. With all the will in the world sometimes nursery snacks, naps, lunches etc don't always run like clockwork

The nursery we used probably wouldn’t have accepted that. They were always going on trips and outings and liked kids to be there by 9.30 at the absolute latest so they could set off.

@dementedpixie

I didn't see the point in it unless you need it for childcare. My 2 never went until they got their free hours at age 3

Same

Talk to the nursery and find out.
We used to take ours roughly 9-4 as we don't want them to be in excessively long hours and were able to fit work around those hours by taking turns to do the drop off and pick up.

The nurseries I have looked at offer quite strict morning/afternoon sessions with children arriving between a certain time e.g between 8-9 for morning and 1-2 for afternoon as not to disrupt the routine of the day having children turning up randomly.

It wouldn't be that unusual where I am (not UK) so if you're wondering if its weird for the child I wouldn't think so. Here, its impossible to take a child out if you're on mat leave or you lose the place, so most people I know have dropped their older toddler in about 10-4 so they have some time with the baby/to get other things done.

For what you want, probably tracking one down that does mornings and afternoons might be more cost effective, but don't think there's any issues for your child about those hours.

We've been to 3 nurseries now and all of them had different charging policies. One was afternoon or morning, the other flexible to suit you and our current has various shifts starting from 9-1 but what they do all have in common is they like to be out and about by 9. If I were you I'd ask whether it would be an issue and whether you could pay for the hours you use (more rare but some do)

I'd do 9-5 if possible otherwise he'll miss out on activities, outings, nappy changes, snack could be running late. I think at 10-11 they'll likely be out of the nursery. 8-9 and 5-6 will be fine to miss as drop off and pick up will be happening.
Speak to a nursery and see what they say!

I think ours likes them to be at nursery by 9 really so they can get the day started, 4.30 seems a popular pickup time (tea is at 4). I'm not sure you gain much by going in after morning nap and remember that one will be dropped most likely so if it were me I'd have a nice slow breakfast at home then drop DC in for 9 and pickup after tea.

We pay all year round but I have school holidays off, DD goes in two days most holidays if we aren't away or really busy so I can do some of the bigger housework jobs and any school work I need to do. On those days she goes in for half 8, she likes her second breakfast at nursery and that's when they start tidying it away, and I'll either pick her up at 4.30 after tea or quite often more like 2.30 after nap but before tea. During lockdowns/winter I tended to leave her the longer day as it was more interesting for her to be there than at home but lately the 2.30 pickup means we can pop to the park, or to the shops for an ice-cream, and so on. She does love nursery though so that does have a bearing. She also finds it hard to settle after a holiday so that's why I keep her going in every week where I can.

Mine always did full days 9-5, but it’s fine if the nursery is happy with it. It may just been more disruptive and frankly he may settle better just arriving when everyone else does rather than when everyone is already settled and playing.

But if it’s the hours that work best for you and nursery is happy, I can’t see it being a major issue.

You'd have to ask those nurseries what their policy is. They may be flexible, they may not.

We only had our eldest in private nursery as we both worked. When I became a sahm the cost of nursery would have been a waste of money. Ours went at 3yr when they qualified for school nursery and they all have strick times, 10 min window for drop off pick up times too. If we were late for drop off time they couldn't attend that day.

You need to consider that in a couple of months he will he having one long nap a day.

I didn't see the point in it unless you need it for childcare. My 2 never went until they got their free hours at age 3

@dementedpixie I've always thought that the point is to 1) give SAHMs a break and time to get things done at home, and 2) to provide the child with a stimulating, fun environment and chances for socialisation.

I'm a SAHM and would love to send my 15 month old to nursery for the aforementioned reasons, but sadly we can't afford it!

@Pissinthepottyplease true; my DC has been on one nap a day since he turned 14 months!

I find it odd to put a child into childcare "to get things done" under 3. Just take them with you! Obviously people have to work but otherwise it seems pretty selfish to have children only to leave them so you can do what???

Ours ask for them all to be in by 9.30 at the latest as they have a morning routine. I wouldn't worry massively about napping schedule and stuff, nursery staff are wizards when it comes to naps.

As for why, my DD has been going two days since she was 15mo and she absolutely thrives there. Technically we don't need to send her, but she loves going so much I would never stop it now! On nursery days she is in her wellies and at the door ready to go before DH has even got dressed properly She loves all the activities, playing with her friends, getting to sit and eat at tables with them all, and never stops talking about what she did when I pick her up. Some kids just really do well in those kind of environments and it's good for them. She would be happy at home too I'm sure, but this way I get some time to myself to work and do other bits and she has a blast at nursery.

When I was on mat leave with no 2 nursery asked no 1 to be in by 9 as they did circle time and started the day. Any later caused disruptions.

Also why shouldn't a SAHM have a few hours to themselves if they can afford it? Is there something terrible about taking time for self-care or just because you want a few child-free hours to do whatever it is you want to? Is it only allowed to put your child into nursery if you do something unenjoyable with your time? Screw that

The day nursery we used would have been fine with this not is only when they went to nursery ‘class’ (the year before school) that they preferred set drop offs.

I find it odd to put a child into childcare "to get things done" under 3. Just take them with you! Obviously people have to work but otherwise it seems pretty selfish to have children only to leave them so you can do what???

@motogogo I don't think it's selfish at all personally, there's nothing wrong with wanting to get things done around the house (my house is a right mess, I'd love to have some time to get everything sorted and tackle the paperwork!) or as others have said, just to have some me time. I would love some of that too!

They're only little for such a short time, I always waited for the free 15 hrs at age 3. But obviously everyone's different! Also, be prepared for the deluge of illnesses that nursery brings 🤣

@dementedpixie

I didn't see the point in it unless you need it for childcare. My 2 never went until they got their free hours at age 3

It is for childcare though

They're only little for such a short time

True but my god it would be nice to have a break sometimes...