How's your experience with putting an under 1 in preschools?

[CandyPop]

I'm going back to work in a few weeks time and my dd whos 10 months will be starting pre-school for 2 full days a week.

As the weeks draw nearer Im getting more and more nervous and feel guilty for putting her into nursery at such a young age. We don't really have a choice and I need to go back to work otherwise I would be perfectly happy to be a sahm.

Just wanted to see how other mums have coped with putting their children (under 1s) in nursery and how are your LOs coping?

(Sorry the title is full of grammatical errors! )

You might get more responses if you put this in nurseries under childcare. Pre school education is normally for 2.5 year olds and older.

personally i wouldn't put a child so young in nursery, i would prefer to use a nanny or childminder, if i had to use childcare.

DS started nursery 4 days a week at 9 months old. It was really hard for me to start with, but he's always enjoyed it, and still does now he's 2. He likes playing with the other toddlers and they do messy stuff that I wouldn't do at home!

What about a childminder rather than a nursery?

I'm looking at a childminder for my 18month toddler as I think its a better setting for small ones. Pre school is usually for 2yr9months and up here - and fantastic at that age.

DS started nursery at 6 months and has been fine.

It was easier for me, because DD was already there (she started aged 1 and was 3 when DS started) so we already knew the staff and routine.

He gets to do all sorts of stuff, has a couple of staff members he really likes (and who like him!), and has lots of children to watch and play alongside who are within 18 months of his age.

Like you, if I won the lottery I'd give up work, but in reality I have to work and I'm happy with the nursery we use.

Give it a few months, for both of you to settle. You'll still feel guilty, but you'd find a reason to feel guilty even if you were at home.