Nursery

Try and keep an open mind I reckon. Not sure what your job involves but I think it’s hard to WFH with a baby - and at one, she could be starting to walk etc and need constant attention. You’ll probably find you’re doing neither work nor being a mum well. We have to put our boy in nursery 3 days a week from 8 months, which I’m dreading tbh but can’t afford not to work any longer. Maybe go and have some local nursery tours and maybe get on the list as places fill up fast. You might be reassured by how well they are cared for and how much fun the little ones have there. Probably more fun than being at home with you distracted with work.

I put my little girl into nursery 2 days a week, with me 1 day when I was wfh and nanny 2 days. She benefitted so much from the nursery of being with other babies her age and all of the activities they done with her. Trust me, wfh with a 1 year old is almost impossible!

Sending my son to nursery was the best thing I ever did for him. Sending her when she’s older will make it harder for her to feel comfortable being away from you. Also WFH with a one year old might be tricky if they’re walking etc! X

My little one is already signed up to start the week after he turns one

My eldest went at 10 months and this baby will be the same. He loved it from day 1, I've heard the earlier you send them the easier they tend to find it. But it's each to their own. I work in a school and it's quite easy to spot the children who've been to nursery and those that haven't at all. What I will say is that my eldest is 23 months now, he was walking before 1 and there is not a chance that you could get any work done apart from during his nap. But even then it's 2 hours and you've got to eat lunch and get stuff done during that time. Your child might be different but it would be impossible with my ball of energy.

I’m going back to work around the start of December but our boy will be going into nursery from November to settle - we have no other option as we don’t have family that close and family we do have can’t watch him due to their work/shift patterns! I’d love to be able to have him home for longer but I need to go back to work to start getting paid properly again🥺

My first was with a childminder from 7 months while I worked from home 4 days a week, same will happen for this baby. WFH with a baby is hard, my childminder had 3 weeks off due to an operation and recovery when baby was 1ish and trying to juggle everything was such a challenge. Even though my work knew about it and were relaxed about seeing and hearing her on calls I constantly felt guilty for not giving her and my work my full attention. You may be different but that was just my experience!

Same as you really hoping work agrees to 3 times a week. If not, I've started applying for new jobs just in case. For me, my sister and a few friends have had a horrible time with nursery provisions, I understand that's not always the case. The same as you, I really don't want to put her into a nursery as a baby. A friend of mine has a fantastic child minder who also takes the government hour payments. I've also had a few friends send their children to child minders and spoke how they get to do so much more, go exploring, travelling, seeing more things. Their transitions to school were also fine. I'm looking at child minders now to have her for one full day and then two half days, which my mum will have her in the afternoon.

My LO will be starting nursery 4 days a week from next April.

I've had to WHF with my first and that was a disaster... I think it does depend on your work, but unlesl it is super flexible, you simply may not have another choice, but to put her in nursery. On a positive note my girl absolutely loved going to nursery, she started when she was 14 months and loved it from day one. It was super beneficial for her, and definitely the right choice.

Already registered for nursery when I go back in April. She’ll be 11 months and going 2 days a week. I’ll be working 4 days a week and mum will have her the other 2 days she’s not in nursery. I’m dreading it and would stay at home until school nursery if we could afford it!

My son went to nursery at 2.5 years but we had a nanny at the house while my partner wfh as he tried what you think of doing and said it was impossible. As he needed so much attention. He loved nursery and i wished we done it sooner as he got to do so much messy play and all the toys and educational themed days it was amazing! And found friends for play dates too! Now he’s 5yo and is starting to read and started reception.

Just bare in mind they will make you stay for a while. We're a week in and I've had to pull him out for a few days as I have to work and havent got time to stay there 1-3 hours everyday while he settles. This is for toddlers may be different for babies so may be better to do it whilst they are younger

Our son will be starting nursery in April at 11 months for between 2 and 4 afternoon sessions a week, we don't have any other option though. I'm not sure you can bank on looking after little one when WFH but if parents are an option for 3 days a week I'd definitely take them up on that before nursery x worth remembering we are entitled to funded childcare from next April too which will equate to 1 full day then 2 full days from September x

My little boy is starting nursery 3 days when he is 8 months old. We looked around the nursery first and the baby room was so good and I think it will be good for him to not relay on me being around and for him to play with other babies! My friend had her baby in from being 4 months old and he absolutely loves it!