Is this normal?

[Bubblyface]

My 1 year old is a happy baby and by that I mean she's not a crier. At home she cries it very hungry or tired but that's about it.

She's been at nursery 2 weeks now (3 days a week) though and she cries a lot more there. Her first few sessions were a nightmare and she cried a lot then she got better but they're still telling me she cries on and off. Some days are better than others - yesterday they said she was pretty happy but today she's been doing some crying again. I never expected this as she's such a happy and independent baby and not at all clingy at playgroups or anything.

I guess my question is, is this normal and will it get better or is she really unhappy there and should I look at an alternative. To clarify I don't actually have a current alternative......

[MrPony]

Maybe it's because it's a new situation and she is getting used to it? Has she been at home with you for the year? It'll be strange for her to be in a new environment without mummy.

Personally I would give her a bit more time to settle in to it.

[Bubblyface]

Yes we've been at home together but we got out and about a lot and as mentioned she's far from a clingy baby - she's never seemed that bothered when I've gone!

I really hope she settles as it's a good nursery and, to be frank, I don't have an alternative

[Coconut0il]

Not me but a good friend put her DS into nursery when he was 8 months old, he is a very content/happy baby but he did cry everytime she left him until recently. He's just turned 1. Friend felt awful but it's much better now.

[passmyglass]

Do you need to have her in nursery?

[passmyglass]

I'm not jumping on the judgy train...I put my (confident happy) 13 mo in nursery (I was heavily pg) and she cried. We persevered, it didn't work. I took her out, she was much happier and so was I. Fast forward to her age 3 and she loved it.

[cuntspud]

As someone who has worked with babies and children all my working life, yes this is normal.
Give her a little more time to settle and she will be fine.
It's a big change and it's completely normal for it to take a while. Sometimes they can even appear settled and then dip back into being a little unsettled again, this doesn't mean that something has happened, they are usually just "working things out". It's a very common pattern I've seen a lot.
It's great that nursery are being upfront with you about it, it shows they are open to working together with you on the best techniques to help her settle.
Is she following her usual eating/sleeping routine whilst there? Does she have a comfort item at home, could she take it with her? If not maybe send a small blanket that's smells of you so she can have a cuddle with a practitioner and snuggle with the blanket?

[Bubblyface]

Thanks Cuntspud that's reassuring. She is doing alright with eating and sleeping - in fact they remarked on how much she ate! She's loves to nap and at home does 3 hours in day, she doesn't do anything like that at nursery but it still getting two naps of about half hour and then an hour. This is much improved on first week when she wouldn't sleep apart from on one of the key workers.

I'm trying to get her attached to a bunny but she's not that bothered! As mentioned she's not a very 'lovey' or clingy baby and so independent that she's never bothered with things like dummies or blankets.

It's good to hear it will hopefully get better

[Florentina27]

My DD was quite OK with nursery first week, but after she realized its a thing now and sometimes she'll cry when I'll open the baby room door. I felt she is not happy and felt guilty but now( she's been with nursery 2 months) she is always happy and doesn't even attempt to cry, now I worry she likes it there more lol. She'll get over rgus phase and later you won't feel sorry for taking her to nursery