How did you settle your child in to nursery/preschool?

[whatthewhatthewhat]

The day is fast approaching! No idea whether to go for half an hour first day, then gradually increase, or just the full time from the offset?

Dreading the tears (mine more than theirs!)

Ours went to crèche for full days before starting pre-school nursery at age 3 for half days (had to combine with a childminder) and then into school at reception age - straight into full days.

I’m not clear what age dc you’re referring to but imo it’s best to start as you mean to go in with normal hours from the outset.

First day for my 3yo old tomorrow, l feel like l could cry. I don’t know why as she goes to the childminder anyway. Too much, too soon for me l’m 43 and a half another baby is out of the question.

Watching with interest. Ds starts in a couple of weeks, only mornings though. He’s nearly 4 but has never been in any sort of childcare before and I’m really nervous! Not letting on to him though obviously. He keeps telling me he doesn’t want to go because he’s shy and I should stop talking about it

DS had two weeks of settling-in sessions, 3 days a week. First week they lasted an hour, second week two hours. I stayed for the first session, stayed in the building but out of the room for the second, then dropped him off for the rest.
He didn't get upset even remotely, has loved every second so far and hasn't asked for me or DH, which is not what I was expecting as I've been a SAHM for 3 years and have never left him in childcare before. Thankfully he's just got a happy confident little personality. First proper day today, he ran in without a backward glance

@TillyTheTiger that sounds like good plan/approach though!

Must be hard on you, but better than if he was crying and wouldn't go in!

It's lovely actually.... I think they pick up on our emotions a lot and because I'm 8 months pregnant and desperate for a rest a few days a week I've been excited about him starting preschool so that's probably rubbed off on him
The best bit is collecting him and he can't wait to drag me into the room and show me what he's been playing with and tell me all about it, it's so cute.
Fingers crossed yours will settle really well too!

My DD (2.5) is starting preschool on Thursday - they don't do transition days so not sure how to handle it. I've seen things like leaving them with something of yours so they know you are coming back? Or should I just be bright and breezy!?

My 2 year old DS started at nursery a few weeks ago. He had 1 week of settling in sessions - 1st was 2 hours with DH there, 2nd and 3rd were 1 hour each without DH. 2nd week was 2 morning sessions (as he is going Tuesday and Thursday each week). He cried for the 1st few mins when DH dropped him off but was fine after a cuddle and happy to play. 3rd week he moved to 2 full days, again tears for a few mins (starts crying as soon as he sees the building) but happy playing the rest of the day.
The only issue we have at the moment is he won't nap there as there is too much going on. He was exhausted and crying for his bed after the 2nd full day.

What does the nursery suggest?

Mine both just started full time from day 1 (well three full days a week as they didn’t actually go full time) no settling in sessions. No tears or clinginess really either despite me being a SAHM. Pretty sure most people at our pre school do the same, although some do half days.

I had my daughter in nursery after my maternity leave ended ( which made her a year old) i took annual leave 2 days a week for 4 months so that my daughter had a bit of both nursery and home time, my intention was to put her in full time 5 days a week once i started working full time! It took me 2 months to settle her, she was really upset and would go on hunger strike until one day she just started to eat everything given to her!
Good thing was the nursery staff really helped me and my daughter during this time and after a while my daughter would happily go to nursery!
Before the full time started i was back on maternity leave with my son!
My plan is to start him 2 months before i go back to work, starting with half days then 2 full days n then both kids will be in 5 full days, I'm hoping this works!
As long as the nursery staff work with you, you'll be fine :)

At 10mo in nursery they did an hour with me there, then 2 hours without me then straight into their normal routine.

At 3yo for preschool we went for a visit before the summer holidays then come September I dropped them off at 8.45 and went to work until 3.15! On hindsight that was probably a bit much but both dc have survived. DD2 starts school next week so we'll see how she goes.

I’m reading with interest as I’ll be going through this at the start of next year! I follow a mum blogger on Instagram whose little boy was crying when she dropped him off at nursery- she told him she was off to get him some Jaffa cakes and that worked. Sounds silly but it worked for her and I saved it in my mind just in case!

I'm half tempted to try the full session, but honestly think I'll just sit in the car and cry for an hour and then go back in and get them! 🤣😢🤣😢