Deciding on sending our son to nursery or not..

I’m self employed working from home so I can just about manage to work whilst looking after my son, along with family stepping in for an hour here or there. We have the option to send him to nursery but I’m really torn. I’m fortunate my work is flexible enough it’s not necessary to send him, but I would naturally be able to get more work done as well as jobs round the house and maybe time for a few hobbies too! However obviously the mum guilt is real and I know they’re only small for so long and before long, it’ll be funded nursery hours then school so I’m conscious time is precious. I’d like to hear from other mums what they might do in my situation, or from experience how you and they found it!

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No way I could work whilst caring for my son. He does 3 days childcare and we both work full time over 4 days. So he gets a daddy day, a mummy day and two family days x

I would love to do this, I'm currently working one day a week when my husband can have our child but would love to work and look after her. What do you do for work? My plan is to wait till she is nursery age so she gets a year of that before going to school, You could send him 1/2 days even so that it's not as bad and that way he gets to play with other children. I don't have any family help so I get how it can be full on with everything 😊

@Helen I’m a baker, supply local businesses with cakes as well as larger celebration cakes to clients, so I can usually make my work work around me! It’s a minimum of 2 days and I’m worried it’s a lot to go from full time at home to that 🫣

Yeah I understand, I'd feel the same way when it eventually comes to put my little one in somewhere. Kids are great and fast at adapting too, you could always try it, and if your son isn't getting on well, take him out again before you start changing your routine around if that makes sense. The fact that your family take him the odd time will help too, my daughter is with me pretty much all the time bar 11 hrs a week when I go to work. So separation anxiety is real already with her 🙈

My daughter has just started nursery and she absolutely *loves* it. She asks to go every day and when I drop her off she runs in to play with her friends and hardly looks back. The photos we get of her playing and doing all the activities they do look great and she looks really happy. She always comes home super bubbly and chatting about her day and her friends and her speech has come on leaps and bounds since she’s been there. I’d definitely give it a go if you can and if you want to.

My son loves going to "school" (my MIL calls it that, lol). Yesterday he tried to go in a jammy shirt and his diapy. Put his shoes and backpack on and started say "go Deany car? Deany car?" Didn't want breakfast, lol

The first 3 years are so important. I quit my career to be a full time stay at home mom and wouldn’t trade it for anything!

My daughter has been in since 9months old between 3-7 times a month. She loves it and talks about her friends. It’s great for their development but also to give you a break, albeit work.

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