Starting nursery as a baby, from three months

Handing your baby over to someone else for the first time can pull at your heart, even when you know it's the right thing for your family. You might be back at work, or simply ready for a little more in your week, and still feel that tug as you walk out of the door. That feeling is normal, and it tells us how much you love your little one. The good news is that babies settle, and you don't have to do it alone.

A familiar face just for your baby

From three months, what your baby needs most is one warm, steady adult who learns their cues and becomes a friendly face in a new place. Early-years settings call this a key person, and the relationship matters enormously for babies who are too young to understand where you've gone.

Before the first proper day, it helps to spend time together so your baby starts to recognise the person who'll be caring for them. You can hold your baby while they meet, then gently step back as the bond grows. A trusted key person becomes the bridge between home and nursery, someone who knows the songs that soothe your little one and the way they like to be held.

Share your baby's routine, all of it

Babies feel safest when their days follow a rhythm they know. The more you share, the easier it is for your team to keep that rhythm going.

Things worth talking through:

• How your baby likes to be settled to sleep, and how long they usually nap

• Feeding patterns, whether breast, bottle or a mix, and how often

• The comfort your baby reaches for, a cuddly, a particular hold, a familiar song

• Little signs that mean tired, hungry or simply ready for a change

There is no detail too small. The way you wind your baby or the phrase you say at nap time can carry real comfort into a new room.

Sleep and feeds away from home

It's natural to worry about whether your baby will nap or take their milk without you there. Sleep and feeds may look a little different at first, and that's fine. Babies often need a few days to relax into a new space before everything clicks.

Keep doing what works for you at home, and let your team know if anything changes, like dropping a nap or starting solids. If you have any health questions about feeding or sleep, your health visitor or GP is the best person to ask. Sharing all of this means the care your baby gets fits the baby you know.

Staying connected through the day

You will think about your baby often, and a quick window into their day can settle your own nerves. Many settings share updates on naps, nappies, feeds and happy little moments, so you can picture where your little one is and what they're up to.

When you drop off, a calm and cheerful goodbye helps more than slipping away. Babies pick up on how we feel, so a quick cuddle, a familiar phrase and a confident wave tell them this is a safe place. Some tears at the door are normal and usually pass within minutes. If your baby stays very upset for a long while or the unsettled feeling drags on for weeks, talk to your team or your health visitor.

Settling takes a little time, and we're glad to walk it with you. As a Jersey charity, we're not chasing profit, we're chasing the calmest, happiest start we can give your baby. When you're ready, take a look at our nursery care and come and say hello.