In 2 months I go back to work 2 days a wk.
Daughter lives with me (single parent from day one), she is 1 year 2 months.
We've been going to playgroups every day of the week from 5 months old.
I'm lucky that she is a happy child, happy to play on her own for ages, but is also very sociable, always trying to interact with strangers on the bus etc.
She's spent over 7 hours without me with family she doesn't spend much time with, not batted an eyelid, there are a few examples like that I could give.
Settling in period was as follows:
1 hr with me
1 hr without me
3.5 hr without me
5.5 hr without me
(2 x 8 hour days is meant to be what we're working towards)
First 3 sessions were great, the last one has traumatised her because at about 5pm her keyworker went home (I didn't know this), she then watched all the other babies be collected one by one, she was then left with staff that don't even work in her room, and moved to a different room that she'd never been in before because the cleaner was in her room?!
She was crying when I went to collect her and had crying nightmares (that's never happened before) for the next 2 nights that I couldn't cure with breastfeeding if you see what I mean. She's also been clingy.
Next session she was crying hysterically after I left so I went back and breastfed her, then waited til she was happy playing with toys and I left. Only to be called back 2 hours later because she was crying after waking from her nap.
Next session, again crying hysterically once I left (she has hardly ever cried more than just a "i'm bored/tired" type of cry) so I came back and ended up staying for 2 hours and then having to take her home. She was tired (slept in pushchair on way home) but couldn't get to sleep because there was too much noise from the other kids (one of them was always crying) for the breastfeeding to send her to sleep. Staff have suggested bringing her in next time when she's not in need of a nap.
She has a dummy (a recent thing) and I've taken in a soft toy and favourite book.
What can I do to help settle her? I'd rather give up my job and have my house repossessed than damage her. There is no other nursery close enough to go to.