Postby MGMidget » Thu Jun 29, 2017 10:24 am
I have a child in the same nursery and we've been there for a couple of years.
Firstly, at your daughter's age settling in at nursery can be hard and it is also an age when they can go through clingy phases (younger, before 8 months is better). Therefore it is difficult to say that things would be any different if you moved nursery. Also, as you have already noted, when you come back from holiday it will be a bit of a setback to go back to nursery after being full-time with you.
My daughter settled in easily at the Baby Room but was younger than your child when she started. She did, however, later go through phases of being unhappy to be left at nursery and I recall that she was a bit unsettled when she moved up from blue to pink room at 13 months. She is currently very happy to go there but she still has days when she will suddenly become clingy on arrival after being excited about going to nursery on the way there. I think it is probably normal for young children - something unexpected can alter their mood such as an environment which is noisier/busier than normal when they arrive. I think the small environment of the nursery makes it easier to settle. Some of the local alternatives which are bigger might make settling in harder or certainly no easier so I would give it longer at this nursery before you consider moving. Also, the number of days your daughter attends might make a difference to the settling in. My daughter is part-time but I have often added extra days and I have found that when she attends more frequently she enjoys it more as it is more part of her usual routine.
I am very happy to discuss further with you by private message or in person if you wish - just PM me. I appreciate it must be an anxious time for you! Personally, I think all types of group childcare can be tough on babies/toddlers because they are constantly competing with all the other little tots for toys and attention! However, they do adapt and I also think as their communications skills improve they find these types of environment easier.