Should I send my toddler to preschool?

[SpeedyBulletTrain]

Hello!

Currently a SAHP to my 2.5yo DD, and pregnant with #2. We did have my daughter down to start at a lovely montessori nursery locally the month after she turns three but I have just found out that they are closing.
Now I'm debating whether its worth trying to apply for other nurseries.

We didn't find any other setting that we were confident with when we first looked about a year ago, so I'm pretty disappointed and feel ike other settings just won't meet our expectations. I'm also worried as we're going to be at the bottom of the wait lists for any new nurseries we apply to, by the time she gets in/IF she gets in i worry it'll be too late and she won't have time to settle before changing again to move to reception. Is is really awful not to send her to any setting at all before reception at 4yo?

On a practical note I was looking forward to having some 1 to 1 time with new baby while DD was at preschool. She is also very clingy to me, so I'm not sure she would enjoy it anyway but it might have been a good chance for her to get used to it before full time nursery.

Any input/advice appreciated, the change has really muddled all our plans for the next year or so!

Do you have a preschool attached to the primary you want her to go to? My son did a couple of mornings a week there but never went to private nursery. I'd try to start her a while before or a while after the baby arrives though - last thing you want is her to feel pushed out.

Agreed it’s best to get her in a while before or a while after and not at the same time the baby comes - it would be too much all at once. Not sending her to preschool isn’t the end of the world because I think there’s so much she can enjoy from being home with you and doing playgroups playdates etc - but it depends on your area and if there is enough going on? Also you might be very tired and busy with the new baby.

My twins started preschool at about 2.75 for 2 5hr mornings and they absolutely loved it. Then just after 3 we went up to 3 mornings when they're funding came it. I find it the best of both worlds as we get 2 full days together, and I get 3 mornings with the baby but they finish at 1:30 so we came have a slow meander home via the playground

If you’re at home then I don’t see any need to send your daughter to a nursery at this age. I sent my daughter to a nursery for two afternoons a week for the term before she was due to start Reception so thst she would get used to being away from me, and that was fine for her. I think she was far happier and learnt far more from being with me than she would have done in a nursery.

I sent DD (now 5) to a preschool when she got the 15 hours funding from the term after she turned 3 (so about 3yrs 2m) - it was great for her. Started on 2 mornings a week, then added lunch, then for the year before school she did 2 full days and one morning. It was great for her development and really helped to prepare her for school, plus we still had half the week to do classes and fun stuff at home. I'd look for a preschool type setting but would echo PPs about avoiding her feeling pushed out by the baby.

I never needed childcare for work purposes but both DD and DS went to a preschool close to the Primary school we hoped they would get into (they did).
They started a couple of mornings from age 2 and then the July before school they were doing 3 full days (9am to 3pm)
They mostly enjoyed it and had friends when they started in R (as did I)
Cost wasn't an issue for us though

Thank you for all the replies. I think I may look into the preschool attached to her likely primary school then. How long before/after baby would you recommend it avoid? We did have her down to start about 6 weeks before baby but I did think that might be too close.

There was 4 years between my 2 so DD started PS before I was even pg but in your shoes I would try and get her settled well before number 2 arrives

I was working FT in between having DD1 and DD2. I had this idea that I would take DD1 out of nursery (or at least drop her right down) whilst I was on ML. But then DD2 was a hellish sleeper / feeder (think 90mins for every feed, bf then formula, tongue tie, still dropping weight centiles). We ended up keeping DD1 FT (although I tended to pick her up much earlier than when I was working. It was a complete nightmare and I was so glad that DD1 had time in her day to play with her friends, have so much fun, and I could focus on DD2.

If you can, get her in for a few months before DC2 arrives and then she has chance to settle without all the change of DC2 arriving. If you are going for a school nursery, they normally only intake at certain times of the year. So ideal would probably be the term before DC2 arrives I guess? But youll need to check on your council / borough admissions website.

There is no need to send a child to a care or educational setting at age 3. Just enjoy your time together and do lots of activities outside the home if you can manage with the baby in tow.

Activities where certain behaviors are expected would be great for establishing that not every place she visits is her own personal playground - go to church once a month (or more) if that's something that would align with your culture, and sit through a service, go to the supermarket together and ensure she doesn't run around, take her to playgrounds and soft play and help her learn to treat others with consideration.

Male sure she has plenty of opportunity to do fine motor and sensory play, and gross motor activities too.

Read to her regularly and frequently.

Try to get a routine established through the day - up and dressed, breakfast, morning activity like heading to the park, going to the supermarket, going to a mummy and me group, back home, hands washed, lunch, quiet time, sensory play, a run around or nature walk, helping with dinner prep, dinner, playing with daddy, bathtime, bedtime...

As she has 2 full years before starting school, I don't think there is any rush. Which will also help in terms of there being space.
Some Pre-school Nurseries only take dc in their pre-school year, so won't be full. But those Pre-schools are often full in September, so I'd go make enquiries locally.

Do you take her to any playgroups where she mixes with other dc ?

Up to you OP but I did plenty of activities with my DC and I felt that PS would give them a taste of actual school and help ease them in gently.
I felt that going from 7 days a week with me to 5 days a week with strangers and a group setting overnight was almost cruel.

In a school nursery they normally start the term after they turn 3 so if birthday in July start in September, if birthday on October start in January. My dd did 15 hours for 4 terms and loved it.

I think a few months to settle into nursery before the baby comes.

She turns 3 in December, baby is due in February. I'm thinking we're going to have to wait until she settles after baby is born. I do take her out regularly, weekly music group, the library, we visit museums, we do a weekly playdate with toddler friends. She is really good at focusing and following directions in the toddler sessions we've been too, and she's doing really well cognitively/developmentally. It's mostly getting hsed to being away from me that I think would be good for her.