Starting nursery and speech development

[RebeccaHarv]

Hello.. all I have dd who born late 2020 so she is nearly 18 months now. Really want her to start socialising with other children her age, plus myself and her dad work form home and it is impossible to get a good amount of work done with occupying and playing with her! Her speech isn't the best too and she isn't really saying anything a all, just lots of babbling but her understanding is amazing and she points at things and when she wants something! We have been looking at local nurseries but they are so expensive. We had an idea that she could just go for part of day once a week but was wondering if anyone had any advice on whether going this little wouldn't be beneficial? Going so little may make her more unsettled and not really get used to the different setting? Is it worth biting the bullet for her development and putting her in more times a week? Thank you in advance for any advice on nursery/speech development etc and if it really benefits their speech going to nursery?

I think nurseries sometimes have minimum number of sessions. I had a lockdown baby and nursery has done wonders for her language and social skills- so noticeable in the first couple of months. She has also become more confident with interacting with strangers. So I would say if you can- perhaps more than one session- maybe three half day sessions. My little one just says bye bye and walks in without looking back now as she enjoys it so much.

Most nurseries are minimum 3 days and honestly she won't get anything at all out of going for half a day once a week you'd be better going to a few toddler groups yourself with her

Surprised you are allowed to WFH with her there - is your employer aware??

A local playgroup? My son goes to a playgroup 2 mornings a week. It's a really nice setting and a lot cheaper than nursery- they do fundraising to keep fees down. Although I found most only take children after they are 2 - but it might be looking into for future. A childminder might be flexible about hours too.

I don't think it is necessary for her to go anywhere at 18 months from a development point of view - as long as you are interacting with her yourself and taking her places - but it might be a good idea to send her from a getting work done perspective?

Not your business, is it?

OP, nursery can be AMAZING for development, I have a 21 month old who has been in full time since she was one.
Half a day once a week will be a waste, it will take them soooo long to settle and for bonds, a week is a long time for a toddler! Are there any classes you can do instead? Any drop in playgroups?

Most nurseries have minimum attendance, typically 3 half days or 2 full. And for a good reason, any less than that and children are likely to struggle to settle. It’s not 18MOs don’t enjoy nursery but it’s not needed for their development or anything. You won’t find anywhere decent willing to do 1 half day, whether you do more hours is really down to whether it makes sense with work. Other alternative could be to join a lifestyle gym with crèche you could use ad hoc but that’s unlikely to save any money, it would just give you some flexible childcare as/when you need it. Re her speech, if it helps my eldest didn’t say really anything except a couple of words until she was 2 despite being full time in daycare from 15 months then at 2 literally overnight she started coming out with full sentences, she’s now 4 and no issues whatsoever.

Not true, my son has been to two nurseries due to relocation and he did one day at one and two days at the second.

Agree with most that 1/2 a day a week is something most Nurseries wouldn't agree to, as most dc wouldn't cope with the long stretches between each short session. I don't think she'd benefit from it either. Children generally need time to settle anywhere (yes, there are some exceptions).
However, if you and her df need to work, then surely you need childcare to get that work done?

Ours is a minimum of 1 day per week or two mornings/afternoons. However for my daughter to actually settle we had to put her in several times a week otherwise it was too much of a break and she didn't get used to it. It's worth enquiring if the minimum stipulations are flexible though.

There is a report out today saying 1/5 of 2.5 year olds are below expected development. Speech delay is a major issue and they don’t know how to play. So I would always advocate time at a nursery. They are warning that if DC don’t catch up before school, their future attainment will be dented. It’s been widely reported today and it’s vital parents do as much as possible to help their dc speak and play. WFH saves petrol and fares. Divert it to child care.