Starting Nursery.

[Adriana]

Any experiences, good or bad about starting nursery at 12 months?

I have a 12 month old very spirited DS. I work part time from home, but it's getting harder and harder to be able to work and care for him. I'm starting to think he gets bored by being here with me, although I do try to do different things everyday. I'm feeling a little bit overwhelmed as then I have to work when he goes to bed and I feel pretty tired by then.

Just not sure if 12 months is too young for nursery??

Thanks,

Adriana.

[Johno & Aurelias Mum]

With a good nursery like we've got, I've got nothing but good things to say.  DS went to this one when he was 3 but to a childminders when he was 18months who was also good.  He is very spirited but had had no one else care for him except me.  We took it very slowly and now he loves going 3 mornings a week.

I like his new nursery so much that DD is going two mornings a week to give me a chance to do stuff so the rest of the time I can spend proper time with the two of them rather than trailing them to doctor's appts and stuff. 

For us, I think its better to have something regular rather than odd times as creches in different places.

[Monkeybelly]

Hi!

If you find a nursery that you're comfortable with and that matches your ideas on childcare, I think you can't go far wrong.  I had the same fears when Heather started nursery at around sixteen months old - she too is a spirited toddler and needs LOTS of different activities.  I remember being concerned that she wouldn't sleep there, that she might not want to eat, that she would feel abandoned, etc etc etc...but within three days she had settled in so well that she didn't want to come home at the end of the day.  If I have a day off when she's in nursery I can use the time to get errands and chores done, as Jenny said above - it means I can spend the time I have with H doing good stuff rather than just having to get practical things done.

I'd advise to visit a fair few nurseries if you decide this is the route for you - one can seem amazing until you've seen the others on offer.

H is still at the same nursery now, just moved up into a new "grown up" room and still loving it as much as ever    I have only good things to say!

[Mum to cool dude]

The only problem I can see is that you may have issues with SA, which tends to peak at around that time.

If your DS is spirited, perhaps he would do better in a smaller nursery or with a childminder

[Adriana]

Hi,
Thanks for your replies. I looked at different nurseries last week (I live in a small town), but didn't really like any of them so I guess I'll keep him at home for a couple of months, at least until he's 16 or 18 months. I do have someone who came in 3 days a week to do the cleaning and I asked her to be here daily and take care of my DS a couple of hours. They love each other so it's working out great.

Plus, he's MSPI so I'll try to introduce him to dairy at home, before he just takes another baby's bottle and drinks normal milk from it.

Thanks for your replies!!!

Adriana.