Nido daycare: what it is, what age to start and how to choose
A nido daycare is a centre for babies and toddlers aged 0 to 3 where children are cared for and, when the project is good, also educated. If you are looking for a nido daycare for your child, the short answer is this: there is no single perfect starting age, and the daily schedule should match your real need. The 0-3 stage is now considered educational, which is why we speak today of an early childhood school and, in Montessori pedagogy, of Nido and Children’s Community.
- In short
- What age to start in a nido daycare
- How much an early childhood school costs in Spain and what aid exists
- How many hours a day make sense between 0 and 3 years
- Early childhood school, Nido or Children's Community: what it is called today
- Checklist for visiting a nido daycare
- Frequently asked questions
In short
- The starting age depends on the child and the family: a Montessori environment can welcome babies from a few months old if it is prepared for them.
- There is no single price in Spain. Official aid (the national tax deduction and regional subsidies) changes every school year, so check it before deciding.
- A stable routine and a gradual settling-in period of two or three weeks matter more than the exact number of hours.
- Today the correct name is early childhood school or first cycle of Early Childhood Education (0-3 years).
What age to start in a nido daycare
The best age is the one that fits your family’s needs, provided the centre has an environment designed for that specific age. A four-month-old baby and a two-year-old do not need the same thing. That is the difference between minding a child and accompanying one.
In Montessori, the Association Montessori Internationale distinguishes two environments within the first three years. The Nido takes babies from a few months old until they walk with confidence, around 12-15 months. Then comes the Children’s Community, up to age 3, with more free movement, practical life and language. A well-planned nido daycare therefore does not mix a crawling baby with children who run around without a protected space for the little ones.
It is also worth knowing the emotional calendar. Around 8-9 months many babies go through an intense phase of stranger anxiety. This is not a bad time to start, but it requires a slower settling-in. Between 18 and 24 months, by contrast, many children already seek out other children and enjoy the group.
Example: starting at 14 months
Take a family moving to Sotogrande from London in August, with a 14-month-old girl. The mother starts working on 1 October. If the girl starts in mid-September, there is time. In the first week she spends an hour in the classroom with a familiar adult nearby. In the second she stays for two or three hours alone, always with the same educator. By the third week she follows the planned timetable. So when October arrives, she already knows the space, the routines and the faces.
First week at the nido daycare: the mistake that happens most often
The typical mistake is squeezing the settling-in into the three days before returning to work. The child cries, the adult leaves in a rush and the separation becomes a race against the clock. The solution requires planning, and it is simple: set aside a settling-in period of two or three weeks, always say goodbye (never sneak off) and come back at the time you promised.
Predictability calms more than any toy.
How much an early childhood school costs in Spain and what aid exists
There is no single price in Spain. The cost depends on whether the centre is public, private or has publicly subsidised places, on the autonomous community, on the schedule and on the canteen. So be wary of any “average price” circulating without context.
What you can check are the aids. There are national tax deductions and regional subsidies related to childcare or early childhood education costs for children under 3, but the amounts, requirements and eligible centres change frequently. The most advisable step is to consult the current information on the Spanish Tax Agency (Agencia Tributaria) website and on the Junta de Andalucía website, or ask a tax adviser, before deciding or filing your return. If you want to know how this applies to our Nido, write to admissions@ims-sotogrande.com and we will advise you as far as we can.
At a private school such as IMS, fees depend on the programme and the schedule chosen. We do not publish them in articles because they are updated every school year: check the current conditions with the centre.
How many hours a day make sense between 0 and 3 years
There is no single figure in Spain, because the schedule depends on each region’s regulations and on the centre itself. The useful question is a different one: how many hours does your family really need, and does your child rest enough?
Sleep sets the practical limit. The American Academy of Pediatrics supports that between 1 and 2 years a child should sleep 11 to 14 hours in every 24, naps included. If the nido daycare schedule breaks that nap or stretches the afternoon too far, you will notice it at home: more tantrums at pick-up, difficult dinners and night wakings. If you have any doubt about your child’s sleep, consult your paediatrician.
Consider a concrete case. A 20-month-old who is collected at 13:00 eats at home and naps in his own bed. If he is collected at 15:00, he eats and rests at the centre with his group. Neither option is better in the abstract. However, booking until 17:00 “just in case” when you finish work at 15:00 is a mistake. Those two extra hours weigh far more on a two-year-old than on an adult.
In IMS’s Nido and Children’s Community there are blocks from 9:00 to 12:00, 9:00 to 13:00 and 9:00 to 15:00, extendable to 16:00 or 17:00. Our recommendation is to choose the minimum block that lets you balance work and family.
Early childhood school, Nido or Children’s Community: what it is called today
Today the correct name is early childhood school or first-cycle Early Childhood Education centre, the 0-3 stage. Current education law (LOMLOE) recognises it as an educational stage, not only a care service. “Guardería” (daycare) is still common on the street and even in some tax forms. However, it conveys the idea of keeping children safe, which falls short.
In Montessori pedagogy the names describe the environment: Nido for babies, Children’s Community for children who already walk, and Children’s House from 3 to 6. If you want to go deeper, Spanish-language resources on the Montessori method are a good starting point. In any case, the name matters less than what you see in the classroom: materials within reach, furniture at their height and adults who observe before intervening.
Checklist for visiting a nido daycare
Take this list to every nido daycare you visit, whether in Sotogrande, La Línea or Gibraltar. It works equally well in any city.
- Will your child have a fixed key person during the settling-in period?
- Is the babies’ area separate from the space for children who already run?
- Are the materials at their height and can they choose them on their own?
- How and where do they nap, and do they respect each child’s rhythm?
- What do they eat, who cooks and how is mealtime supported (own spoon, small cup, no rushing)?
- How do they inform you about the day: a report, an app or a chat at the door?
- What language does each adult speak with the children?
If half of these questions get vague answers, keep looking. A good team answers with examples. At IMS, for instance, families receive a weekly report every Friday and children grow up in Spanish-English immersion from the first day.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best age to send a child to daycare?
There is no single ideal age: the best one is the one your family needs, provided the centre has an environment adapted to that age. A baby of a few months needs a calm space and a stable educator. Around 18-24 months many children already enjoy the group. In any case, plan a gradual settling-in of two or three weeks.
How much does daycare cost per month in Spain?
The monthly cost varies according to the centre’s ownership, the autonomous community, the schedule and the canteen, so there is no reliable single figure. Tax deductions and regional subsidies exist, but their amounts and requirements change every school year. The prudent approach is to ask each centre for a quote and confirm the current aid on the Spanish Tax Agency website and on your region’s website.
How many hours can a child spend in daycare?
Spain has no single maximum: it depends on regional regulations and each centre’s timetable. The sensible choice is the shortest block that lets you balance work and family, and to watch rest closely. Between 1 and 2 years a child needs 11 to 14 hours of sleep a day, naps included, so the schedule should respect the nap.
What is daycare called now?
The current name is early childhood school or first-cycle Early Childhood Education centre, the 0-3 stage that education law recognises as an educational stage and not only a care service. In Montessori pedagogy one speaks of Nido for babies and Children’s Community for children who already walk. The word “guardería” is still used in everyday speech and in some paperwork.
