To worry about my baby settling in nursery? (Feel like a terrible mum!)

[ernjas]

I posted a few days ago about a similar topic but I'm just as worried.

My baby has had 4 nursery inductions now.

1. was so happy and actually threw a tantrum when I came to get him
2. cried a bit when I dropped him off but settled down alright
3. cried a lot when I dropped him off and was still teary after the hour

4th was this morning which I've left in tears myself, he was screaming and hysterical the second he saw the nursery and trying to fight to get to me when I handed him over.

I feel like the worst parent as I could see the fear on his face when I was leaving (again). They are 1 hour induction sessions and he starts properly on Monday (for 10 hours!) He is 2 in March!

Any help or reassurance because I'm on the verge of not going to my new job

Don't worry! My DD was just like your DS when she started. She had to have 7x 2-hour inductions over 3 weeks before she started properly. The first few I stayed and she sat on my knee the whole time, after that I left and she HOWLED the whole 2 hours while I was gone. I felt awful, just like you, but had no choice as I had to work.

After 2 full days she was absolutely fine. We're three months in now and she LOVES it. All I have to say is 'shall we go to nursery and see Helen' (key worker) and she runs to the front door to go!

She's 16 months.

Honestly don't worry. He will settle and it'll be really good for him

I was a nursery nurse - and most; I'd say 70% of children cry when they are first dropped / their parents are there.
Honestly, they do stop, and have an amazing day.
Have you been given a key worker? I made amazing bonds with my key children and that helped them settle really well knowing I was there every day with them.
It does get better, honestly.

I have a dd now myself and I cried everyday when dropping her off for a week because she used to cry - one day I went back after 10 mins and watched through the window and she was giggling!

Thank you both for your replies

Think I'm just panicking too much, but he just looked petrified as I was leaving.
I went to collect him about half an hour ago and the nursery worker told me to have a peer round and he was happy and playing!