Nurseries - to send or not to send?

During my last trip to the library I have picked up a Steven’s Biddulph book called “Rising babies” . I decided to educate myself a little bit and prepare myself to the new role I am going to play. It is not as if I were lacking some mother instinct but rather the pure curiosity of wanting to find out more if there is anything interesting I should know.

The book is titled “Should under 3s go to nurseries” - pretty self explanatory.
And here comes my verdict: the first chapter is complete rubbish. It pretty much states that if you send your child to such a institution, he/she will have some serious problems such as: aggression, lack of concentration and depression.

Now, I have to say that I personally am against putting a 2 week old baby into 8 hours x 5 days daycare but for obvious reasons, many of us don’t have many options but to send a child to the nursery at some point. There are a few people whos financial situation allows them to stay at home for the first 3 years of the baby’s life, but how many of us can really afford to do that?

The book however started getting better with the next chapter and described the basic concept of the child’s brain development which I found quite interesting.

My personal beliefs were not far from his latest ideas such as : if you can afford to work less than do it. Going back part time for the first year or 2 was always on my agenda but I have to say that this book managed to influence me a little bit. I was considering putting my child into a nursery for 2,3 days a week but now I am considering getting a babysitter.
What changed my mind was really a variation of many different factions and not only this book alone.

So my final verdict is a s follows:

Baby needs the attention 1 to 1 in the first year of it life. They also need much love and there is no one better suited for this role than a mother. If you have to go back to work consider employing a nanny or a babysitter.

As for the book: I don’t think there is anything important one needs to learn, you are much better of saving the 12 euro and treating yourself and a friend for a latte and chocolate muffin :)