What age did your child start nursery

[Firsttimemum256]

How old were they when they started nursery and for how many days? Starting to think about the end of my maternity leave and I’m worried dc will be too young for nursery/worried about leaving them

Ours started at 1 and went for two full days a week. Initially because I was working those days, but when I gave up work to stay at home we kept him in. We didn't know how long I'd be at home so we didn't want to lose the place and we saw the value in him spending time with other children and adults who did things differently to us.

When he was a few months short of 3, we sent him for an additional day so I could go back to work. Now he's older, he loves nursery and is really benefitting from the social side. We're debating whether to send him four days next winter just because being at nursery is a lot more fun and stimulating than being home with me when the weather limits what we can do.

DD1 6mths, DS1 6mths, DD2 9mths, DS2 12mths. All full-time. At the time I didn’t have much choice, had a good job and didn’t want to give it up. I enjoyed the DS2 time the most as he was going to be my last child. They all loved it and are all very happy and bright adults now. I didn’t have parents so no help and didn’t want a child minder. I think if I did it all again and had a reliable well paid partner I would go part time but my choice of partners was seriously flawed😂

Youngest in the nursery, a few days short of 8 months old, for 3 days a week. With grandparents the other 2 days. Like pp, because it was before separation anxiety kicked in then we seemed to have a pretty easy ride compared to others (but could have just been DD). It was through covid so drop offs all done at the door. We only dropped to the room from preschool onwards - nursery kept up with the front door for a long time because it suited the children. It can be difficult but the advice I got was keep it short/sweet/see you later

DD1 2 yr3m and DD2 2yrs4m, part-time. Both very happy to start at that age, and neither cried at drop off. Until then they were with me every day, with plenty of socialisation through toddler groups and classes. They stayed until they started reception.

Used a childminder until age 2 then switched to nursery. They went 5 days a week as no family or flexi working.

Both of mine were three and did two mornings at playgroup. Yes I did the mum at home stuff. Don’t regret it even tho I said goodbye to the most amazing job that I loved.

Technically 9 months but due to lockdowns etc it was only really proper attendance from 14-ish months.

10 weeks started 1 day a week 9.30am-3.30pm and I went in at lunch to BF. At 10 months he started 3 full days. I was virtually suicidal from lack of sleep and a baby I couldnt settle, I just couldn’t cope, no drs were listening to me when I said I thought he was ill (turns out he had a lot of allergies) or that I couldn’t cope.
Nursery was fabulous, they gave me the break I needed and built a fantastic bond with him, he loves it there and I trust them 100% with him. They gave me the confidence to push the doctors harder with the allergies.
A lot of people who didn’t know what was going on judged me, but I knew this was best for me and my DH and mum supported me. Do what is best for you and your family, because no one else is living you or life.

But I probably would have had mum guilt anyway if he started at 1,2,3

It is terrible how mums are made to feel, for any of the choices they make.
If the choice was right for you and your family, don't let others (especially random people who don't know you) tell you whether your choice was right, it's your choice and you have made it in what you have deemed best for your family.

The sooner women don't judge other women on choices like this, the better.

More than 20 years ago - 4 months old, 3 days a week.

'Two days can be really tough on some kids, they don't get a decent run at nursery to settle iykwim. '

I did two days, then we did 5 days, for months each time to give it a proper chance to settle. 5 days was not great, he was having tantrums etc. I'm sure he seemed like a normal 2 year old. But
we reduced to 2 days and he's no much better, sleeps all night, zero tantrums and is just a happy child.

Still, when I say it's daycare day he isn't thrilled.
Whereas if I say 'today is beach day with mummy, or playground day, or we're going to the supermarket' - he's always excited to do those activities together. He is never; ever that excited to go to daycare. He attended 2 daycare centres and one family one (4 kids). So he's had variety.

I do think mine is a rather sensitive child though

@BarbaraHoward

6 months. Didn't have longer mat leave.
They did 15-20 hours a week with a max of 4 days.

I still am 'pro' daycare - I 💯 see the benefits of it. The social aspect, the confidence it gives to my (only) child. He's understood the concept of waiting for his turn to play, to share the toys, to stand the ground when another kid takes toys off him.

He's become more social when strangers talk to him when we're out, he tries to talk to them instead of just hiding behind me, scared.

I went to daycare full time and I remember it. Whilst it was fine I wouldn't say I thrived. It was just a place I went to every day, and played and socialised.