My ds nursery starts at 12.15 - awkward time

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My DS started pre school this week. I had asked for some morning sessions but he was given afternoons (and one extended day)

The session starts at 12.15 and I am finding this a bit of a struggle. I also have a 14 month old dd and I am having to give them lunch at 11.30, to get him there on time. I would drop him off a bit later but I have to pick him up at 3pm and my dd needs to nap in that time. My kids eat well and often, so they want their tea at 4.30pm after such an early lunch. This rules out family dinners during the week (husband home at 6.15 at the earliest), and tea time is a nightmare as I try to stretch them till 5pm at least.

I also find we like to get out in the morning or we all go a bit mad! The pressure to get out in time so that we are back gor 11.30 lunch is challenging. This morning I found I could not be bothered.

Argh! I am having a tough patch as it is as my 14 month old is clingy and full on at the moment. My ds has settled well and enjoys the nursery but I find I am missing the summer holidays when we did what we liked in the morning and then my ds and I just chilled while my dd slept in the afternoon. I also find it harder to get quality time with my ds.

I thought I would love it as of course I get a couple of hours peace in the afternoons but I am finding juggling it all tiring

Any tips? Similar experiences

I remember feeling as you do when my eldest started pre-school. She had pm slots also which last 2.5 hours. Where before I had put her and ds into the creche at the gym a couple of times a week I found I couldn't fit this all in with travel to/fm the gym. I became less 'free' in a way and constantly clock watched. You will adjust and you say your dc is enjoying it. I would keep your name down for mornings in case any free up.

I had the same problem with my daugter I could only get a 12.30 slot it was a struggle at first as she was used to a 1pm nap but we both adjusted and it worked out ok. She starts reception in Sept so thats another hurdle it will be a very long day as she was used to 2.5 hours at nursery but Im sure that she will get used to it. I must say it is hard for a while but get's better :)Good luck

DD1 goes to preschool which starts at 12.15 but they have lunch time built into this so she takes a pack lunch which they eat from about 12.30. Would your nursery do this? Otherwise 12.15 is ridiculous!

DD has just started pre school, starting at 1225. She has alwas been a late riser, and I have found having to wake her and ds 15 months at 745 to make sure they have had breakfast as I too am having to do lunch at 1130. Poor ds is having to be woken from nap to go and collect her at 3pm. I am finding it all a bit of a struggle, but am sure in a few weeks we'll all be used to it. I have to say, they are both sleeping better and have a earlier bedtime now too

Don't send him?

It will be fine once you get into the swing of it!
Ds had nursery sessions that started at 12.10pm.
It worked out well because most tots groups and play sessions are in the morning so he could still cone along with me and ds2. I would make them both packed lunches and they would either eat in the car or in the buggy on the way to nursery. Or if ds walks then walk from wherever you are in the morning and then eat picnic lunch on grass outside nursery before he goes in.
Take little one home once you've dropped ds off, straight to bed for nap and you get 2 hours of complete peace every day! I loved it that way round.

Is it a community pre-school? If so, join the committee and suggest they change the session times.

We were set the challenge by our local authority to listen to parents and "become part of the solution, not the problem"... so we surveyed and changed all the session times.

My DD1 starts at 12.15 but not a problem for us as she usually has lunch around 11.30 anyway. We do go out in the morning for an hour and just make sure we are back for 11.20 at the latest. It is doable but takes some getting used to. I know it can be tough on other children as DD2 often had a nap from 12 till 1.30 and now she has to wait till we get back at 12.20 and sleeps a bit extra but shes adjusted. Pick ups not a problem really as she finishes at 3.05 and DS at 3.10. As for tea we eat at 5.30 and the children seem to have adjusted to this ok.

Just give it a bit of time, i thought it would be a pain at first but we are in a new routine now :)

Don't send him.

Accept you can't all eat tea together. 6.15pm is too late for little ones.

Tea between 4-5 is fine and normal for small ones and they can have milk at bed time if they want.

DD will be starting at 12.15 soon. It's a pain in the arse because my MIL has her on that day 30 mins drive away. So she has to collect her in the morning, take back to her house, come back to ours for 12:15 (or earlier to park), kill a couple of hours in my town, pick up at 3.05 and drive back to her house.

It's making me realise just how hard it's going to be to be working. I only work Mon-Weds so one of her days is Thurs which is fine, but they don't open Friday pm. Don't know what I'll do when she goes full time, we both work miles away :(

It is a nightmare isn't it? My DS1 who has just turned three started afternoon nursery two weeks ago. He starts at 12.20 and goes for three hours. I have a 10 month old too and I have had to switch her nap time around so that she goes down after I have dropped off DS, otherwise I have to wake her just before we have to leave for nursery.

I find the whole early lunch thing a pain too, it feels like I am always waiting around to do the breakfast and get a quick lunch in which he doesn't really want and then I worry he hasn't eaten all afternoon.
I would have liked mornings,like most - that way the nursery is out of the way, come home for lunch and we have the afternoon to do stuff together. Also, my son is only just three so he is knackered by the time he comes out of nursery. The whole day is about clock watching for me!

It is such a daft time!ds1 starts his session at 12.50 for 2.5hrs and it means he has lunch at 11.45.he has dinner at 5pm.not happy but he enjoys his class so that's what counts.you do get used to it.

i don't give mine a lunch before afternoon session, just a big snack as they provide a snack there mid session.. usually it's something pretty substantial.

then afterwards either an other decent sized snack to last until dinner if eating with us at 6pm or an early dinner and supper before bed.