When did you start sending your kid to nursery

My little boy isn't starting nursery until he is 3 next year

I won't be sending mine until she's atleast 2

I am hoping I never have to send him to nursery or school for that matter. Since he was born my whole world was just turned upside down because I was now only thinking about how to make his life as good as possible. We ended up moving to another country so that we can get in an area with a better cost of living to salary ratio and I could stay home with the littles. I recently watched a psychoanalyst talking about how mum's guilt isn't something to dismiss, it's your body screaming to let you know something's wrong and needs to change.

Send your kid to nursery when it’s right for you as a family. That might be before 6 months old, or they might not go at all before they start school! There’s mum guilt whatever you do, but remember a mum that is happy (which might mean being at work full time if that’s what you enjoy and find fulfilling) is what will be best for the child and family.

Mine would have been 12 months but due to cost of it all there’s no point me going to work so I’m going to be sahm and maybe 2 or 3 years x

My first went at 11 months old, and my second will be going at 8 months old. It’s good for them! And it’s good for you too. You do what you need to do, don’t worry about what others do :)

16 months x

11 months and 13 months x

Do it when it’s right for you there’s no right answer because we don’t live your life. I’ve had friends that have gone back to work 2-3m Pp because they can’t do the sahm life so nursery from the get go as soon as they’ve healed, and back to FT work. Me, I keep them home w me but w classes and mothers groups until 3yr old kinder which is funded by the government

My toddler goes to preschool once a week now at 3yo. Just started this month for speech therapy. I'm fortunate to have family or in home care that's close

My son will start at 9 months!

He will be going to the childminder a few days before he turns 9 months, he will then stay here until 3 years and go to pre school. If I was with a partner and had a second income coming in I wouldn’t be going back to work till he was 3 but that’s no financially viable for me x

My boy started full time at 9 months. I had major mum guilt but had to return to work so had no other option. I’m actually so glad I done it. He loves it and is so happy and it’s been so good for him. Your baby will do great I promise xx

My girl will be going 2 days a week from next month and she will be 10months. She has already started settling in sessions and so far she has been happy there which is making my mum guilt a bit better ☺️ she made a Christmas card there yesterday 😂

My son will be starting at 9 months and I have had no choice as I have to go back to work luckily I work in a nursery and he will be coming with me. He will be the youngest there by one month but we cannot afford to have longer off as much I had hoped to x

I’m about to have another baby and before I was heavily pregnant, my first and I used to go out nearly everyday, whether it was the park, soft play, baby class or just for a walk. Now I haven’t had the energy to go out plus I have really bad sciatica that sometimes makes it hard for me to even walk. This made me think, imagine she was able to spent at least 1 or 2 days at nursery, having fun, playing, socialising and still being able to learn and develop around other children. So I’m hoping to get her in very soon, maybe when she’s around 2 years old (nearly there). It’ll also give me time to focus on other things while looking after baby no.2 I just feel bad for her as she’s such an active baby and we’ve been staying indoors for a while. Nursery is not just childcare to me, it’s a fun & safe learning environment for our kids and has so many benefits other than someone to look after our kids

My son started at 13 months, my little girl will be 11m. But it’s only due to the way my mat leave/annual leave has worked out and the change in funded hours. But as others have said, it’s whatever works best for you and your family! There’s no right or wrong. And I kept my boy in nursery while I’ve been on mat leave because, as the poster above said, it’s been more than just childcare - he’s been able to see his friends, do activities that we don’t really do at home (especially arts/crafts/sensory things) and it gives him routine. And it’s meant I’ve gotten a slight break and been able to do baby specific things with my girl as she obviously doesn’t get as much 1-2-1 time with me like my son did as a baby.

9 months, our nursery starts from 3 months! Everyone’s circumstances are different! If it’s right for your family then you send them when you need/ want to! They will thrive don’t feel guilty 😊 x

Mine started at just under 3 years of age. I’m a SAHM so I tooled after them until this time, when they were eligible for free hours then I put them in

I have to go back to work in January when my littlest one is 10 months. Those who are SAHM no hate whatsoever but how do you afford it? I have to go back so we can afford the mortgage. Do you apply for benefits that covers it all? I have to send my 2 children for 3 days 😭

@Emily I’m a SAHM and when we put our little one we’ll just have to pay it. We’re not entitled to benefits or anything :( but idk if there’s something for 2 year olds (which is when I’m trying to put my little one in).

My boy has been full time at nursery since he was about 10½ months old and he has absolutely thrived in there! He's 2½ now and he "rules the roost" as the staff say 🤣 he's so confident and has made so many friends there. I still to this day have mum guilt, but I couldn't have got him to where he is know on my own. He's incredible. In our nursery they have babies from 3months old. There's no right or wrong time to start - do what is needed for you and your family 💙

My eldest started at 3 yrs old and I will do the same for my 10 month old.

9 months and she is absolutely thriving there she loves it. Never a tear and leans over to the women. They do so much with her, would I have liked to be a SAHM abit longer? Yeah course, however it’s so much easier going back to work knowing how much she enjoys and gets out of it.

3 years

10 months when I returned to work

18m x

Just before he was 10 months old and it was the best decision. He's 3 now and absolutely thrived. Will be the same for baby no.2 ☺️

Mine was 7.5 months and was fine! I had to return to work and felt really guilty, but all the staff reassured me it was a great agr to start - old enough to be ok without you but not old enough to have the separation anxiety you usually get around 9/10 months. He absolutely loves it there!

Mine had to start at 3 months, I totally get the mom guilt but we live in the US and needed the dual income. We’re lucky though, he loves his teachers and is growing so much

She was 2months shy of 2.

So, with my first, I think I waited until 18months. My 2nd was 6wks or so, because I was working. Seeing how they reacted in the clingy stages and in between? Huge difference and it's also not that simple. I'm sure my mom guilt for leaving him so soon, and working? Affects his current clingy dependency at 2.5. Also I made some relationship changes with my parents and stopped leaving them over there. (Until my daughter was older.) I think that if you can, 12+ months is best. But if you can't, it's ok they'll live. It's just really hard for you and them!

2 years old for us, we were lucky we can juggle childcare without nursery. He goes to a preschool 9-2:30 3 days a week

Mine will be staring just before he turns 3

2 years old. I was lucky enough to have my mum look after my daughter on the days I worked.

Unfortunately I couldn’t take a full year of maternity leave so my son is starting nursery in March and he will be 7 months .. I was really anxious about it until I spoke to the teachers who reassured me that it’s the ideal time and most babies are fine..

2.5yrs old