Tell me about nurseries for babies

[LaMadrilena]

My DD 7m has now been at nursery full time for a week. I'm embarrassed to say how many hours, because I feel terrible about it, but we have no choice (not UK, maternity/paternity leave all used up, no family).

Can anyone with experience, perhaps nursery workers, tell me what we should be expecting in terms of what they do with her all day? I'm not expecting her to be "learning" at 7m obviously, I'm not that precious. I just mean in terms of stimulation and company. Will they play with her one-to-one when they can? Will she have time to crawl around, or will they just leave her in a bouncer in front of the TV?

Obviously they say they do certain activities etc., but what really goes on with small babies in a nursery?

I can see the front door of the nursery from my desk when I'm WFH, and I can't stop feeling guilty.

My daughter started at the same age and was on full time so please don't beat yourself up over that. We all have to eat and pay our bills!

Our childcare used to sit her on their lap and she would join in with arts and crafts and all the activities that they did with the older ones. She would be able to crawl around and play with anything she wanted. Please don't think that she will just sit in a chair all day! Obviously some settings may do that, but if you trust your setting then they will be making sure she gets good enjoyment out of her time there.

I'm not a nursery worker but my DS went to nursery one day a week at 6m then full time at 10m. The baby room staff were fabulous and did loads with him.
From what I remember it included:
Baby sensory
Music time
Story time
Crafts
Free play time
Time outside

Absolutely no time in a bouncer in front of a TV! They only ever watch a bit of TV after lunch once they moved into the toddler room and that was for 20 mins while the staff cleared up.

The staff gave lots of cuddles and were great at getting them down for their naps.

Some countries differ but in the UK I wouldn’t expect her to be in front of the TV at all. What are the ratio like in your nursery? In the UK it would be no more than 3 babies to every adult.

It very much depends although I don't any nursery would have her in front of a TV. Where I used to work a fair amount of time involved food as babies take ages to eat and would be encouraged to self feed from 7m. There would be breakfast, morning snack, lunch, tea. There will probably a short singing time and an activity such as painting as well as the toys
out. Is there stuff to climb on like indoor climbing frame? There's usually a nap time after lunch for a couple of hours too and some time outdoors. There will be play, often with other children and 1:1 as I think legally it's a 1:4 ratio with under 2 year olds (but that is UK). Maybe ask how many adults to babies ratio in the nursery to get an idea of how much attention your baby will have.

I can only tell you about nurseries in the UK, which could be wildly different to the country you're in.

A UK nursery would never do TV for babies. They should be doing activities including sensory play, reading stories to the babies, free play with toys, outside play etc etc. Some nurseries might take the non walking children out in pushchairs for walks. I would ask the nursery what a typical day is like, and ask them how they feedback on the baby's progress. In UK nurseries that's often via an online portal where staff post photos/videos, and comments on the EYFS curriculum. Even for small babies there are expected development points on the curriculum.

My 3dc have all gone to nursery from 6 months. Dc1 and dc2 full time (7.30-6) and Dc3 2 days a week (as partner dropped part time). At that age Dc2 and Dc3 spent a lot of time being cuddled and carried round (velcro babies) and dc1 spent a long time looking at herself in the mirror (favourite activity!) And napping. We got an update with lots of pictures every day and there was always lots of activities like Singing, nursery rhymes, reading, music, outdoor play, water, sand, sensory play, painting etc and at that age the staff would sit with them and help them join in. There were no baby bouncers and no tv )in the baby room- the older ones had a TV for quiet time after lunch. Don't beat yourself up and dont feel embarrassed- I bet your baby is having a blast!

My ds started FT at nursery much younger, so please don't feel guilty. His first nursery had a very secure system where you could log in to see the camera feed from the baby room (not sleep/changing etc) and I know that he spent a lot of time being cuddled, read to, playing with toys. They would go out for a walk or just outside to watch the older ones playing every day, do sensory/messy play, crafts and all sorts of things. No TV or screens at all in the baby or toddler rooms, it was only the preschool room that they had a short time during the bit where some children were still napping after lunch and some didn't.

I think all of your questions are things you should have asked the nursery, before deciding it was the right setting for your child. The fact that they don't seem to have told you a single thing about what goes in is strange (to me, again UK) but I would have expected to be told all of the answers to your questions when I was seeking out a suitable place for my DC. Arrange to speak with the person in charge and they should be able to clear things up.

I actively avoided nurseries with TVs (other than in a specific interactive TV room).

I visited a lot where the TV was on in the rooms in the background with nursery rhymes etc. playing, and it didn't feel right.

DD started nursery at 11mo (others started from 6mo), and they did all sorts:

• Messy play
• Cooking
• Lots of singing
• Lots of cuddles
• Outdoor play
• Crafts
• Stories

DD had a great time at nursery from 11mo to 4.5 years.

I did 2 weeks in the baby room at a local nursery as part of my nursing degree a few years ago. It was far better than I imagined, lots of playing and attention, it meant when I had to send my 8 month old DS a few years later to one that I felt much less guilt! (Oh and there was no tv at all!)

Thanks everyone, it's all very reassuring to hear. The staff seem lovely, and I did ask them about TV because on our first visit it was on (it was 7pm, so they were just waiting for the parents of the last 2 children). They've assured me it's just for song time, but then I've seen a couple of photos where it's on in the background. They do send the odd photo, but there's no app or video feed or anything.

@elelel, I did speak to the nursery first, I'm not that irresponsible. As I said in my post, they can tell you all they like, but you don't actually know what happens once you leave, that's why I was asking for information from people who've seen it first-hand.

I did speak to the nursery first, I'm not that irresponsible. As I said in my post, they can tell you all they like, but you don't actually know what happens once you leave, that's why I was asking for information from people who've seen it first-hand.

Sorry, I missed that completely. I wasn't saying you were irresponsible though, it was more a judgement on the nursery because I would expect the questions to be answered before you needed to ask iykwim. Anyway my mistake! Sorry

It's strange they use a tv for songs (can't why don't?) and have it on in the background. I wouldn't like that. It can be useful for older kids to show a story every so often and to be a point of focus but on the background 🤔.

Should say: can't they sing??

No worries @elelel, I think I'm just over-sensitive about it!

@MerryMarigold, there's a very specific thing they say they watch, called the Cantajuegos (Singing Games), which is a kind of cultural institution here! There educational-ish songs about washing your face, animal sounds etc. If it really is just that from time to time, I don't really mind. But yes, they could just sing!

*They're. Oh, what I'd give for an edit button!

Personally I would address having it on in the background. It's not really great for young kids. It's detrimental to language development for starters (constant noise/ distraction).