to be allowed to spend time settling dd into nursery

[TheSkyAtNight]

We've had a paperwork visit, a session where I left her for an hour which went ok and then a disastrous session today where she seems to have cried for 2 hours & wouldn't eat or drink. She spent 90 minutes this afternoon breastfeeding/napping on me, which she hasn't done for weeks - dd is 8 months old.

Nursery say it's 'the best thing' for me to hand her over then leave. Instinct tells me I should put her down, rather than hand her to someone as this makes her cry immediately. I feel I should sit with her for say 10 mins while she plays so she can get some confidence, then say a firm goodbye & leave.

AIBU? It's a great nursery, but my instincts are telling me this isn't the right approach to settling in for dd. I'm not back at work till September & really want to make the transition as gentle as it can be. WHat settling in sessions did you do? How can I make this transition easier for dd?

[DollyBarton]

My 3 yr old is starting Nursery in Sept and the leaflet said I'm to bring him (and stay) for 1 hr the first day. He goes 1 hr alone for the first week. Then 1.5 hrs the second week and 2.5hrs the third! I'm fine with staying the hour the first day but I know he'd be grand going 2.5hrs alone from day two. It's SUCH a hassle having him there only an hour and then hr and a half for 2 weeks!

I'm hoping they'll let him start properly after day 3 or something without all this messing around. I guarantee he'll lose it if I try to take him away after an hour. That place is toy heaven!

[TheSkyAtNight]

That gives me hope, Artistic! Hope your dd settles again soon.

[Artistic]

Thank you, I hope so too. Good luck to you, hope you get your DD settled soon. Once they start loving it there it gives you peace of mind.