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Parenting

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Original poster

What age did you put your child into nursery?

33 replies

frodojodo · 30/10/2021 22:39

What age is too young for nursery? I know everyone will think different and everyone's circumstances will be different.

I'm a single Mum & I'm self employed. I've recently been thinking about going back to work (don't want to be away from work too long and loose my clientele).
My D is 5 and a half months old. I feel she is slightly too young right, however, I've been looking at private nursery's near by, I'm seriously considering enrolling her when she's 7ish months.. is this too young??
I'd only sign her up for maybe 1 or 2 afternoons a week.

I'll probs back out at the last minute.. but it would be nice to have a couple of days a week childfree to get some work done.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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CelloYouveGotABass · 30/10/2021 22:48

7 months and he loved it. I know someone who put their DS in at 4 months as they had PND and wanted to get back to work. Doesn’t harm them at all.

needtogetfit21 · 30/10/2021 22:50

14 months once my mat leave ended. Ours is a lovely small nursery, home from home kind of experience and I've seen 5/6 months old there, all very positive so I think if you find the right nursery there's no issues

SpangoDweller · 30/10/2021 22:52

8 months, and was in three full days a week by 10 months. Good for all of us.

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stressysal · 30/10/2021 22:54

9 months for 2 days a week. Never did us any harm...apart from the revolting bugs he would bring home

Melonportal · 30/10/2021 22:57

9 months for 3 full days per week. Wasn't a problem at all.

Kaffiene · 30/10/2021 22:59

If you have options I would suggest 3 mornings or afternoons to begin with. It needs to be frequent enough that they don’t forget between sessions.
Both of mine where far happier with half days rather than full but it depends on if that works for you too.

Jxtina86 · 30/10/2021 22:59

11 months - it was supposed to be 9 months but then covid happened so the start was delayed. She went in 4 days a week, 8am-6pm from the start as I had to go back to work. She has thrived since starting - she's 2 and 3 months now and loves it!

Original poster

frodojodo · 30/10/2021 23:03

I'd only put her in for maybe 2 afternoons a week. 1pm to 6pm. I can't help but feel cruel even considering it ..but I don't have any family members free to watch her, we all work, so I don't really have an option.

OP posts:

ParkheadParadise · 30/10/2021 23:05

2 years
I'm a SAHM so she didn't have to go to nursery. Every day we would pass by and she'd stand for ages watching the kids playing.
She loved it and settled in straight away.

PlanDeRaccordement · 30/10/2021 23:10

11 weeks or thereabouts as I took maternity leave starting on my due date for 12 weeks and they were all late. I had no interest in being a SAHM for any length of time so only took bare minimum to establish breastfeeding, bottle train them, pump train me, and recover from childbirth.

Pinetreesfall · 30/10/2021 23:13

7 months for the youngest because I had to go back to work. Maternity pay simply doesn't pay the bills!
He's now a thriving 2.5 year old and is the closest to me out of my 3 boys so clearly it didn't affect him!
Him and his older brother (4) go 5 days a week because I have to work. People will always judge but funnily enough the main judging came from those who's husband's earned £800k a year + and simply couldn't understand why I had to return to work

GTAlogic · 30/10/2021 23:13

Ours went to nursery from being about 7 months old.

QforCucumber · 30/10/2021 23:13

8 months for both. 1st did 3 days 8-5 baby does 5 days 8:30-5:15

LindaLooky · 30/10/2021 23:17

I wouldnt hesitate. Try it and I'm sure that guilt you are feeling will disappear as it's totally unfounded.

I'm a single parent too and I went from crying at the prospect of nursery to feeling like it was lifeline for my mental health.

SickAndTiredAgain · 30/10/2021 23:22

8 months and she was settling absolutely fine but three weeks later it all closed for covid.
When it reopened she was 11 months and again settled just fine. She’s 2.5 now and still loves it.

RussianSpy101 · 30/10/2021 23:26

My eldest 2 went at 3 and my youngest started at 18 months.

As an aside- if she hasn’t got her name down yet, it’s unlikely you’ll get her into a good nursery in the next couple of months.
I put my youngest down the week he was born to get a place at 18 months.

Chelyanne · 30/10/2021 23:27

Not really if you have to go back to work.

Our eldest didn't start private nursery until 15mth for 1 day a week, but she was with family from almost 7mth when I went back 3 days a week. I only got 6mth paid maternity, I couldn't have afforded to return to work without family help.

RandomMess · 30/10/2021 23:29

With my eldest she was 9 weeks, fortunately only part time. The next one 16 weeks. How maternity leave has changed over the years!!

I honestly think younger is easier in many ways as they don't get separation anxiety usually before 9 months.

Kneller92 · 30/10/2021 23:34

An ex colleague of mine put her son into nursery when he was 3 weeks old! I think whenever is best for you and feels right for your child. My DD will start to go for one day a week when I return to work when she is 10 months old.

NoYOUbekind · 30/10/2021 23:42

6 months - that was the norm, because paid mat leave was only for 6 months then (am a gimmer).

Kite22 · 30/10/2021 23:55

When mine were little, people only had 3 months maternity leave, so it was pretty normal for babies to start with either their childminders or at Nursery at that age. A lot easier than starting them at around 10 months as they are used to going before they get to the stage where many little ones go through a spell of separation anxiety.
I do agree with @Kaffiene though that many settle better if there isn't too long a gap between each time they go.

Strokethefurrywall · 30/10/2021 23:56

Both my DSs went into FT daycare when they were 16 weeks, they’re 10 and 7 now and perfectly well adjusted.

It isn’t “cruel” or “too early”. You do what you have to do. Babies adjust remarkably well, they won’t forget you’re their mother, and they’ll have a great time as they grow up watching the other babies and toddlers.

TokenGinger · 31/10/2021 00:00

He went at 14 months due to Covid delaying it.

I really wish he had been able to go sooner, as he was very aware I was leaving him at that age.

He absolutely loves his days at nursery and I'm so glad we have him in there.

mangowithasqueezeoflime · 31/10/2021 00:14

4.5 months as I was in a new job

9-3
4x a week

Went to 5x when he was 9m

Still breastfeed him at nights coming to 1yr. He is happy there and clearly well looked after. I get lovely updates and see how happy he is at drop off.

The best is all the messy play stays there! No need to feel guilty.

capstreet · 31/10/2021 00:27

DD started going to one session a week at 2yrs 1m (just to give her something to do during lockdowns as no toddler groups were running), then switched to another nursery doing 3 short days (9-4.30) from 2 yrs 3m. She loves it there and has learned so much. When I did just one session she was more unsettled than doing the full days, as the staff couldn't really get to know her, so I'd go for at least 2 sessions if you can afford it.

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