babies in nursery- coping

[Hallloumi]

My baby will be starting nursery 2 days a week when she is around 8 months (she's currently 5 months). I'm getting stressed out about how she'll cope. She's currently EBF on demand and we don't have much of a routine except that she naps for 45mins-1.5hrs after being awake for around 2.5 hours - so 3 naps a day. She's usually fed when she wakes up but also sometimes before the naps. She sleeps in her buggy during the day even if we're indoors. She'll also sleep in a sling/carrier but never in her cot during the day. At night I feed her to sleep, during the day I occasionally do but more often rock in the buggy or walk with her in a sling.

Her night time sleep has improved (despite me doing all these 'bad' things) and I don't want to do any kind of sleep training yet. So my question is should I be trying to establish more a routine to prepare her for nursery? We're trying to get her to take bottles of course. Some people say their baby behaves completely differently at nursery so not to worry but I am worried.

And please don't tell me to get a childminder or nanny- I would prefer either of these but neither are currently possible.

thanks!

[Needaninsight]

Have you decided on a nursery yet? Most come out to you to do a home visit first, and you can discuss your concerns.

I have friends who are nursery nurses, and confirm that yes, even the most 'difficult' baby is totally different in nursery! Don't take this the wrong way but basically, they don't jump to the baby's every demand in quite the same way. Not that they don't look after them, just obviously it doesn't tug at the heart strings the same when it's not your own iykwim.

Also, because they're not tired/stressed/emotional, the baby doesn't pick up any unnecessary stress. I'm sure your baby will be just fine :) If she will only sleep in a buggy, they will quickly figure that out and trust me, will put her in a buggy to sleep!

The other thing, no matter what routine you have, the nursery has their own (and you can guarantee yours won't resemble theirs!) My baby settled in quickly and just seemed to adapt to nursery on the days she was there, and did her 'normal' routine when she wasn't.

[TiredFeet]

My days sound very similar to yours and my daughter (7.d months) has just started nursery 3 mornings a weekm she took a bottle the first day even though she never had before. She gets cuddled/rocked to sleep. Check with your nursery but mine were fine about it. (She started much earlier than planned as I am struggling with illness)

[TiredFeet]

The nursery staff also said it was easier if their home routine isn't too rigid as they find it easier to adapt to the nursery's routine

My son was the. Same and also started at 7.d months and he loves it there, he calls it his other home

[Hallloumi]

Thanks for your replies. I'm organising the nursery from abroad- moving back to the UK a few weeks before I start back at work so I haven't been able to visit it yet- had to choose on recommendations. This is probably partly why I'm so stressed about it.

[babybouncer]

I agree with all the comments so far. I wasn't worried at all about DS, but DD was so particular about who she would spend time with and so difficult to get to sleep I really didn't know how it would work. But, in the first meeting, when I went in with her, DD seemed to really connect with her key worker, which gave me such confidence. She also settled really quickly to sleeping in a cot, then on a mat - even though she was still struggling at home! I took in a sleeping bag an a mousey toy, which may have helped.

Also, there's is quite a big difference between 5 months and 8 months, so things may have developed by the time toy get there!