Starting nursery

[Clairemrsc2]

Hello,

My baby is only 9 weeks old and I'm not going back to work until January but I'm so scared about leaving him at nursery on his first day. I keep thinking about him crying for me and thinking I have abandoned him! Please tell me how some of you have coped with this? I will be working part time so not so bad but still probably 4 days a week.

I really need reassurance :)

Thanks,

Mine didn't notice I had gone the staff were so lovely. Go and see a few and pick one that your gut tells you is right. Ask about staff turnovers, age of staff etc. The nursery that both mine went to a lot of the staff were mothers so I felt that they were in good hands. I will be in tears this Thursday when I go and pick up DS for the last time, we have been using it for 5.5 years.

That's the kind of thing I need to hear! It's rubbish, I'd love to work even less, but I have to work that much so we can afford nursery fees - If I work less, I can't afford less nursery days! It's so unfair for mummies!

You're thinking about leaving him now. Anyone would be in bits leaving a 9 week old! But in January he will be, what, 8 months old? He'll be sitting up, eating solid food, babbling away happily, playing with toys, watching the older kids and maybe crawling. He'll enjoy it! My DS has been in nursery for 6 weeks - he's 11 months old now and he's never been inconsolable at drop-off. In fact his keyworker said he's a doddle to look after as he is so happy and spends the day laughing and smiling at everything.

Thanks Brian, he is a really happy contented baby, so hopefully he will also be a doddle to look after!

It will be ok. You usually get settling in sessions so it's not like they're abandoned! Look at lots until you feel happy.

My ds cries when I pick him up to bring him home!

Don't worry, just find a nice place and enjoy your time....

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate your words of advice! x

Hi Claire
I distinctly remember being left with grandparents and then later nursery. I have fond memories of torturing my poor mother with tears that even at that age, were crocodile ones! I remember how (their houses being close together) I used to go and cry at a window, when I was at my Nan's or vice versa - looking at the other one's house! :D
At nursery I'd whinge for a bit, until someone rechannelled me into something more exciting then I'd be off playing with a unicorn toy happilly!

I guess what I'm trying to say is, they may well cry but you are not abandoning them, they will stop crying and everything will be ok :) X

Thank you-you have a great memory!! I'm feeling better after all the advice and it's 7 months away anyway! Just need to make the most of my time off I think! X

Its the inbetween bits i don't remember, from say 6-12, weird really! yes, make the most of it and be happy, bet it wont be as hard as you think x

I was like you. I was so worried about leaving my son that I ended up not enjoying my maternity leave. I had to go back to work full time and we have no family around to help so full time nursery was the only option. He had a taster day and the staff were lovely in helping us both adjust to the transition. He has now been in nursery for 7 months (started at aged 9 months) and he is so happy and settled there. He is so sociable and confident. He gives me such a welcome when I go to pick him up as well that he makes me feel a million dollars (although there are days when he doesn't want to come home because he is having so much fun!)

I would say don't worry about it because it will stop you enjoying what you have now and when the time comes it is really not as bad as you will anticipate.

Both of my boys went to nursery part time from around 6 months. I remember with my first, I was almost counting down the days with dread from around 6 weeks!

But, as has been said upthread, it is one thing leaving a 9 week old, and quite another leaving an 8 month old. Both mine loved nursery, and would wriggle to be out of my arms as soon as I walked in. They wanted to play!

It will be fine, just enjoy your maternity leave, and try not to worry.

Yes I think I'm imagining the 9 week old baby rather than the 8 month old who wants to explore