How long did it take for your child to adjust?

[Summerdays2014]

Hi everyone,

My just turned one year old son has just started nursery 3 days a week, he has just done his first 3 days. He has been ok at drop offs, fine on the first day, ok the second and a bit unsettled on the third. He cried when I picked him up which I've heard is all normal. He is eating well and staff say he is happy and settling in well.

However, he has only napped for 40 minutes each day. At home he has 2 naps (on me - I know, I know...) and has between 1.5 hours and 2 hours in total.

He is clearly tired but staff can't get him to sleep in the morning or get him to sleep longer in the afternoon. He is then very grumpy when He gets home and very tired. His evening sleep which used to be good (not perfect, but good) has become a disaster. He wakes crying during the night and is awake for the day between 5 and 5.30.

He is also very grumpy and clingy during the day and crying much more that ever before. I understand that it's because he's tired and having separation anxiety and doesn't really understand what's going on yet. I expected this, but it makes me so sad.

In your experience does sleep get better? I know it's my fault as I've let him sleep on me, but I struggled for so long to get him to sleep in his cot for naps I gave up as I can get him to sleep in 5 minutes and he will sleep well. If I could go back I'd change that now...

How long for the anxiety and crying at home to stop? I just want him to be happy, and help him feel settled. I am well aware that we are in the very, very early stages and it will take time.

Any help appreciated.

[Summerdays2014]

Should clarify, he is grumpy, clingy and crying when at home with me on my days off and at the weekend.

Thanks

[QforCucumber]

How do they do naps at nursery? The one my ds is at will use cots, pushchairs, bouncers, will hold hands, stroke faces etc if required. Id be asking if they are prepared to try different approaches if they are able to. Ds is 10 months almost and has 2 x 1.5 hour naps at home usually. At nursery when he first started he was doing 2 x 30 mins, that was end of nov. Now he will usally do 30 mins morning and 1.5 hours afternoon - if he wont drift off in the cot they'll pop him in the bouncer chair with his blanket.

[Canyousewcushions]

It varies A LOT depending on the individual child. In my case, DD2 was desperate to get every morning after the first month... but DD1 takes months and months to settle - and we go through it all over again when she moves between rooms as she gets older. So you'll get all sorts of answers but it's really so dependent on your child.

[Summerdays2014]

Thanks canyousew, good point .
Q - they said the just rocked him in their arms but he wouldn't go down in the morning. I will have to ask them if they have any other techniques.

[Jenniferb21]

Hi

Do they have a dark seperate room for sleeping? Could it be a problem with noise and stimulation?

Think of how you can replicate home and nursery. Can he always use the same blanket or soft toy?

Do you give him a bottle before his nap? could they adjust feeding times to settle him? My little boy will switch off better and start to calm after some warm milk. Sometimes if he's tired but fighting it I'll read some books with him to wind down could that help?

X