9 month old starting nursery-should I change her routine?! Post Reply

[EJT2012]

Help needed!!

So my 9 month old is starting nursery in September (when she will be coming up to 10 months).

I'm concerned about her feeding pattern - at the moment we do:

Breakfast (porridge/fruit etc) at 7/7.15 with milk
Lunch (usually veg plus yoghurt) at 11.30
Bottle at 2.30
Supper (protein and veg plus fruit) at 5.30

However the nursery do breakfast at 9.15 lunch at 11.30 (at least that's on track!) and tea at 3.15.

Should I stick with her current routine? Or should I try to change it otherwise the days she's at nursery she'll be getting two extra meals a day which doesn't seem right to me! Nervous enough about her going to nursery 4 days a week and now getting myself worried about her eating too much!

Help!

[EJT2012]

Any tips/advice would be very welcome!! Xxx

[B&BsMum]

Firstly, I completely understand your anxiety but I'm sure it will all work out. Is the nursery a day nursery, as 9.15 seems very late for breakfast if parents have been dropping their children off on the way to work? Are you sure that 9.15 isn't the time that they stop serving breakfast? Our nursery opens at 7.30am and breakfast is available for children until 8.45am - and they're flexible beyond that time in the baby room.

3.15pm does seem very early for tea, especially as a lot of babies will have milk after waking from their lunchtime nap. Tea's served at 4ish at our nursery and Ive always found the need for a small snack once we get home between 6-6.30pm - just something simple such as a bit of cheese/ham and some fruit or tomato/cucumber and then the usual bottle before bedtime. Nurseries do tend to serve tea on the early side to ensure that they're finished before parents start to pick up from 5pm onwards. I often have some snacks in my bag (crackers, Ella's fruit tube etc) to give on the way home from nursery - that avoids things getting too late with bath and bedtime as you don't have to factor in sitting down for a snack when you get home.

Good luck.

[number28]

Hi, I suggest you may only need to slightly modify your current routine, since she'll be at nursery more days a week than not (which is fine, as long as it's a good nursery).

Perhaps keep your usual breakfast as that fits with her wake-up time, and think of the nursery's breakfast and tea as just morning- and afternoon-tea. As the previous poster suggested tea at home (or on the way home - we did that too) may be a bit smaller than you do now.

Basically, the extra meals are not a problem as babies only eat if they are hungry - you won't create bad habits as long as she is allowed to choose when she's had sufficient for herself. And she may just need extra calories if she uses extra energy playing hard at nursery!

[EJT2012]

Thanks for the tips!
It's kidsunlimited in Chelsea-have to say they have been fab so far and with regards to their care I am really happy!

Their meal times are set although they will give bottles according to babies normal routine.

On the days when she's not at nursery do you think I should offer a snack around the same time as the breakfast and afternoon tea?

We are home by 5.30 so her normal supper time is unaffected but thanks for the tips! Finding the whole nursery thing traumatic enough without the consequences on my little girls routine!

Xx

[number28]

I think it's likely she will become accustomed to the extra snack times, so offering her something on the days she's at home would be worth a try. Better than having a little one unhappy because she's hungry. Could also check with the nursery how much she eats there at meal times, to help you gauge what she might want at home.

Good luck - it's always tough at the start on you both, but a good nursery will help her settle in. And don't be too worried if she starts crying when you collect her, it really doesn't mean she's been crying all day. They're tired after a busy day, and commonly get emotional when they see you again.