Sending 2 year old to nursery

[MCMP13]

My 2 year old (just turned) has been offered a place at nursery doing 5 days a week for 3 hours a day.

I did want him to go to nursery as he would love it and we don’t need it for childcare purposes.

Would you send your child or is he too young for 5 days a week?

* I can get him in a different nursery for 15 hours split different but I want him to go to this nursery specifically.

My almost 2 year old daughter goes in 5 mornings a week and her little brother will be going in the same when he turns 11 months. Remember there will be people sending their 6 month olds in full time 5 days a week if they have to work.

If you have the luxury of not sending them, then base it on their personality. My daughter would benefit from not going as she absolutely hates it despite it being a wonderful setting but she’s extremely sensitive and I have zero choice as I work full time. In fact she goes the least amount of time I can physically manage, and I have to work with her at home in the afternoons but she has to do it just like I have to go to work to make sure she’s fed, warm, dry and safe.

Whether or not he is too young is only a question you can answer, really, because you know if there are any reasons why he might struggle. Based purely on age, it feels slightly disingenuous to ask if he’s too young when you must know full well that lots of people have no choice but to send children full time from a much younger age.

Five mornings sound like a great introduction, I think it would be a really positive thing to try. If he doesn’t settle, you can always reevaluate.

Send him! Hope he has a blast!

I wouldn’t send him 5 half days a week. It means you can never do days out together as the rest of the day will be eaten up by lunch and napping and dinner prep. I think nursery is great, but if you aren’t using it for childcare, 2-3 full days would be better because then you still get days out together and downtime.

If you think he'll enjoy it then great!

I sent my youngest for 4 mornings a week at age 2y 4m. I'm a sahm so we don't need the childcare. We were offered 5 days but she goes to a certain music class which I wanted her to continue. She has settled in brilliantly and loves it there. I wouldn't have wanted her to start any younger but she is very verbal and toilet trained so it felt like the right time. Often people claim that toddlers don't socially interact until 3 but she is definitely making friends and chats about them. She started

We tend to do days out at weekends as we have my DH and elder dc too. I do miss the other activities we did in the week like dance and gymnastics. But we still manage to do swimming and football as there are classes in the afternoon which she can do after her nap.

No I wouldn't. You will spend half that time travelling there and back. I would do it for fewer days, or longer hours on fewer days.

Are the hours morning or afternoon?

I would say yes absolutely, 3hrs a day is a great amount as it’ll provide socialisation and stimulation and help with learning to separate from you, but the majority of the day will still be spent at home or with other main carers.
My daughter loves nursery and she needs more stimulation than just me trying to entertain her every moment of the day.

Hi all. So, My 2 year old started nursery. He does 3 mornings a week for 3 hours. He cried and clings to me at drop off and cries when there and is unsettled.

I’m debating whether or not to pull him out and just try again when he is 3? Has anyone got any experiences. My friends/family keep telling me about their kids being unsettled too and to keep trying it but all their kids started at 3 not 2.

He still doesn’t need to go for childcare purposes, I put him in as I thought he would enjoy it as he is usually very sociable and doesn’t get out much with grandparents when I’m at work.

@MCMP13 how long has he been there and how long was the settling in period?