Returning to work and leaving your baby at nursery for the first time is one of the biggest steps of early parenthood. It is completely normal to feel a mix of emotions, from relief at finding good care to worry about how your little one will cope. With the right setting and a gentle start, babies settle remarkably well and thrive in a warm, stimulating environment. This guide covers when to start, how to choose a baby room and how to make the transition as smooth as possible.
When Is the Right Time to Start Nursery?
There is no single right age. Many families in Milton Keynes start nursery between six months and a year, often when parental leave ends. Some babies start younger, and some nurseries welcome babies from just a few months old.
Things to consider
- Your return-to-work date: allow two to four weeks of settling-in before your first full working day
- Your baby’s routine: starting when feeds and naps are fairly predictable can help
- Funding: eligible working parents can claim up to 30 hours a week of funded childcare from nine months. Read our guide to funded childcare hours in Milton Keynes for details
- Availability: baby rooms are often small, so places can fill months in advance
What to Look for in a Baby Room
Calm, caring key people
Babies need to form a close, trusting bond with the adults who care for them. Under the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), every child has a key person. Ask who your baby’s key person will be and how they cover holidays and sickness so your baby always sees familiar faces.
Ratios and group size
The legal ratio for children under two is one adult to three babies. Smaller rooms tend to feel calmer and more homely.
Safe spaces to explore
Look for soft, clean floor space for tummy time, rolling and crawling, low shelves with toys and books in reach, and sturdy furniture for pulling up to stand. Babies learn through their senses, so textures, sounds, mirrors and treasure baskets all matter.
Rest and feeding
Ask how the nursery follows your baby’s own sleep and feeding routine, where babies nap, how bottles and breast milk are handled, and how weaning is supported.
Fresh air
Even young babies benefit from time outdoors, whether in a pram, on a blanket on the grass or exploring a garden on hands and knees.
How to Settle Your Baby into Nursery
Plan a gradual settling-in period
Most nurseries offer several settling-in sessions. You usually stay for the first visit, then leave your baby for short periods that gradually get longer.
Share everything about your baby
Tell the key person about feeding times, nap routines, favourite songs, how your baby likes to be held and any signs they are tired or unwell. The more they know, the more familiar their care will feel.
Bring comforts from home
A comforter, sleeping bag or a muslin that smells of home can help your baby feel secure.
Keep goodbyes short and loving
A quick cuddle and a cheerful goodbye is kinder than a long farewell. Babies often settle within minutes of a parent leaving.
Look after yourself too
Many parents find the first weeks harder than their baby does. Ask the nursery for a quick update or photo during the day if it helps.
What Your Baby Will Learn at Nursery
In a good baby room, every moment is a learning opportunity. Songs and stories build early language, reaching and grasping develop physical skills, and play with other babies lays the foundations for social development. These are the prime areas of the EYFS, which underpin everything your child will learn later.
Babies at Broughton Manor Nursery
At Broughton Manor Preparatory School in Milton Keynes, our nursery welcomes babies from two months old. Our purpose-built rooms are organised by age, with happy, friendly, calm and cosy spaces designed for babies and toddlers. We work closely with parents to make the move from home easy and pleasant.
Outside, children enjoy large outdoor spaces, a spacious lawn and our spinney, a garden full of nature to explore. Because our nursery is part of our prep school, children can progress through Pre-School, Reception and on to Year 6 on one site. Our guide to choosing the right nursery in Milton Keynes has more on what to look for.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the setting. Many nurseries take babies from around three months, and Broughton Manor Nursery welcomes babies from two months old.
Most babies settle within two to four weeks with a gradual settling-in period and a consistent key person, although every baby is different.
For children under two, the legal minimum ratio in England is one adult to three children.
Nappies, wipes, spare clothes, milk or bottles if needed, a comforter and anything the nursery asks for. Label everything clearly.
Eligible working parents in England can claim up to 30 hours a week of funded childcare for children from nine months old, for 38 weeks a year.
