How long did it take your DC to settle into nursery..

[BorisGotAwayWithItAgain]

...and actually be happy to go there? My SD is only doing 3 mornings a week. She's 21 months, and has been settling in for two weeks but she's still distraught every time. I hate it.

Does it get any easier?

Also is it just me or do nursery staff try to put positive spin on everything eg "Luna had so much fun playing with the toys." and I can see in the photos on the app her face is tear streaked and sad.

She cries every time I pick her up.

Does it get better?

5 months...! But then he was absolutely fine, hang in there.

5 months??!!!

Maybe 3 months? She was doing 3 days a week but kept having breaks due to illness/covid.

Will they let her take a teddy/comforter from home in with her? Mine has a teddy bear that she takes every day.

Nursery staff have to put as positive spin as possible, they would be in trouble with management if they lost your custom.

Does she need to go to nursery? Maybe she's just a bit young.

My DD went when she was a lot younger , 6 months old. She took maybe a day or so tops, but she was full
Time. She’s still full time now and has wobbles (she is 2.5) and cries that she doesn’t want to go at the door. But I know it last about 10 seconds and then she is fine and loves it

I've just started my 21 month old DD into nursery too, she's been there for 2 weeks and does 3 mornings a week.

She cries when I drop off and collect but im sure she just needs a bit more time! Hang in there 🤞🏼

My boy started at 12mo and was finally happy to go there after about 5 mo. He was very anxious the first few weeks and would just clutch his little comforter, for a while other staff and parents had to go through a side door to the room as he would get upset when someone came through the door.
I was madly searching around for an alternative place for him to go and in hindsight think he would have been better off with a childminder so it is one consistent carer and a bit of variety with outings etc. I put my name on a couple of wait lists.
Anyway he was great with us at home over the Xmas break and I was so worried about him having 3 weeks off and going back but he was fine! His dad is always the one to drop him off which helps (he is always far worse when I dropped him off) he used to start crying when he saw me at pick up but now he comes over to hug me and then goes back to playing!
I think what was really tough was at the start he was having 2 naps at home and 1 nap at nursery, over the Xmas break I got him down to 1 nap at home and he is definitely a lot happier, not as tired all the time.
If I had another I'd definitely go for a nanny or childminder till 18mo/2yo then when they're a bit more independent send to a nursery.

@BorisGotAwayWithItAgain Yes, that wasn't a typo I'm afraid! He went 3 days a week, he always cried going in, it was horrible. Then I guess something clicked? And after that he would run in no bother.

He was always fine after about 15/20 mins though.

DD started nursery aged 14 months. She attends two full days a week. It took her about a month and half to really settle, she's now four months in and absolutely loves it.

2 days! I was quite offended.
He started at 10 months and is now 2.
He loves it there but is there 4 days a week so it's part of his routine.
Could you do 1 full day then one morning. There's more consistency with that

This won't be helpful to you but mine settled from the very first day! I think he was delighted to have new toys to play with 😂 he was 11 months and is now almost 3 and runs in happily every single day. Every child is different though and I know from friends that most of their kids took a month or so to settle properly

Ours settled very quickly but they were younger and fulltime so it became their normal very very quickly.

I will say that my eldest is nearly four and there's a few kids who still struggle going in most days and have done since the baby room. They're all running about playing happily come pick up though! So even if she continues to find drop off difficult it doesn't mean she isn't settled or enjoying herself. Pay attention to food and naps (if she has one). Once they had calmed down I felt mine had settled.

He forgot about me on our first walk around there! Doesn’t even look back at me dropping him off and has cried more than once when I’ve picked him up 😂

Dc1 never settled and after 6 months I opted to take him out when I was on maternity leave. He started at preschool just after he turned 3, walked in independently and settled from day one. Dc4 started when he was 18 months and settled ok after 6 weeks but had a period of screaming and having to be physically peeled off after Christmas as he had missed many sessions due to closures & illness all fine now though. None went full time. Dc2 & 3 all settled from day one in a preschool from aged 2. Preschool has worked better for us.