Hi, looking for some advice re my DD 20 months. She started nursery in January at 16 months as that was when we were offered a place (popular nursery with long waiting list). She goes 2 days per week.
She took a while to settle and we had lots of tears at drop off for a good 6-8 weeks. Then, it seemed to get better and although she wasn’t racing for the door like some kids they said she had always been fine, ate well, slept well, played with the other children etc.
However the last couple of weeks we seem to have gone back to square 1. More like -1 tbh because she seems even more distressed than when she very first started. I try not to drag the goodbyes out too long as it upsets her more but I’m finding it utterly heartbreaking. I walk back up the drive in tears myself.
Nursery have let us know that she is taking a lot longer to settle once she’s in than before - up to 30 mins and said she seems to find the hecticness of all the children arriving quite overwhelming but then is fine for the rest of the day.
I said to DH today that maybe we should pull her out and find a childminder but a) childcare is hard to come by, I doubt we will be able to find someone that easily and b) I worry it will just unsettle her even more.
Has anyone else had a similar situation where their child has seemed to settle but then ‘regressed’ back to unsettled? I feel so guilty and like a terrible mum, just don’t know what to do 🙁 I’d give up work in a heartbeat if we could afford it but we just can’t.
In all other respects she is doing amazing - she is healthy, sleeps well, a bit of a picky eater but not too bad, very chatty and starting to string words together and very cuddly and loveable! She is a little slow to warm up to strangers but sociable once she’s comfortable!
Any advice appreciated, tia!